The Mars Underground Mole (MUM): A Subsurface Penetration Device with In Situ Infrared Reflectance and Raman Spectroscopic Sensing Capability
The Mars Underground Mole (MUM): A Subsurface Penetration Device with In Situ Infrared Reflectance and Raman Spectroscopic Sensing Capability
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发表时间：
2003
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通讯作者：
C. Stoker;L. Richter;W. H. Smith;L. Lemke;P. Hammer;J. B. Dalton;B. Glass;A. Zent
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作者：
C. Stoker;L. Richter;W. H. Smith;L. Lemke;P. Hammer;J. B. Dalton;B. Glass;A. Zent
寻找火星上生命的证据可能需要进入地下。火星表面沐浴在紫外线辐射下，会分解有机化合物，破坏可能存在生命的证据。此外，维京登陆器进行的实验表明，火星表面存在几种强氧化性化合物，这些化合物也可能在破坏表面附近的有机化合物中发挥作用。虽然火星表面的液态水不稳定，低纬度地表的冰也不稳定，但火星奥德赛伽玛射线光谱仪实验的最新结果表明，水冰广泛分布在地表附近薄薄的干燥土壤覆盖下。古代火星生物圈产生的有机化合物可能保存在如此富含冰的层中。此外，进入地下提供了一种识别独特地层的方法，例如与湖泊沉积物相关的小规模分层。地下通道还可能为极地层状沉积物中保存的火星气候记录提供新的见解。认识到进入火星地下对于未来对火星进行科学探索的重要性，火星勘测者 2007 科学定义小组呼吁在地表土壤下进行钻探。 MEPAG 也将地下测量列为高度优先事项。认识到进入火星地下寻找生命的重要性，欧洲航天局在计划于 2003 年发射的小猎犬 2 号着陆器上安装了一种小型自动挖掘设备，称为地下贯入仪或鼹鼠。这个装置被称为行星地下工具（PLUTO），是一个2厘米宽、28厘米长的尖细圆柱体，在尖端配备了一个小型采样装置，用于收集样本并将其带到地面进行分析。借鉴 PLUTO 的设计，我们正在开发一种更大的 Mole 携带传感器，用于识别矿物、有机化合物和水。
Searching for evidence of life on Mars will probably require access to the subsurface. The Martian surface is bathed in ultraviolet radiation which decomposes organic compounds, destroying possible evidence for life. Also, experiments performed by the Viking Landers imply the presence of several strongly oxidizing compounds at the Martian surface that may also play a role in destroying organic compounds near the surface. While liquid water is unstable on the Martian surface, and ice is unstable at the surface at low latitudes, recent results from the Mars Odyssey Gamma Ray Spectrometer experiment indicate that water ice is widely distributed near the surface under a thin cover of dry soil. Organic compounds created by an ancient Martian biosphere might be preserved in such ice-rich layers. Furthermore, accessing the subsurface provides a way to identify unique stratigraphy such as small-scale layering associated with lacustrine sediments. Subsurface access might also provide new insights into the Mars climate record that may be preserved in the Polar Layered Deposits. Recognizing the importance of accessing the subsurface of Mars to the future scientific exploration of the planet, the Mars Surveyor 2007 Science Definition Team called for drilling beneath the surface soils. Subsurface measurements are also cited as high priority in by MEPAG. Recognizing the importance of accessing the Martian subsurface to search for life, the European Space Agency has incorporated a small automated burrowing device called a subsurface penetrometer or Mole onto the Beagle 2 lander planned for 2003 launch. This device, called the Planetary Underground Tool (PLUTO), is a pointed slender cylinder 2 cm wide and 28 cm long equipped with a small sampling device at the pointed end that collects samples and brings them to the surface for analysis. Drawing on the PLUTO design, we are developing a larger Mole carrying sensors for identifying mineralogy, organic compounds, and water.