Sulfide ores are a major source of noble (Au, Ag, and Pt) and base (Cu, Pb, Zn, Sn, Co, Ni, etc.) metals and will, therefore, be vital for the self-sustainment of future Mars colonies. Martian meteorites are rich in sulfides, which is reflected in recent findings for surface Martian rocks analyzed by the Spirit and Curiosity rovers. However, the only high-resolution (18 m/pixel) infrared (IR) spectrometer orbiting Mars, the Compact Reconnaissance Imaging Spectrometer for Mars (CRISM), onboard the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter (MRO), is not well-suited for detecting sulfides on the Martian surface. Spectral interference with silicates impedes sulfide detection in the 0.4–3.9 μm CRISM range. In contrast, at least three common hydrothermal sulfides on Earth and Mars (pyrite, chalcopyrite, marcasite) have prominent absorption peaks in a narrow far-IR (FIR) wavelength range of 23–28 μm. Identifying the global distribution and chemical composition of sulfide ore deposits would help in choosing useful targets for future Mars exploration missions. Therefore, we have designed a new instrument suitable for measuring sulfides in the FIR range called the Martian far-IR Ore Spectrometer (MIRORES). MIRORES will measure radiation in six narrow bands (~0.3 µm in width), including three bands centered on the sulfide absorption bands (23.2, 24.3 and 27.6 µm), two reference bands (21.5 and 26.1) and one band for clinopyroxene interference (29.0 µm). Focusing on sulfides only will make it possible to adapt the instrument size (32 × 32 × 42 cm) and mass (<10 kg) to common microsatellite requirements. The biggest challenges related to this design are: (1) the small field of view conditioned by the high resolution required for such a study (<20 m/pixel), which, in limited space, can only be achieved by the use of the Cassegrain optical system; and (2) a relatively stable measurement temperature to maintain radiometric accuracy and enable precise calibration.

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We present a novel X-ray assembly of functionally related instrument blocks intended to measure solar flare and active region (AR) spectra from within the Russian instrument complex KORTES, to be mounted aboard the International Space Station (ISS). SolpeX consists of three blocks: fast-rotating multiple flat crystal Bragg spectrometer, pin-hole X-ray spectral imager and Bragg polarimeter. This combination of measuring blocks will offer an opportunity to detect/measure possible X-ray polarization in soft X-ray emission lines/continuum and record spectra of solar flares, in particular during their impulsive phases. Polarized Bremsstrahlung and line emission may arise from presence of directed particle beams colliding with denser regions of flares. As a result of evaporation, the X-ray spectral-components are expected to be Doppler shifted, which will also be measured.In this paper, we present details of the construction of three SolpeX blocks and discuss their functionality. Delivery of KORTES with SolpeX to ISS is expected in 2020/2021.