North Polar Cap

This site is composed of polar ice and polar-layered deposits of water-ice and dust around the North Pole. Unlike the previous sites analyzed for future missions to the Red Planet, the North Polar Cap is more important for the presence of water-ice in it than for any striking geologic feature.

This ice cap like the one found in the South Pole is important for its function and not by the history of its geologic formations. A mission to this site is justified by the rationale that polar layered deposits contain the most complete record of modern climatic evolution. It is also presumed that these caps control the cycling of volatiles and dusts. The rationale behind such a mission is accompanied by a series of objectives which must be completed for it to be considered a resounding success.

• Analysis of the seasonal composition of volatiles.
• Pre-seasonal cycle composition vs. Water analysis with the use a sample 2 meters from the cap surface.
• Depth and layer structure analyzes using EM sounding.
• Analysis of seasonal and interannual variation of the caps.
• Define meteorology of the caps as part of the global meteorology network. The technical aspects of this mission can be fulfilled with present technology. The only major technical problems which must be solved before the launch of such a mission are communications and orbit transfer.