Researchers from Imperial College London have successfully used repurposed technology to probe new areas of the Martian atmosphere that were previously inaccessible. By utilizing the Trace Gas Orbiter and Mars Express spacecraft in mutual radio occultation, scientists were able to measure changes in the atmosphere’s refractivity and electron density in the ionosphere of Mars, providing valuable insights for future Mars habitation missions. This innovative technique involved reprogramming the radio antennas on the spacecraft inflight to carry out this new form of scientific exploration.
The results of the first 83 measurements from this groundbreaking experiment have been published in the journal Radio Science. By collaborating and sharing data with European Space Agency colleagues, the team was able to demonstrate the effectiveness of spacecraft-to-spacecraft occultation for studying Mars. This method has the potential to be a game-changer for future Mars missions, as it allows for more measurements to be taken and new regions of the atmosphere to be probed.
The success of this mission opens up new possibilities for studying Mars’ atmosphere and could significantly impact future scientific missions to the red planet. With the increasing number of spacecraft orbiting Mars, the use of mutual radio occultation is expected to become an increasingly important tool for understanding the Martian atmosphere. This research marks a significant milestone in planetary exploration and showcases the potential of repurposed technology for scientific advancements in space exploration.
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