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Table 4 Instruments onboard MMX for scientific observations

From: Martian moons exploration MMX: sample return mission to Phobos elucidating formation processes of habitable planets

Name: function

Major specifications

Roles

Moons’ origin

Sampling assist

Mars system

LIDAR:a

laser altimeter

Laser wavelength 1064 nm

Characterization of geologic structures and bedrock exposed areas

Selection and characterization of sampling sites in terms of safety for landing, geologic context, and representativeness as pieces of bedrock

Measurement of surface morphology for the geologic history of the moons

Ranging distance: 100 m—100 km

Ranging resolution: < 22 m @ 100 km

Footprint 50 m from 100 km altitude

TENGOO:b

telescopic camera

FOV: 1.1° × 0.82°

included above

included above

included above and below

Wavelength: a part of visible light

Spatial resolution: ~ 40 cm @ 20 km alt

OROCHI:c

wide-angle multiband camera

FOV: 66° × 53°

Determination of global surface composition (Hydrous minerals, Fe/Si, H2O release rate, etc.)

ditto

Observation of H2O and dust circulation in the Martian climate system

Wavelength (width): 390 (50), 480 (30), 550 (30), 650 (10), 700 (10), 800 (40), 950 (60) nm, and 400–900 nm (monochromatic)

Spatial resolution: 20 m @ 20 km alt., 10 cm for an area of 100 × 100 m2 around landing sites, 1 mm for an area of 1 × 1 m2 around sampling sites

MIRS:d

near-infrared spectrometer

FOV:3.3° (in the direction of spectrometer slit)

included above

ditto

included above

Wavelength: 0.9–3.6 μm

Spectral sampling: 10 nm

Spatial resolution: < 20 m @ 20 km alt

MSA:e

ion mass spectrometer

Geometric factor: ≥ 104 cm2 sr eV/eV

ditto

ditto

Searching for the gas torus and escaping Martian atmosphere

Ion energy: ~ 5 eV/q- ~ 30 keV/q, Energy resolution: ΔE/E ~ 10%

Ion mass: 1–100 amu, Mass resolution: M/ΔM > 100

MEGANE:f

gamma-ray and neutron spectrometer

Gamma-ray energy: 0.4–8 MeV with energy resolution: < 5.1 keV (FWHM) @ 1454 keV

ditto

ditto

(not assigned)

Neutron energy: thermal (0.01–0.5 eV), epithermal (0.5–0.5 MeV), fast (0.5–7 MeV)

MMX Rover:

solar powered rover

Laser Raman spectrometer

In situ measurement of mineralogy and physical properties of regolith

ditto

ditto

Thermal radiometer

Navigation cameras

Wheel cameras

CMDM:g

dust counter

Dust size: > 10–20 μm

Detecting dust flux and ring to reveal the weathering process on the moons’ surface by micrometeoroid bombardments

Dust velocity: > 0.16 km/s

  1. aLIght DEtection and Ranging
  2. bTElescopic Nadir imager for GeOmOrphology (name after long-nosed goblin in Japanese folklore)
  3. cOptical RaidOmeter composed of CHromatic Imagers (after giant snake with eight heads in Japanese folklore)
  4. dMMX InfraRed Spectrometer
  5. eMass Spectrum Analyzer
  6. fMars moons Exploration with GAmma rays and NEutrons (after eyeglasses in Japanese)
  7. gCircum Martian Dust Monitor