HR: 17:00h
AN: SH54A-05    [Abstracts]
TI: Mars Aeronomy Science Themes and the NASA Exploration Initiative
AU: * Jakosky, B M
EM: bruce.jakosky@lasp.colorado.edu
AF: Univ. of Colorado, LASP/Campus Box 392, Boulder, CO 80309-0392 United States
AU: Bougher, S
AF: Univ. of Michigan, Space Physics Research Laboratory AOSS Department 2455 Hayward Avenue, Ann Arbor, MI 48109 United States
AU: Gladstone, R
AF: Southwest Research Inst., 6220 Culebra Rd., San Antonio, TX 78228 United States
AU: Grebowsky, J
AF: NASA/Goddard Space Flight Center, Code 695, Bldg. 21, room 266, Greenbelt, MD 20771 United States
AU: Heelis, R
AF: Univ. of Texas at Dallas, Center for Space Sciences, Richardson, TX 75083 United States
AU: Trosper, J
AF: NASA Headquarters, Office of Exploration Systems, Washington, DC 20546 United States
AU: Yau, A
AF: Univ. of Calgary, Department of Physics and Astronomy Institute for Space Research 2500 University Dr NW, Calgary, AB T2N1N4 Canada
AU: Zurek, R
AF: NASA/Jet Propulsion Lab., 4800 Oak Grove Dr., Pasadena, CA 91109 United States
AB: NASA convened a workshop on 18-19 August to reexamine Mars upper-atmosphere science questions in light of the new Exploration Initiative, with more than 80 scientists participating. The upper atmosphere is an important part of the martian climate system. Determining the nature and history of the martian climate, the chemical weathering and alteration of the surface, and the planet's habitability requires understanding the roles of the solar wind and solar radiation inputs; the physics, chemistry, and dynamics of the upper atmosphere; and the escape of volatiles to space. The upper atmosphere also plays important roles in programmatic aspects of the Mars exploration program, including communications, energetic particle and radiation environments that can affect humans, the lifetimes of orbiting spacecraft, operational aspects of orbital missions, and aerobraking operations. Important aspects of the upper-atmosphere can be observed from the unique perspective of the planned Mars Telecommunications Orbiter, especially with observations potentially made over an entire solar cycle. Although some limited observations are being made of the upper atmosphere at present, even combined with possible results from MTO they will not provide the detailed information necessary for either science or programmatic issues. The necessary observations can be obtained from a dedicated spacecraft mission with appropriate orbit, lifetime, and instrumentation. The necessary observations are thought to be possible within the confines of a Scout-class mission, although detailed analysis of this opportunity has not been done.
DE: 5400 PLANETOLOGY: SOLID SURFACE PLANETS
DE: 6225 Mars
DE: 2100 INTERPLANETARY PHYSICS
DE: 2400 IONOSPHERE
DE: 2700 MAGNETOSPHERIC PHYSICS
SC: SPA-Solar and Heliospheric Physics [SH]
MN: 2004 AGU Fall Meeting