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Overview of spirit microscopic imager results

November 28, 2018

This paper provides an overview of Mars Exploration Rover Spirit Microscopic Imager (MI) operations and the calibration, processing, and analysis of MI data. The focus of this overview is on the last five Earth years (2005–2010) of Spirit's mission in Gusev crater, supplementing the previous overview of the first 450 sols of the Spirit MI investigation. Updates to radiometric calibration using in‐flight data and improvements in high‐level processing are summarized. Released data products are described, and a table of MI observations, including target/feature names and associated data sets, is appended. The MI observed natural and disturbed exposures of rocks and soils as well as magnets and other rover hardware. These hand‐lens‐scale observations have provided key constraints on interpretations of the formation and geologic history of features, rocks, and soils examined by Spirit. MI images complement observations by other Spirit instruments, and together show that impact and volcanic processes have dominated the origin and evolution of the rocks in Gusev crater, with aqueous activity indicated by the presence of silica‐rich rocks and sulfate‐rich soils. The textures of some of the silica‐rich rocks are similar to terrestrial hot spring deposits, and observations of subsurface cemented layers indicate recent aqueous mobilization of sulfates in places. Wind action has recently modified soils and abraded many of the rocks imaged by the MI, as observed at other Mars landing sites.

Publication Year 2019
Title Overview of spirit microscopic imager results
DOI 10.1029/2018JE005774
Authors Kenneth E. Herkenhoff, Steve W Squyres, Raymond E. Arvidson, Shoshanna B Cole, Rob Sullivan, Aileen Yingst, Nathalie Cabrol, Ella (Contractor) Lee, Janet Richie, Robert M. Sucharski, Fred J. Calef, James F. Bell, Mary Chapman, Paul Geissler, Lauren A. Edgar, Brenda Franklin, Joel A. Hurowitz, Elsa Jensen, Jeffrey R. Johnson, Randolph L. Kirk, Peter Lanagan, Kevin Mullins, Craig Leff, Justin Maki, Bonnie L. Redding, Melissa Rice, Michael H. Sims, Richard Springer, Annette Sunda, Nicole Spanovich, Laurence A. Soderblom, Alicia Vaughan
Publication Type Article
Publication Subtype Journal Article
Series Title Journal of Geophysical Research E: Planets
Index ID 70204970
Record Source USGS Publications Warehouse
USGS Organization Astrogeology Science Center