Space scientists from The Open University (OU) have been awarded a £2 million grant from the UK Space Agency to develop detector technology that will contribute to a new imaging instrument for Mars, as part of the International Mars Ice Mapper mission (I-MIM).
This imager will provide a new view of Mars that will be essential for enabling future human exploration. The OU team, led by Professor Manish Patel, will collaborate with the University of Bern, Switzerland, to help develop a novel visible-infrared multispectral imager instrument, with the UK responsible for providing the imaging detector.
The camera will use its infrared capability to tell the difference between ice made from water and ice made from carbon dioxide, both of which are commonly found at the surface of Mars. Knowing ‘where the water is’ within future landing sites is an essential step in the ultimate aim of sending humans to Mars.
A promising new UK technology
Professor Patel and his team are working closely with manufacturer Teledyne e2v to develop a new detector technology for use in space, combining both visible and infrared light detection into a single package for use in spaceflight applications.
The development of this technology could see the UK reap the benefits in many future spaceflight opportunities and across applications in the Earth Observation sector, ground-based astronomy equipment and commercial/defence markets.
Human exploration of Mars
I-MIM is a multi-space agency mission, led by the Canadian Space Agency with contributions from Japan, Italy, USA and the Netherlands.
This mission will enable UK scientists to be deeply involved in the characterisation of human exploration sites – a topic that will dominate the Mars science and exploration landscape in the coming decades, and one that builds on the UK expertise gained from the Rosalind Franklin Rover mission experience.
Professor Patel who leads the Atmospheric Research and Surface Exploration group, said:
“Our role in the I-MIM multispectral imager will revolutionise our view of Mars. By imaging Mars at longer wavelengths, we will be able to understand the composition of geological features on Mars in unprecedented detail, and reveal the locations of water-bearing resources on Mars that will be critical resources for future human explorers.”
Professor Patel added:
“This major funding from the UK Space Agency for the bilateral collaboration on the I-MIM mission is a significant step forward allowing new UK technology to unlock exciting new space science research and exploration.
“Most importantly, it is testament to the talent, skills and commitment of the spaceflight researchers in our team at the OU, and the key role they play in leading global exploration activities from the UK.”
Dr Konstantin Stefanov, from the OU’s Centre for Electronic Imaging, leads the detector characterisation activities in the project and commented:
“A major benefit of the proposed work is that the detector is not a niche piece of hardware for a single mission, but is a core technology that can be applied to any future activity that uses imaging or spectroscopy instruments. This includes future astronomy and planetary science missions, as well as commercial and industrial applications in the remote sensing and defence markets.”
