New model of Mars surface irradiation for the climate simulation chamber ‘Artificial Mars’

Abstract

A new model of the Mars surface irradiation has been developed for the imitation of radiationtemperature parameters within Mars Climate Simulation Chamber (MCSC). In order to determine the values of annual and diurnal variations of the irradiance on the Martian surface, the Solar illumination E has been expressed by the distance r between the Sun and Mars and the Sun's altitude z in the Martian sky, along with its midday zenith distance z min . The arrangements of spring and autumn equinoxes as well as summer and winter solstice points in the Martian sky are discussed regarding the perihelion of Mars. Annual orbital points and variability of Solar z min for different planetary latitudes have been calculated for the 15 selected values of Mars's true anomaly, along with the illumination E for 12 hourly moments of Martian daytime on the Martian equator. These original calculations and the data which have been obtained are used for the construction of technical tools imitating variations of the surface irradiation and temperature within MCSC, programming of the supporting computer and the electric scheme, which provide proper remote control and set the environmental parameters that are analogues to the 24 hours 39 minutes circadian cycle on planet Mars. Spectral distribution as monochromatic irradiance, humidity control, atmospheric composition and other environmental parameters of planet Mars are also imitated and remotely controlled within MCSC, however, are not discussed in this particular article.

A New Remote Sensing-Based System for the Monitoring and Analysis of Growth and Gas Exchange Rates of Photosynthetic Microorganisms Under Simulated Non-Terrestrial Conditions

“…Such chambers should also allow easy monitoring of microorganisms' survival, growth, and gas exchange responses. Several simulator chambers have been realized and utilized so far for the simulation of Mars and other beyond-Earth environments (Tarasashvili et al, 2013;Mateo-Marti, 2014), with few of them also able to test aqueous cultures with metabolically active organisms (Martin and Cockell, 2015). Most of these simulator chambers, however, are complex facilities that do not allowing organism's growth but only to test their survival under non-terrestrial conditions, with FIGURE 4 | Synechocystis sp.…”

Semi-automated operation of Mars Climate Simulation chamber – MCSC modelled for biological experiments

“…proper remote control and set the environmental parameters that are analogues to the 24 h 39 m circadian cycle as exists on Mars (Tarasashvili et al 2013).…”

“…5(b)). The Lamp operation sequence corresponds to the diurnal change of the Sun's radiation intensity in W cm −2 on the Martian surface at Martian 6 am (06:00 sunrise) to 6 pm (18:00 sunset) that mimics disappearance of the Sun beyond the Martian horizon indicating a sharp decrease of the surface temperature (Drollet et al 1997;Quesada & Vincent 1997;Berry et al 2010;Tarasashvili et al 2013;http://mars.nasa. gov/mer/spotlight/20070612.html; https://en.wikipedia.org/ wiki/Climate_of_Mars, http://www-mars.lmd.jussieu.fr/mars/ info_web/MCD4.3_validation.pdf; http://ccar.colorado.edu/ asen5050/projects/projects_2001/benoit/solar_irradiance_on_ mars.htm).…”

“…html. For the equatorial regioncalculated in (Tarasashvili et al 2013). materials including silver and chromium.…”

PELS (Planetary Environmental Liquid Simulator): A New Type of Simulation Facility to Study Extraterrestrial Aqueous Environments

“…Jensen et al (2008) presented a comprehensive list of those studies that have investigated biological responses to various combinations of simulated martian conditions, as well as a list of more sophisticated martian/space simulators that have been used for both geochemical and biological investigations. Tarasashvili et al (2013) provided a more up-to-date review of a number of other simulation chambers planned or in use around the world and described a new chamber, the Mars Climate Simulation Chamber, including a simulation of the solar electromagnetic radiation.…”