Studying the Martian atmosphere using near-infrared imaging spectrometer data from a European orbiter

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I analyze the Martian atmosphere using observational data obtained by the near-infrared imaging spectrometer OMEGA onboard the European orbiter Mars Express. The Martian atmosphere contains abundant dust particles, which absorb and scatter sunlight, giving rise to various weather phenomena unique to Mars. To understand these phenomena, I have been collaborating with a French research team to develop a system that retrieve the dust optical depth, dust altitude profile, and surface pressure. This system will be applied to future Mars exploration missions, including the MMX (Martian Moons eXploration) mission scheduled for launch in 2026. Written by KAZAMA Akira.

This post is also available in: Japanese