Possibility of subsurface spectroscopic observation using micro probe on board planetary surface rover/lander

Abstract

We are developing the visible and near infrared spectrometer which will be installed in the lander/rover in the next minor body exploration in Japan following the HAYABUSA. The weight and size of the spectroscope including the dispersion and detection parts are 20 g and 54 x 32 x 9.5 mm, respectively. This condition of this equipment is small and light enough to be installed in the lander/rover. The spectrometer has a probe which is composed of the bunch of the fiber. The fiber is bundled with the fiber for the receiving light and source of light. In this study, first, we measured reflectance spectrum from surface of powdered mineral using the spectrometer. Next, we measured spectrum thrusting the probe into the powdered mineral. We confirmed that we can investigate material which is on planetary surface and underground using the spectrometer.