Missions Paper

Kasi Rhyne

	April 7, 2001 was the launch of the ongoing 2001 Mars Odyssey Mission.  This is a long-term mission to explore the planet Mars using robotic technology.  Some of the goals of this mission is to find out what Mars is made of.  Is there water on Mars and what is the radiation environment like?  Scientist have only been able to explore the areas that spacecrafts have landed.  The mission of the 2001 Mars Odyssey is to study the surface of Mars more in depth.  Scientists want to know the surface minerals and how plentiful the hydrogen is on this planet.
	The 2001 Mars Odyssey will be carrying three instruments to further explore the planet:  The Thermal Emission Imaging System (THEMIS), the Gamma Ray Spectrometer (GRS) and the Mars Radiation Environment Experiment (MARIE).
	The gamma ray spectrometer will be measuring the hydrogen in the soil of the planet.  With this instrument, scientists will be able to more accurately determine the overall climate of Mars.  An energetic particle spectrometer will help explorers study the radiation environment of Mars to determine if future missions will be harmful to scientists.
	This mission helps to contribute to NASA’s Vision for Exploration by implementing the four main science goals of the Mars Exploration Program: 1) Prepare for human exploration 2) Characterize the geology of Mars 3) Characterize the climate of Mars and 4) Determine whether life ever arose on Mars.

Sources cited see formatting guide: http://owl.english.purdue.edu/

http://mars.jpl.nasa.gov/odyssey/mission/overview/ 

http://mars.jpl.nasa.gov/odyssey/mission/science/ 

http://mars.jpl.nasa.gov/odyssey/mission/instruments/ 

	In less than a year, NASA’s MESSENGER will be the first spacecraft to ever orbit the planet Mercury, the closest planet to the Sun.  In August 2004, the MESSENGER was first launched into space.  This spacecraft has flown by Earth, Venus and Mercury and is presently orbiting the Sun.  Next March, plans will be to orbit Mercury for the first time.  
	This mission’s purpose is to answer six questions for NASA’s discovery team: 1) Why is Mercury so dense? 2) What is the geologic history of Mercury?  3) What is the nature of Mercury’s magnetic field?  4) What is the structure of Mercury’s core?  5) What are the unusual materials at Mercury’s poles? and 6) What volatiles are important at Mercury?
	To answer these questions, scientist will use eight instruments to help them discover more about this planet.  The Mercury Dual Imaging System (MDIS) will be able to capture more of the rugged landscape without having to reposition the spacecraft.  The Gamma-Ray Neutron Spectrometer (GRNS) will help scientist detect radioactive elements on the surface of Mercury.  The X-Ray Spectrometer (XRS) will detect emissions from different elements in Mercury’s crust.  The Magnetometer (MAG) will help scientists study Mercury’s magnetic field in more detail.  The Mercury Laser Altimeter (MLA) will helps scientists study Mercury’s core.  The Mercury Atmospheric and Surface Composition Spectrometer (MASCS) will help scientists study gas emissions and detect minerals in Mercury’s surface.  The Energetic Particle and Plasma Spectrometer (EPPS) will be able to measure the characteristics of the charges particles surrounding Mercury’s magnetosphere.  Finally, NASA scientists will use Radio Science (RS) to measure the spacecraft’s speed and it’s distance from Earth.  
Discuss in terms of NASA’s goals and vision for exploration. 

Sources Cited
http://messenger.jhuapl.edu/the_mission/index.html 

http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/messenger/main/index.html 

	Mini-RF is NASA’s mission to search the lunar poles of the Moon for water ice and to enhance it’s communication technologies.  The first instrument, The Chandrayaan, mapped both poles after launching in June 2009.  During this mission, NASA scientists were able to detect ice deposits at the Moon’s north pole.  
	The second radar instrument used in the Mini-RF mission is the Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter (LRO).  This instrument was launched June 2010 and NASA has recently posted it’s first photo.  The LRO is being used to further investigations on the observations made by The Chandrayaan-1. 
	Miniature Radio Frequency, Mini-RF, consists of an antenna and small, electronic boxes that collect data on the lunar poles of the Moon.  Scientists are hopeful that Mini-RF will give NASA images of areas on the Moon never before seen.  
Discuss in terms of NASA’s goals and vision for exploration. 
Further detail required to earn maximum points. 

Sources Cited

http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/Mini-RF/main/index.html 

http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/Mini-RF/multimedia/feature_ice_like_deposits.html