09:45 〜 10:00
[PPS06-04] Beyond the Surface: International Mars Ice Mapper Mission Update 2023-2024
キーワード：地下氷、有人探査、合成開口レーダ、火星
The International Mars Ice Mapper (I-MIM) mission, a collaborative effort initiated in 2019 by the Agenzia Spaziale Italiana (ASI), the Canadian Space Agency (CSA), the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA), and the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), aims to locate and study ice deposits within the top 10 meters of Mars' subsurface. This endeavor seeks to identify potential sites for future human-robotic exploration by examining the physical characteristics of the surface material covering the ice and mapping out accessible ice deposits.
In 2021, a Measurement Definition Team (MDT) outlined the essential measurements required to fulfill the mission's objectives, primarily utilizing an L-band (930 MHz) Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR). The MDT's final report concluded that this single instrument would largely meet the mission's goals but also recommended the inclusion of additional payloads. Reflecting on the recommendation in the MDT report, the I-MIM mission concept has been updated to incorporate three spacecraft: 1) an Ice-Mapping Orbiter equipped with two radar instruments (SAR and VHF sounder), and a UV imager and a submillimeter sounder for atmospheric sensing, 2) a Demonstration Lander for ground-truthing, and 3) a free-flying Smallsat equipped with a high-resolution imager. These elements are designed to work in concert to address a set of revised objectives, including the identification and mapping of near-surface water ice, analysis of the subsurface's physical properties, assessment of potential exploration sites, investigation of Mars' environmental history and habitability, and characterization of atmospheric dynamics and volatile exchanges.
The updated mission architecture and objectives underline the mission's commitment to advancing both scientific knowledge and the capabilities for future human exploration of Mars. The I-MIM mission aligns with the recommendations of the Planetary Science and Astrobiology Decadal Survey 2023–2032, emphasizing the importance of integrating science and human exploration interests. By leveraging international partnerships and potential commercial contributions, the I-MIM mission aims to rejuvenate Mars' aging orbital infrastructure, enabling a new generation of scientific studies and paving the way for future human presence on Mars within the broader context of Moon-to-Mars exploration strategies.
In 2021, a Measurement Definition Team (MDT) outlined the essential measurements required to fulfill the mission's objectives, primarily utilizing an L-band (930 MHz) Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR). The MDT's final report concluded that this single instrument would largely meet the mission's goals but also recommended the inclusion of additional payloads. Reflecting on the recommendation in the MDT report, the I-MIM mission concept has been updated to incorporate three spacecraft: 1) an Ice-Mapping Orbiter equipped with two radar instruments (SAR and VHF sounder), and a UV imager and a submillimeter sounder for atmospheric sensing, 2) a Demonstration Lander for ground-truthing, and 3) a free-flying Smallsat equipped with a high-resolution imager. These elements are designed to work in concert to address a set of revised objectives, including the identification and mapping of near-surface water ice, analysis of the subsurface's physical properties, assessment of potential exploration sites, investigation of Mars' environmental history and habitability, and characterization of atmospheric dynamics and volatile exchanges.
The updated mission architecture and objectives underline the mission's commitment to advancing both scientific knowledge and the capabilities for future human exploration of Mars. The I-MIM mission aligns with the recommendations of the Planetary Science and Astrobiology Decadal Survey 2023–2032, emphasizing the importance of integrating science and human exploration interests. By leveraging international partnerships and potential commercial contributions, the I-MIM mission aims to rejuvenate Mars' aging orbital infrastructure, enabling a new generation of scientific studies and paving the way for future human presence on Mars within the broader context of Moon-to-Mars exploration strategies.