NASA Mars Climate Sounder (MCS)
2003 - 2004
Project overview
The Mars Climate Sounder instrument, part of the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter mission, will observe the temperature, humidity, and dust content of the Martian atmosphere, making measurements that are needed to understand Mars' current weather and climate, as well as potential variations that may occur.
The Mars Climate Sounder looks at the horizon of Mars from orbit to observe the atmosphere in vertical slices. It takes measurements every 5 kilometres down into each slice through the atmosphere. These "profiles" are combined into daily, three-dimensional, global weather maps for both daytime and night-time. The weather maps show temperature, pressure, humidity, and dust in various layers of the atmosphere.
MCS is a nine channel infrared radiometer employing filter radiometry. These channels are distributed between two identical co-boresighted telescopes. The two telescopes employ room temperature linear array thermopile detectors at their focal plane. The University of Reading has been responsible for the design and fabrication of precision bandpass filters between 11.5 and 25.0 microns.
Delivered hardware
| Description | Filter Type | Quantity | Wavelength Region | Substrate Material | Dimensions |
| Mid-IR Filters | Narrow bandpass filters | 5 channels | 11.5 - 25.0 µm | Germanium (Ge) | 9.00 mm L x 0.94 mm W x 0.40 mm T |
Partners
Publications
- J W Bowen, P Edwards, G J Hawkins : " Filters for Astronomy and Atmospheric Sciences in the 15-40µm Range", 28th International Conference on Infrared and Millimetre Waves, Otsu, Japan, Sep 29 - Oct 3, 2003, pp. 117-11 (2003)
Media
Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter (MRO)
Further information
Related news
- NASA's Recon Orbiter Is the Most Important Thing We've Ever Thrown at Mars - December 25, 2012
- NASA Tracks Big Dust Storm on Mars - November 24, 2011
- Snow on Mars: NASA spacecraft spots 'dry ice' snowflakes - September 17, 2012
- Snow on Mars: NASA Spacecraft Spots 'Dry Ice' Snowflakes - September 14, 2012
- NASA Orbiter Observations Point to 'Dry Ice' Snowfall on Mars - September 11, 2012
- Nighttime Water Ice Clouds Predicted by Models are Confirmed by MCS Observations - October 25, 2011
- Prolific NASA Orbiter Reaches Five-Year Mark - March 09, 2011
- Atmosphere Checked, One Mars Year Before a Landing - September 29, 2010
- Mars Climate Sounder Gives First Warning of a Major "Dust Event" - March 31, 2009
- Millions of soundings yield clues to Mars' weather - April 03, 2007
- First Data from Mars Climate Sounder Aboard NASA Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter - April 02, 2006
Related links
Contact us
- Email:
irfilters@reading.ac.uk - Telephone:
+44 (0) 118 378 8224