Mars Global Surveyor

Definition

The Mars Global Surveyor was a NASA spacecraft that orbited Mars from 1997 to 2006, conducting a comprehensive study of the planet's surface, atmosphere, and magnetic field. It was the first successful Mars orbiter mission since the failure of the Mars Observer in 1993 and played a crucial role in advancing our understanding of the geology and climate of the Red Planet.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. The Mars Global Surveyor was the first spacecraft to successfully enter orbit around Mars since the failure of the Mars Observer in 1993.
2. The spacecraft's primary mission was to map the surface of Mars, study its atmosphere and climate, and investigate the planet's magnetic field and interior structure.
3. The Mars Orbiter Laser Altimeter (MOLA) on board the spacecraft provided the most detailed topographic map of the Martian surface ever created, revealing features like the massive Valles Marineris canyon system.
4. The Thermal Emission Spectrometer (TES) on the Mars Global Surveyor helped identify the mineral composition of the Martian surface, providing insights into the planet's geological history.
5. The magnetometer on the spacecraft detected a weak, patchy magnetic field on Mars, suggesting that the planet's global magnetic field had long since disappeared, likely due to the loss of its molten, convecting core.

Review Questions

• Describe the key scientific objectives of the Mars Global Surveyor mission.
  • The primary scientific objectives of the Mars Global Surveyor mission were to map the surface of Mars, study its atmosphere and climate, and investigate the planet's magnetic field and interior structure. The spacecraft was equipped with a suite of advanced instruments, including the Mars Orbiter Laser Altimeter (MOLA), the Thermal Emission Spectrometer (TES), and a magnetometer, which allowed it to gather detailed data on the geology, mineral composition, and magnetic properties of the Red Planet.
• Explain how the data collected by the Mars Global Surveyor's instruments contributed to our understanding of Mars' geologic history.
  • The data collected by the Mars Global Surveyor's instruments, particularly the MOLA and TES, provided unprecedented insights into the geologic history of Mars. The high-resolution topographic maps generated by MOLA revealed the planet's diverse surface features, including the massive Valles Marineris canyon system and the towering Olympus Mons volcano. The TES data helped identify the mineral composition of the Martian surface, allowing scientists to better understand the geological processes that have shaped the planet over time, such as volcanic activity, erosion, and the potential presence of water in the past.
• Discuss the significance of the Mars Global Surveyor's discovery of a weak, patchy magnetic field on Mars and how this finding has influenced our understanding of the planet's interior and geological evolution.
  • One of the most significant discoveries made by the Mars Global Surveyor was the detection of a weak, patchy magnetic field on Mars. This finding suggested that the planet's global magnetic field had long since disappeared, likely due to the loss of its molten, convecting core. This discovery has important implications for our understanding of Mars' interior structure and geological evolution. The absence of a global magnetic field means that Mars lacks the protective shield against solar radiation that Earth's magnetic field provides, which may have contributed to the loss of the planet's atmosphere over time. Additionally, the lack of a global magnetic field has influenced the planet's geological processes, such as the formation of its unique surface features and the potential for past or present water activity.

Related terms

Mars Orbiter Laser Altimeter (MOLA): An instrument on board the Mars Global Surveyor that precisely mapped the topography of the Martian surface, providing detailed information about the planet's geology and geologic history.

Thermal Emission Spectrometer (TES): An instrument on the Mars Global Surveyor that measured the thermal infrared radiation emitted by the Martian surface, allowing scientists to study the planet's mineral composition and atmospheric properties.

Magnetometer: An instrument on the Mars Global Surveyor that detected and measured the strength of the planet's magnetic field, revealing important information about Mars' interior structure and the history of its magnetic field.