Astronomy:MIMOS II

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Spectrum obtained by Spirit in the Gusev crater

MIMOS II is the miniaturised Mössbauer spectrometer, developed by Dr. Göstar Klingelhöfer at the Johannes Gutenberg University in Mainz, Germany , that is used on the Mars Exploration Rovers Spirit and Opportunity for close-up investigations on the Martian surface of the mineralogy of iron-bearing rocks and soils.[1][2]

MIMOS II uses a Cobalt-57 gamma ray source of about 300 mCi at launch which gave a 6-12 hr time for acquisition of a standard MB spectrum during the primary mission on Mars, depending on total Fe content and which Fe-bearing phases are present.[3] Cobalt-57 has a half-life of only 271.8 days (hence the extended measuring times now on Mars after over a decade).

The MIMOS II sensorheads used on Mars are approx 9 cm x 5 cm x 4 cm[2] and weigh about 400g[3]

The MIMOS II system also includes a circuit board of about 100g.[3]

References

  1. Klingelhöfer G.; Bernhardt B.; Foh J.; Bonnes U.; Rodionov D.; De Souza P. A.; Schroder C.; Gellert R. et al. (2002). "The miniaturized Mössbauer spectrometer MIMOS II for extraterrestrial and outdoor terrestrial applications: A status report". Hyperfine Interactions 144 (1): 371–379. doi:10.1023/A:1025444209059. Bibcode2002HyInt.144..371K. 
  2. 2.0 2.1 Klingelhoefer (2007). "THE MINIATURISED MOESSBAUER SPECTROMETER MIMOS II: APPLICATION FOR THE "PHOBOS-GRUNT" MISSION.". http://www.lpi.usra.edu/meetings/phobosdeimos2007/pdf/7038.pdf. 
  3. 3.0 3.1 3.2 Klingelhoefer (2003). "THE MINIATURIZED MÖSSBAUER SPECTROMETER MIMOS II OF THE ATHENA PAYLOAD FOR THE 2003 MER MISSIONS". http://www.lpi.usra.edu/meetings/sixthmars2003/pdf/3132.pdf.