Thermal infrared field spectroscopy

The 2003 Mars Exploration Rover science strategy calls on Pancam and Mini-TES to identify promising targets for the rover, which will then traverse to those targets for examination. Team members will select sites using target morphology and color (Pancam), and interpretations of the mineralogy using Mini-TES. This strategy requires high quality, near real-time interpretations of Mini-TES data. The planetary community has essentially no experience with rapid identification using field images measured similarly to Mini-TES. Department of Defense researchers have instrumentation, data sets, and experience in this area. Here we discuss lessons learned in interpreting field spectra and measurement protocols that improve interpretations. We solicit input for what targets and sites to measure using our hyperspectral field scanners for release to the community.