MELOS

Did You Know?

• The mission concept includes an optional robotic airplane with a 1.2 m wingspan, mass of 2.1 kg, released at 5 km altitude for a 4-minute flight covering 25 km.
• Proposed landing sites target 'wet' environments near confirmed recurring slope lineae and dark slope streaks.

History

JAXA began developing the MELOS concept in 2008, when it stood for Mars Explorations with Landers and Orbiters or Mars Exploration with Lander-Orbiter Synergy. The original plan included an orbiter and up to four small landers launched together on a single rocket. The orbiter would study the atmosphere, solar wind interactions, and weather imaging. The four stationary landers were designated for meteorology, surface analysis, astrobiology near a methane vent, interior study, and sample return. By 2015 the concept was downscaled to a rover mission for engineering demonstration, with a possible aircraft, and the acronym was redefined.

Rover

As of July 2015, the proposed rover's primary objective is an engineering demonstration of long-range roving, with secondary science goals in meteorology, geology, and astrobiology. It would land using NASA's sky crane system. Scientific payloads include a thermometer, anemometer, barometer, ground penetrating radar, multi-band stereo cameras, a VIS-NIR spectrometer, and a fluorescence microscope with a sample arm. An optional daughter rover could access samples in difficult terrain.