Title: Interest and design of magnetic properties measurements on planetary and asteroidal landers

Author(s): Rochette P, Gattacceca J, Menvielle M, Eisenlohr P, Chevrier V

Source: PLANETARY AND SPACE SCIENCE 52 (11): 987-995 SEP 2004

Document Type: Article

Language: English

Abstract: Intrinsic magnetic properties, like susceptibility, provide a precise determination of the iron phases with a penetration depth not available with other chemical and mineralogical sensing tools, thus allowing to unravel space weathering effects. Systematic measurements of meteorites demonstrate that susceptibility measurements on asteroid surface could be a very efficient way to assign a meteorite class to a given asteroid. Another application could be the characterization of the highly magnetic Martian regolith. On the other hand, natural remanent magnetization (NRM) measurements are crucial to interpret magnetic field anomalies such as those found on Mars and Moon, and likely to be found on Mercury. NRM gives also access to past magnetic fields and extinct planetary dynamo. Rugged, light and low consumption systems already exist for such measurements on Earth and we present a scheme to integrate both magnetic susceptibility (using a LC oscillator) and NRM (using a 3 axis fluxgate or a gradiometer) to offer a versatile instrument package for any mission involving a lander. For the LC oscillator calibration of the geometric factor is presented. The fluxgate can be used both for making local magnetic anomaly maps, thus investigating subsurface structures, and for evaluating NRM of individual boulders. (C) 2004 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Author Keywords: lander; magnetic properties; Mars; remanence; susceptibility

KeyWords Plus: MARTIAN SOIL; SUSCEPTIBILITY MEASUREMENTS; MARS PATHFINDER; FIELD; MAGNETOMETER; METEORITES; ONBOARD; SURFACE; EXPLORATION; CALIBRATION

Addresses: Rochette P (reprint author), Univ Aix Marseille 3, CNRS, UMR 6635, CEREGE, BP80 13545, Aix En Provence, F-13545 4 France
Univ Aix Marseille 3, CNRS, UMR 6635, CEREGE, Aix En Provence, F-13545 4 France
CNRS, CETP, UMR 8639, St Maur, F-94107 France

E-mail Addresses: rochette@cerege.fr

Publisher: PERGAMON-ELSEVIER SCIENCE LTD, THE BOULEVARD, LANGFORD LANE, KIDLINGTON, OXFORD OX5 1GB, ENGLAND

Subject Category: ASTRONOMY & ASTROPHYSICS

IDS Number: 863BU