CubeSat Constellation for Communications and Mars Radio Monitoring

Abstract

Introduction: Determining the frequency, geographical distribution and severity of electrical activity, (which converts water vapor to hydrogen peroxide) has important implications for the compatibility of the Martian atmosphere and surface with organics. Severe electrical discharges can also be a hazard for humans and robots. Electrical activity, created by charge separation in convective dust storms, has been detected through Earth-based observations [1], but little is known about the causes and consequences of this phenomenon. The emissions were seen intermittently during a 31⁄2 hour period out of a total of about 60 hrs of observation over three weeks. More detailed exploration of these discharges can be obtained by Mars orbital measurements augmented by ground-based observations with the NASA Deep Space Network (DSN) during mission tracking passes.