The primary objective of the interior exploration using seismic investigations, geodesy and heat transport (insight) mission is to evaluate the interior of mars. However, the insight mission also…

This is a $220,334.80 grant award from the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) to The Research Foundation for the State University of New York (SUNY), acting on behalf of SUNY Geneseo, for the InSight mission to investigate the interior of Mars. The grant supports a geologic study of the landing site, including terrain mapping, regolith characterization, and monitoring of surface processes to aid the deployment and operation of the InSight science instruments. The principal investigator has prior experience with the landing site selection process. The project leverages the capabilities of the InSight Instrument Deployment System, including the robotic arm, scoop, and cameras. The award has no set-aside designation and runs through August 31, 2023.

The primary objective of the interior exploration using seismic investigations, geodesy and heat transport (insight) mission is to evaluate the interior of mars. However, the insight mission also offers a unique opportunity for an in-situ geologic investigation of a hesperian to early amazonian-age, northern plains landscape. Such investigations allow for an assessment of both modern and ancient surface processes on mars. They also help build our understanding of the geologic/climate history of the planet while providing context for, and comparisons with, other landed missions that evaluated similar age terrains (e.g. spirit, pathfinder). Furthermore, any post-landing, ground-based geologic characterization will be vital for the successful deployment of insight's primary science instruments (e.g. seis and HP^3) and for evaluating the efficacy of the pre-landing, orbital-based geologic characterization, including landing site selection methodology (e.g. landing site rock abundance). Successful deployment of the seis, WTS (wind shield for seis), and HP^3, requires an evaluation of landscape morphometry (e.g. slope & relief) and terrains (e.g. rocks, bedforms, craters) in the ~3.4 m^2 workspace in front of the lander. Post-deployment instrument operations and data interpretation will also be aided by a detailed analysis of local surface processes (e.g. wind-related sources of noise) and regolith properties/thickness (e.g. HP3 penetration). Geologic investigations will therefore play a critical operational role on the mission. To fully characterize the surface geology of the landing site, and to fulfill the requirements for instrument deployment and operation, the proposed project includes the following objectives: (1) determine the terrain and soil/regolith characteristics in the workspace for instrument deployment/operations after landing within the instrument site selection working group (isswg), (2) assist in localization of the lander by comparing the landscape as IT is observed in ground-based imagery to high resolution orbital imagery, (3) monitor active surface processes (e.g. wind, dust accumulation) with implications for instrument operation, lander battery life, and modern surface process rates, (4) characterize and map the geology of the workspace and landing region to evaluate past and present surface processes with implications for the local geologic history and the geologic evolution of other amazonian to hesperian age terrains on mars, and (5) describe the lithology and physical properties of the regolith to constrain regolith formation processes and the near-surface stratigraphy of the northern plains. This project fulfills a unique scientific role on a mission whose focus is on the shallow and deep interior. IT will also leverage the capabilities of the instrument deployment system (IDS), including the instrument deployment arm (IDA), scoop, context camera (ICC), and deployment camera (IDC), expanding the scientific return of insight using assets other than the three primary science instruments (e.g. seis, HP^3, and rise). Importantly, all objectives can be met using the imagery and topography data that are planned and required for instrument deployment. The proposal PI brings extensive background knowledge regarding the landing site geology, having served as a member of the landing site selection team and "council of terrains" at his previous post at JPL. The PI's familiarity with the local geology will be critical for rapid analyses of the workspace during the isswg. The proposed project tasks will address all 5 of the defined objectives and will result in the production of high-level data products, including CO-registered maps, geospatial data products (e.g. hillshade maps, slope maps), morphometric data, and stratigraphic logs (among others). These data, the primary products used for the geologic analysis, will be used by the instrument teams for deployment and operations.