Calibration of the MEGANE gamma-ray and neutron spectrometer for JAXA’s Mars Moon eXplorer (MMX) mission to Phobos
Abstract JAXA’s Mars Moon eXploration (MMX) spacecraft carries a NASA-provided γ-ray and neutron spectrometer called MEGANE. MEGANE’s measurements will be used to characterize the elemental composition of Mars’ largest and innermost moon, Phobos, with the goal of providing data that directly tests existing hypotheses for the origin and evolution of the martian moons. We report results from the ground calibration of the MEGANE sensors. This information is required to accurately interpret the measurements collected by MEGANE during in-flight operations at Phobos.
Authors
- Jack T. Wilson (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9774-553X)
- P. N. Peplowski (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7154-8143)
- Brian Schratz
- M. Burks (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3538-920X)
- D. J. Lawrence (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7696-6667)
- J. Goldsten (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7009-6288)
- Sarah Bucior
- Kathryn M. Marcotte
- Zachary W. Yokley
- Samuel Fix
- Erik Ramseth
Institutions
- Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (US)
- Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory (US)
Publication Details
- Journal
- Progress in Earth and Planetary Science
- Published
- 2025-10-15
- DOI
- https://doi.org/10.1186/s40645-025-00763-x
- Primary Topic
- Planetary Science and Exploration
- Type
- article
- Field-Weighted Citation Impact
- 0.00
Funders
- National Aeronautics and Space Administration
- Johns Hopkins University
- Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency