MARS | Science

MEDUSA: Observation of atmospheric dust and water vapor close to the surface of Mars

1F. Esposito, 2L. Colangeli, 3V. Della Corte, 1C. Molfese, 3P. Palumbo, 4S. Ventura, 5J. Merrison, 5P. N>5Mars Simulation Laboratory, Institute for Physics and Astronomy, Aarhus, 8000C, Denmark
6Instituto de Astrofisica de Andalucia CSIC, Granada, 19008, Spain
7Selex Galileo, Campi Bisenzio (FI), 50013, Italy

Mars 6, 1-12, 2011 | doi:10.1555/mars.2011.0001
Submitted: June 30, 2010; Reviewed: August 25, 2010; Revised: March 28, 2011; Accepted: April 27, 2011; Published: December 29, 2011

We have developed an instrument (MEDUSA) for the characterization of dust and water properties close to the surface of Mars. The measurements to be acquired will contribute to the study of the climate and the physics of the atmospheric boundary layer of Mars, in searching for water surface reservoirs and in the hazard evaluation related to future robotic and/or manned space missions.

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