Editing Mars Observer (section)

==== Scientific instruments ====
{|
| colspan="2" style="background: #e5e5e5"  | [[Mars Orbiter Camera|Mars Observer Camera]] ('''MOC''')
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| [[File:Mars Observer - MOC2 cb.jpg|150px]] <br />'''-'''[[:File:Mars Observer - MOC Diagram.png|see diagram]]
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{| style="float: right;" class="collapsible collapsed" width="300px"
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! style="background: #f2f2f2" | Objectives<ref name=MOObjectives/>
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*Obtain global synoptic views of the Martian atmosphere and surface to study meteorological, climatological, and related surface changes.
*Monitor surface and atmosphere features at moderate resolution for changes on time scales of hours, days, weeks, months and years.
*Systematically examine local areas at extremely high spatial resolution in order to quantify surface/atmosphere interactions and geological processes.
|}
Consists of narrow-angle and wide-angle telescopic cameras to study the meteorology/climatology and geoscience of Mars.<ref name=NSSDCMOC/>
*{{small|'''Principal investigator:''' Michael Malin / Arizona State University ([http://www.msss.com/all_projects/mars-observer-moc.php website])}}
*{{small|reincorporated on '''[[Mars Global Surveyor]]'''}}
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| colspan="2" style="background: #e5e5e5"  | [[Mars Orbiter Laser Altimeter|Mars Observer Laser Altimeter]] ('''MOLA''')
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| [[File:Mars Observer - MOLAincolor.jpg|150px]] <br />'''-'''[[:File:Mars Observer - MOLA Diagram.png|see diagram]]
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{| style="float: right;" class="collapsible collapsed" width="300px"
! style="background: #f2f2f2" | Objectives<ref name=MOObjectives/>
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* Provide topographic height measurements with a vertical resolution better than 0.5% of the elevation change within the footprint.
* Provide RMS slope information over the footprint.
* Provide surface brightness temperatures at 13.6&nbsp;GHz with a precision of better than 2.5K.
* Provide well sampled radar return wave forms for precise range corrections and the characterization of surface properties.
|}
A [[Laser ranging#Physics and astronomy|laser altimeter]] used to define the [[topography]] of [[Mars]].<ref name=NSSDCMOLA/>
*{{small|'''Principal investigator:''' David Smith / NASA Goddard Space Flight Center}}
*{{small|reincorporated on '''[[Mars Global Surveyor]]'''}}
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| colspan="2" style="background: #e5e5e5"  | [[Thermal Emission Spectrometer]] ('''TES''')
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| [[File:Mars Observer - MGSTESpic sm.gif|150px]] <br />'''-'''[[:File:Mars Observer - TES Diagram.png|see diagram]]
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{| style="float: right;" class="collapsible collapsed" width="300px"
! style="background: #f2f2f2" | Objectives<ref name=MOObjectives/>
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* Determine and map the composition of surface minerals, rocks and ice.
* Study the composition, particle size, and spatial and tempora distribution of atmospheric dust.
* Locate water-ice and carbon dioxide condensate clouds and determine their temperature, height and condensate abundance.
* Study the growth, retreat and total energy balance of the polar cap deposits.
* Measure the thermophysical properties of the Martian surface (thermal inertia, albedo) used to derive surface particle size and rock abundance.
* Determine atmospheric temperature, pressure, water vapor, and ozone profiles, and seasonal pressure variations.
|}
Uses three sensors (Michelson interferometer, solar reflectance sensor, broadband radiance sensor) to measure thermal infrared emissions to map the mineral content of surface rocks, frosts and the composition of clouds.<ref name=NSSDCTES/>
*{{small|'''Principal investigator:''' Philip Christensen / Arizona State University}}
*{{small|reincorporated on '''[[Mars Global Surveyor]]'''}}
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| colspan="2" style="background: #e5e5e5"  | Pressure Modulator Infrared Radiometer ('''PMIRR''')
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| [[File:Mars Observer - PMIRR Diagram.png|150px]]
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{| style="float: right;" class="collapsible collapsed" width="300px"
! style="background: #f2f2f2" | Objectives<ref name=MOObjectives/>
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* Map the three-dimensional and time-varying thermal structure of the atmosphere from the surface to 80&nbsp;km altitude.
* Map the atmospheric dust loading and its global, vertical and temporal variation.
* Map the seasonal and spatial variation of the vertical distribution of atmospheric water vapor to an altitude of at least 35&nbsp;km.
* Distinguish between atmospheric condensates and map their spatial and temporal variation.
* Map the seasonal and spatial variability of atmospheric pressure.
* Monitor the polar radiation balance.
|}
Uses narrow-band radiometric channels and two pressure modulation cells to measure atmospheric and surface emissions in the thermal infrared and a visible channel to measure dust particles and condensates in the atmosphere and on the surface at varying longitudes and seasons.<ref name=NSSDCPMIRR/>
*{{small|'''Principal investigator:''' Daniel McCleese / JPL}}
*{{small|reincorporated on '''[[Mars Climate Orbiter]]''' and then further developed and flown on '''[[Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter]]'''}}
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| colspan="2" style="background: #e5e5e5"  | Gamma Ray Spectrometer ('''GRS''')
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| [[File:Mars Observer - GRS.png|150px]] <br />'''-'''[[:File:Mars Observer - GRS Diagram.png|see diagram]]
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{| style="float: right;" class="collapsible collapsed" width="300px"
! style="background: #f2f2f2" | Objectives<ref name=MOObjectives/>
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* Determine the elemental composition of the surface of Mars with a spatial resolution of a few hundred kilometers through measurements of incident gamma-rays and albedo neutrons ([[Hydrogen|H]], [[Oxygen|0]], [[Magnesium|Mg]], [[Aluminum|Al]], [[Silicon|Si]], [[Sulfur|S]], [[Chlorine|Cl]], [[Potassium|K]], [[Iron|Fe]], [[Thorium|Th]], [[Uranium|U]]).
