Inferred wind and surface conditions during the descent and landing of Beagle 2 on Mars

IF 3 2区物理与天体物理 Q2 ASTRONOMY & ASTROPHYSICS

Icarus Pub Date : 2025-07-04 DOI:10.1016/j.icarus.2025.116728

M.D. Paton , P.M. Grindrod , T. Bertrand , J.M. Davis , A.-M. Harri , H. Savijärvi , C. Segonne

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Abstract

Beagle 2 was a British-built lander sent to Isidis Planitia on Mars in 2003. It was part of ESA's Mars Express mission to conduct astrobiology investigations on the surface but failed to communicate after landing. The lander and its jettisoned hardware were eventually discovered on the surface in images taken from orbit. These items preserve information about the wind conditions during the descent and landing. Deciphering the location of these items allows us a glimpse into the atmospheric circulation on Mars and hence an opportunity to verify atmospheric models. In addition, the knowledge can help improve our understanding of the conditions during Beagle 2's descent and landing.

We found the winds during the initial part of the descent to be consistent with the expected large-scale circulation, especially in terms of wind direction, i.e., a complex interaction between Hadley circulation, stationary waves and the thermal tide. The mean wind speed and direction in the lower part of the descent were found to be consistent with a strong circulation in the basin, driven by slope winds on its rim. As well as the wind conditions we were able to provide some constraints on the surface properties. From modelling the bouncing trajectory of the airbags, there is some indication they were deflected to the side after impact perhaps by an uneven surface, e.g. impact with the Transverse Aeolian Ridges (TARs) as observed in the HiRISE images.

We have inferred wind speed and direction profiles for the descent and landing of Beagle 2. This study indicates that the wind conditions during the descent of Beagle 2 were likely in line with atmospheric model predictions. The study has been useful for verifying atmospheric models and constraining the range of conditions during the descent and landing of Beagle 2.

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推断小猎犬2号在火星上下降和着陆时的风和地表状况

小猎犬2号是英国制造的着陆器，于2003年被送往火星上的伊西迪斯平原。它是欧洲航天局火星快车任务的一部分，目的是在火星表面进行天体生物学调查，但在着陆后未能进行通信。着陆器及其丢弃的硬件最终在轨道上拍摄的图像中被发现。这些物品保存了下降和着陆期间的风况信息。破译这些物品的位置可以让我们了解火星上的大气环流，从而有机会验证大气模型。此外，这些知识可以帮助我们更好地了解小猎犬2号下降和着陆时的情况。我们发现下降初期的风向与预期的大尺度环流一致，特别是在风向方面，即Hadley环流、驻波和热潮之间的复杂相互作用。下降下部的平均风速和风向与盆地内强环流相一致，受边缘斜坡风的驱动。除了风力条件，我们还能够对表面特性提供一些限制。从对安全气囊弹跳轨迹的建模来看，有一些迹象表明，它们在撞击后可能被不平坦的表面所偏转，例如，HiRISE图像中观察到的与横向风成脊（TARs）的撞击。我们已经推断出小猎犬2号下降和降落时的风速和风向。这项研究表明，在小猎犬2号下降期间的风力条件可能与大气模型预测一致。该研究对验证大气模型和限制小猎犬2号下降和着陆期间的条件范围是有用的。

本文章由计算机程序翻译，如有差异，请以英文原文为准。

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来源期刊

Icarus 地学天文-天文与天体物理

CiteScore

6.30

自引率

18.80%

发文量

356

审稿时长

2-4 weeks

期刊介绍： Icarus is devoted to the publication of original contributions in the field of Solar System studies. Manuscripts reporting the results of new research - observational, experimental, or theoretical - concerning the astronomy, geology, meteorology, physics, chemistry, biology, and other scientific aspects of our Solar System or extrasolar systems are welcome. The journal generally does not publish papers devoted exclusively to the Sun, the Earth, celestial mechanics, meteoritics, or astrophysics. Icarus does not publish papers that provide "improved" versions of Bode''s law, or other numerical relations, without a sound physical basis. Icarus does not publish meeting announcements or general notices. Reviews, historical papers, and manuscripts describing spacecraft instrumentation may be considered, but only with prior approval of the editor. An entire issue of the journal is occasionally devoted to a single subject, usually arising from a conference on the same topic. The language of publication is English. American or British usage is accepted, but not a mixture of these.