Author/Authors :
Thomas، نويسنده , , N. and Lüthi، نويسنده , , B.S. and Hviid، نويسنده , , S.F. and Keller، نويسنده , , H.U. and Markiewicz، نويسنده , , W.J. and Blümchen، نويسنده , , T. and Basilevsky، نويسنده , , A.T. and Smith، نويسنده , , P.H. and Tanner، نويسنده , , R. and Oquest، نويسنده , , C. and Reynolds، نويسنده , , R. and Josset، نويسنده , , S. Beauvivre، نويسنده , , S. and Hofmann، نويسنده , , B. and Rüffer، نويسنده , , P. and Pi، نويسنده ,
Abstract :
The microscope for the Beagle 2 lander, which was launched as part of the European Space Agencyʹs Mars Express mission on 2 June 2003, will provide images of the Martian surface at around 6 μm resolution. It will provide optical images of the surface of Mars at a resolution 5 times higher than any other experiment currently planned. The device has a working distance of 12 mm and uses a set of 12 light-emitting diodes which surround the aperture to illuminate the sample in four colours. The target is brought into focus using a stepper motor. This article describes the scientific objectives and the design of the microscope. It also discusses initial results from ground calibration exercises which were designed to validate the system and describes aspects of its operation.
Keywords :
Microscope , Lander , Mars , instrument , Beagle 2
