The SuperCam infrared instrument on the NASA MARS2020 mission: performance and qualification results

Abstract

In July 2020, NASA will launch the Mars2020 mission. This mission, very similar to the Mars Science Laboratory and its rover Curiosity, consists in landing an instrumented rover on the Martian surface in order to characterize the geology and history of a new landing site on Mars, investigate Mars habitability, seek potential biosignatures, cache samples for an eventual return to Earth, and demonstrate in-situ production of oxygen needed for human exploration. The rover will carry several different instruments to perform field analyses in biology, climatology, mineralogy, geology and geochemistry. Among this payload, the SuperCam instrument, an improved new generation of the ChemCam instrument on Curiosity, has been developed for remote microscale characterization of the mineralogy and elemental chemistry of the Mars surface, along with the search for extant organic materials. In addition to the elemental characterization offered by Laser-Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy (LIBS), a new remote Raman spectroscopy analysis and an infrared spectrometer have been added for a complete mineralogical and chemical characterization of the samples. A context color imaging capability is also implemented to place the analyzed samples in their geological context. After intensive performance and qualification tests as well as a calibration on a flight-representative model, the team has built the flight model. The qualification results and the performances of the instrument are presented.

Combined Spectroscopic Analysis of Terrestrial Analogs from a Simulated Astronaut Mission Using the Laser-Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy (LIBS) Raman Sensor: Implications for Mars

“…SuperCam can record TR-LIF spectra and distinguish short-lived organic fluorescence from that of longer lived minerals and rocks on Mars. 10,11,22 This mode will allow the identification and selection of possible targets that could have biological molecules embedded in them. This is particularly valuable, given that SuperCam's Raman mode is unlikely to present intense interference fluorescence backgrounds in the absence of biological materials.…”

Raman Spectroscopy from Laboratory and Proximal to Remote Sensing: A Tool for the Volcanological Sciences

“…At present most laboratories can acquire spectra from a wide interval of locations within its close environment, but the possibility to perform Raman spectroscopy measurements at certain distances will enable to collect data of great relevance in the field and for planetary explorations. For terrestrial applications stand-off Raman instruments are commonly used in field geology and field mineralogy and recently several efforts have been adopted to adapt and miniaturize the instrumentation for the more ambitious task of planetary exploration [49][50][51][52][53][54][55].…”

“…The new SSTRS system has been successfully tested, offering the capability to produce spatial distribution maps of mineral species from their remote Raman fingerprints. Remote Raman spectral analysis will contribute greatly to planetary exploration programs [55]. Remote data collection would have immediate applications to volcano monitoring activities.…”

Applications of AOTF Spectrometers in In Situ Lunar Measurements

“…The MicrOmega onboard the Japanese Hayabusa-2 (2014) mission realized the in situ spectral measurement of asteroids [19,20]. The SuperCam mounted onboard NASA's MARS 2020 Perseverance rover is also equipped with an infrared in situ spectra submodule to realize in situ spectra of the Martian surface [21][22][23]. In addition, the ExoMars scheduled for launch in 2022 will also be equipped with an in situ spectral instrument, ISEM [24,25], to perform in situ spectral surveys of the Martian surface.…”