* Determine hydrogen depth dependence in the top tens of centimeters.
* Determine the atmospheric column density.
* Determine the arrival time and spectra of gamma-ray bursts.
|}
Records the spectrum of [[gamma rays]] and [[neutron]]s emitted by the radioactive decay of [[Chemical element|elements]] contained in the Martian surface.<ref name=NSSDCGRS/>
*{{small|'''Principal investigator:''' William Boynton / University of Arizona / NASA Goddard Space Flight Center ([http://heasarc.gsfc.nasa.gov/docs/heasarc/missions/marsobs.html#instrumentation HEASARC website])}}
*{{small|reincorporated on '''[[2001 Mars Odyssey]]'''}}
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| colspan="2" style="background: #e5e5e5"  | [[Magnetometer]] and Electron Reflectometer ('''MAG'''/'''ER''')
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| [[File:Mars Observer - ER.gif|150px]]
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{| style="float: right;" class="collapsible collapsed" width="300px"
! style="background: #f2f2f2" | Objectives<ref name=MOObjectives/>
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* Establish the nature of the magnetic field of Mars.
* Develop models for its representation, which take into account the internal sources of magnetism and the effects of the interaction with the solar wind.
* Map the Martian crustal remanlint field using the fluxgate sensors and extend these in-situ measurements with the remote capability of the electron-reflectometer sensor.
* Characterize the solar wind/Mars plasma interaction.
* Remotely sense the Martian ionosphere.
|}
Uses the components of the on-board telecommunications system and the stations of the [[Deep Space Network]] to collect data on the nature of the [[magnetic field]] and interactions the field may have with [[solar wind]].<ref name=NSSDCMAGER/>
*{{small|'''Principal investigator:''' Mario Acuna / NASA Goddard Space Flight Center}}
*{{small|reincorporated on '''[[Mars Global Surveyor]]'''}}
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| colspan="2" style="background: #e5e5e5"  | Radio Science experiment ('''RS''')
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| [[File:Mars Observer - RS Diagram.png|150px]]
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{| style="float: right;" class="collapsible collapsed" width="300px"
! style="background: #f2f2f2" | Objectives<ref name=MOObjectives/>
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| '''Atmosphere'''
* Determine profiles of refractive index, number density, temperature, and pressure at the natural experimental resolution (approx. 200&nbsp;m) for the lowest few scale heights at high latitudes in both hemispheres on a daily basis.
* Monitor both short term and seasonal variation in atmospheric stratification.
* Characterize the thermal response of the atmosphere to dust loading.
* Explore the thermal structure of the boundary layer at high vertical resolution (approx. 10&nbsp;m).
* Determine the height and peak plasma density of the daytime ionosphere.
* Characterize the small scale structure of the atmosphere and ionosphere.
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| '''Gravity'''
* Develop a global, high-resolution model for the gravitational field.
* Determine both local and broad scale density structure and stress state of the Martian crust and upper mantle.
* Detect and measure temporal changes in low degree harmonics of the gravitational field.
|}
Collects data on the [[gravity field]] and the [[Martian atmosphere|Martian atmospheric structure]] with a special emphasis on temporal changes near the polar regions.<ref name=NSSDCRS/>
*{{small|'''Principal investigator:''' G. Tyler / Stanford University}}
*{{small|reincorporated on '''[[Mars Global Surveyor]]'''}}
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| colspan="2" style="background: #e5e5e5"  | Mars Balloon Relay ('''MBR''')
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| <!--[[File:|150px]]-->
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Planned as augmentation to return data from the penetrators and surface stations of the Russian Mars '94 mission and from penetrators, surface stations, a rover, and a balloon from the [[Mars 96|Mars '96]] mission.<ref name=NSSDCMBR/>
*{{small|'''Principal investigator:''' Jacques Blamont / Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique}}
*{{small|reincorporated on '''[[Mars Global Surveyor]]'''}}
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|-
|}<ref name=Astronautix/><ref name=NSSDC/>

{{Gallery|align=center|title=Images of the spacecraft |width=175 |File:Mars Observer - spacecraft diagram -rev2.png|alt1=Labeled diagram of Mars Observer |{{small|Labeled diagram of ''Mars Observer''.}}
|File:Mars Observer preparations.jpg|alt2=Mars Observer in the Payload Hazardous Servicing Facility |{{small|''Mars Observer'' in the Payload Hazardous Servicing Facility.}}
|File:Mars Observer - marsobs 2.png|alt3=Technician assembling the Mars Observer space probe |{{small|Technician assembling the ''Mars Observer'' space probe.}}
|File:Mars - Observermarsobs 3.png|alt4=Mars Observer in the clean room |{{small|''Mars Observer'' in the clean room.}}
}}