A new step in Moon and Mars exploration
The exploration of the Moon and Mars, and particularly the search for specific mineral resources allowing the future application of In Situ Resource Utilization (ISRU) techniques are currently priorities of several space agencies, including the European Space Agency (ESA). Planetary surfaces are complex and require new instrumentation capable to distinguish the most promising regions of study, and being able to identify and quantify the main ongoing challenges associated with the human exploration of these harsh environments.
Multispectral imaging and meteoroid impacts on the Moon
The Asteroids, Comets and Meteorites Group has many years of expertise in fireball spectroscopy, meteorite composition and mineralogy. We are involved in a ESA contract under the Call Preparation of enabling technologies and building blocks, together with our partners GMV and LIDAX, for the development of a dual spectral camera designed as a reusable detector for a variety of Lunar and Martian-focused missions. The instrument will have dual capacity to perform terrain recognition and remote characterization of the main rock-forming minerals, applicable to navigation support, while it can also simultaneously collect scientific data on meteoroid impacts.
The instrument is called MERCAM: scientific & navigation Moon exploration reconfigurable multispectral camera. MERCAM multispectral capability will include different band-pass filters, and a diffraction grating for a dual use also as an emission spectrometer. Then, that emission spectral mode will be tested using different spectral lamps to calibrate the system as unique emission spectrometer. The goal is to give MERCAM the additional capability of detecting impact flashes on the Moon’s surface, which are suddenly produced by energetic meteoroid impacts. This capacity can help to quantify the magnitude, and frequency of such energetic processes that will be source of hazards for future crewed exploratory missions.
In addition, once MERCAM is chosen for a future space mission, it will have the capacity of monitoring the appearance of impact flashes on the night side of the Moon. An emission spectrum of the flash will be obtained, providing information about the main chemical elements in the impact plume, their relative elemental abundance, and the temperature of the released hot vapor. Given that the camera will monitor the lunar surface working under video mode, the camera will get detailed sequential data on the evolution of the impact plume, offering clues on the post-impact chemistry and the quench products, which can be challenging to identify and can change over time.
Meet the senior researcher involved in the development of the MERCAM instrument.
