Mars Orbiter 96 Science Objectives
Main scientific objectives of this mission are to investigate the evolution of Mars, that is, the evolution of its atmosphere, surface, its interior. To reproduce the planet's evolution history it is necessary to acquire with various methods wide-scale, comprehensive studies of those physical and chemical processes that occur on Mars today and which took place in the past. Along the Earth-Mars trajectory, interplanetary space parameters will be measured and some astrophysical observations conducted.
Scientific experiments should help solve the following problems:
Mars Surface
Topographic survey of the surface including high-resolution studies of terrain
Mineralogical mapping
Elemental composition of the soil
Studies of the cryolithozone and its deep structure
Atmosphere and Climate Monitoring
Studies of martian meteorology and climate
Abundance of minor components in the atmosphere (H2O, CO, O3, etc.),
their variation, vertical distribution, search for regions with higher humidity
Measurement of the 3D field of atmospheric temperatures
Pressure variations of different space and time scales
Typical features of the atmosphere near the volcanic mountains
Characteristics of atmospheric aerosols
Neutral and ion composition of the upper atmosphere
Inner Structure (Geophysics)
Crustal thickness
Magnetic field
Heat flow
Search for active volcanoes
Seismic activity
Plasma
Parameters of the martian magnetic field, its momentum and orientation
3D distribution of the ion and energy composition of plasmas (near Mars and along the
Earth-Mars trajectory)
Plasma wave characteristics (electric and magnetic fields)
Structure of the magnetosphere and its boundaries
Astrophysical Studies
Localization of cosmic gamma-bursts
Oscillations of stars and the Sun