Development of observation strategies from mission design to operations: illustration with Mars moons Explorer infrared spectrometer (MIRS)

Eric Sawyer, Maria Antonietta Barucci, Francis Rocard, Sonia Fornasier, Alain Doressoundiram, Véronique Piou, Pernelle Bernardi, Tomoki Nakamura, Hiromu Nakagawa, Takahiro Iwata, Michel Le Du, Jean Michel Reess, Laurent Jorda, Théret Nicolas, Nathalie Pons, Christophe Donny, Sébastien Goulet, Inês De Jesus Martins Carriço, Elisabet Canalias

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

2 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

MIRS is part of the French contribution to the Martian Moons eXploration (MMX) mission that will be launched in 2024 by the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA). It is a near-infrared imaging spectrometer developed by the French Laboratory of Space Studies and Astrophysics Instrumentation (LESIA), of the Observatoire de Paris – PSL, with close cooperation and financial support from CNES. One of the major mission goals is to understand the origin of Phobos and Deimos, providing important insights into planetary formation and the transfer of matter in the region connecting the inner and outer solar system. During the four years of the mission, the MIRS control centre will provide precise sequencing of MIRS activities and guidance of its line of sight, with two main drivers: optimize scientific return and comply with the operability constraints of the instrument, the satellite and the system. In this perspective, observation strategies are designed, modelled and tested iteratively throughout all preparation phases of the mission. Discussions on concrete simulation results and illustrations improve mutual understanding, raise unexpressed needs and constraints and promote feedback on the efficiency of the proposed strategies. They also favour a global optimization of the entire system with the refinement of the trajectories and of the scheduling considering the seasons of the Martian system. This paper describes the whole process of observation strategies development in cooperation with the MMX and MIRS system and scientific teams, as well as the current status and results.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)453-464
Number of pages12
JournalActa Astronautica
Volume210
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2023 Sept

Keywords

  • Guidance
  • Instrument programming
  • Mission planning
  • Observation strategies
  • Optimization

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