Overview of Phobos/Deimos Regolith Ion Sample Mission (PRISM) concept

Pamela Clark; Michael Collier; Micah Schaible; William M. Farrell; David Folta; Kyle M. Hughes; John W. Keller; Ben Malphrus; Andrew S. Rivkin; Scott Murchie; Dana Hurley; Jasper Halekas; Richard Vondrak; Timothy Stubbs; Rosemary Killen; Menelaos Sarantos; Sarah L. Jones; Jared Espley; Gina Dibraccio

doi:10.1117/12.2322415

18 September 2018 Overview of Phobos/Deimos Regolith Ion Sample Mission (PRISM) concept

Pamela Clark, Michael Collier, Micah Schaible, William M. Farrell, David Folta, Kyle M. Hughes, John W. Keller, Ben Malphrus, Andrew S. Rivkin, Scott Murchie, Dana Hurley, Jasper Halekas, Richard Vondrak, Timothy Stubbs, Rosemary Killen, Menelaos Sarantos, Sarah L. Jones, Jared Espley, Gina Dibraccio

Author Affiliations +

Proceedings Volume 10769, CubeSats and NanoSats for Remote Sensing II; 107690I (2018) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2322415
Event: SPIE Optical Engineering + Applications, 2018, San Diego, California, United States

Abstract

Far more definitive information on composition is required to resolve the question of origin for the Martian moons Phobos and Deimos. Current infrared spectra of the objects are inconclusive due to the lack of strong diagnostic features. Definitive compositional measurements of Phobos could be obtained using in-situ X-ray, gamma-ray, or neutron spectroscopy or collecting and returning samples to Earth for analysis. We have proposed, in lieu of those methods, to derive Phobos and Deimos compositional data from secondary ion mass spectrometry (SIMS) measurements by calibrating the instrument to elemental abundance measurements made for known samples in the laboratory. We describe the Phobos/Deimos Regolith Ion Sample Mission (PRISM) concept here. PRISM utilizes a high-resolution TOF plasma composition analyzer to make SIMS measurements by observing the sputtered species from various locations of the moons' surfaces. In general, the SIMS technique and ion mass spectrometers complement and expand quadrupole mass spectrometer measurements by collecting ions that have been energized to higher energies, 50-100 eV, and making measurements at very low densities and pressures. Furthermore, because the TOF technique accepts all masses all the time, it obtains continuous measurements and does not require stepping through masses. The instrument would draw less than 10 W and weigh less than 5 kg. The spacecraft, nominally a radiation-hardened 12U CubeSat, would use a low-thrust Solar Electric Propulsion system to send it on a two-year journey to Mars, where it would co-orbit with Deimos and then Phobos at distances as low as 27 km.

Conference Presentation

Citation Download Citation

Pamela Clark, Michael Collier, Micah Schaible, William M. Farrell, David Folta, Kyle M. Hughes, John W. Keller, Ben Malphrus, Andrew S. Rivkin, Scott Murchie, Dana Hurley, Jasper Halekas, Richard Vondrak, Timothy Stubbs, Rosemary Killen, Menelaos Sarantos, Sarah L. Jones, Jared Espley, and Gina Dibraccio "Overview of Phobos/Deimos Regolith Ion Sample Mission (PRISM) concept", Proc. SPIE 10769, CubeSats and NanoSats for Remote Sensing II, 107690I (18 September 2018); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2322415

ACCESS THE FULL ARTICLE

INSTITUTIONAL
Select your institution to access the SPIE Digital Library.

SELECT YOUR INSTITUTION

PERSONAL
Sign in with your SPIE account to access your personal subscriptions or to use specific features such as save to my library, sign up for alerts, save searches, etc.

PERSONAL SIGN IN

No SPIE Account? Create one

PURCHASE THIS CONTENT

SUBSCRIBE TO DIGITAL LIBRARY

50 downloads per 1-year subscription

Members: $195

Non-members: $335 ADD TO CART

25 downloads per 1 - year subscription

Members: $145

Non-members: $250 ADD TO CART

PURCHASE SINGLE ARTICLE

Includes PDF, HTML & Video, when available