Japan Geoscience Union Meeting 2015

Presentation information

Print

International Session (Oral)

Symbol P (Space and Planetary Sciences) » P-PS Planetary Sciences

[P-PS05] Mars

Thu. May 28, 2015 11:00 AM - 12:45 PM A03 (APA HOTEL&RESORT TOKYO BAY MAKUHARI)

Convener:*Takehiko Satoh(Institute of Space and Astronautical Science, Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency), Masaki Ishiwatari(Department of Cosmosciences, Graduate school of Science, Hokkaido University), Sho Sasaki(Department of Earth and Space Sciences, School of Science, Osaka University), Yoshiyuki O. Takahashi(Graduate School of Science, Kobe University), Ayako Matsuoka(Research Division for Space Plasma, Institute of Space and Astronautical Science, Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency), Hideaki Miyamoto(The University Museum, The University of Tokyo), Chair:Takehiko Satoh(Institute of Space and Astronautical Science, Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency)

11:30 AM - 11:45 AM

[PPS05-12] Characterization of Martian Regolith: Toward 2020s Mars Exploration Missions

*Tomohiro USUI1, Akihiko Yamagishi2, Takehiko Sato3, Hideaki Miyamoto4, Shingo Kameda5, Kazuhisa Fujita3, Yasuhito Sekine4, Shogo Tachibana6, Sei-ichro Watanabe7 (1.Tokyo Institute of Technology, 2.Tokyo University of Pharmacy and Life Science, 3.ISAS, JAXA, 4.The University of Tokyo, 5.Rikkyo University, 6.Hokkaido University, 7.Nagoya University)

Keywords:Mars, regolith

Mars once had surficial liquid water (paleo-ocean/lake) and shows a promising sign of current subsurface water/ice. The existence of hydrosphere and cryosphere makes Mars the unique accessible habitable planet next to the Earth. The water-rock interaction between the lithosphere and hydrosphere/cryosphere through the history of Mars has produced a variety of surface rocks (regolith) containing sheet-silicates, phosphates, sulfates, and carbonates, which are closely linked to climate and the potential for life on Mars. This study characterizes the physico-chemical properties (chemical composition, mineral abundance, reflectance feature, and geometric distribution) of Martian regoliths. We further present a way to leverage the database on Martian regoliths as a tool for interpreting remote sensing analyses by onboard instruments (e.g. Life Detection Microscope) for Mars exploration missions in 2020s.