loading page

Optimizing ExoMars 2022 Rover Remote Sensing Multispectral Science: Cross-Rover Comparison using Laboratory and Orbital Data
  • +4
  • Peter Martin Grindrod,
  • Roger Stabbins,
  • Sara Motaghian,
  • Elyse June Allender,
  • Claire Cousins,
  • Melissa Susanne Rice,
  • Katrin Stephan
Peter Martin Grindrod
Natural History Museum

Corresponding Author:[email protected]

Author Profile
Roger Stabbins
Natural History Museum
Author Profile
Sara Motaghian
Natural History Museum
Author Profile
Elyse June Allender
University of St Andrews
Author Profile
Claire Cousins
University of St Andrews
Author Profile
Melissa Susanne Rice
Western Washington University
Author Profile
Katrin Stephan
German Aerospace Center
Author Profile

Abstract

Multispectral imaging instruments have been core payload components of Mars lander and rover missions for several decades. In order to place into context the future performance of the ExoMars 2022 Rosalind Franklin rover, we have carried out a detailed analysis of the spectral performance of three visible and near-infrared (VNIR) multispectral instruments. We have determined the root mean square error (RMSE) between the expected multispectral sampling of the instruments and high-resolution spectral reflectance data, using both laboratory spectral libraries and Mars orbital hyperspectral data. ExoMars Panoramic Camera (PanCam) and Mars2020 Perseverance Mastcam-Z instruments have similar values of RMSE, and are consistently lower than for Mars Science Laboratory Mastcam, across both laboratory and orbital remote sensing data sets. The performance across mineral groups is similar across all instruments, with the lowest RMSE values for hematite, basalt, and basaltic soil. Minerals with broader, or absent, absorption features in these visible wavelengths, such as olivine, saponite, and vermiculite have overall larger RMSE values. Instrument RMSE as a function of filter wavelength and bandwidth suggests that spectral parameters that use shorter wavelengths are likely to perform better. Our simulations of the spectral performance of the PanCam instrument will allow the future use of targeted filter selection during ExoMars 2022 Rosalind Franklin operations on Mars.