Mössbauer Spectroscopy on the surface of Mars. Why

A Mossbauer spectrometer is included in the preliminary payload of a rover to be placed on the surface of Mars in the Soviet mission to the planct in 1996/1,2/. In counection with the American planctary program it has also been suggested to construct a Mossbauer spectrometer to be landed on Mars /3, 4/. The objective is to study the iron compounds of the Martian soil and rocks by backscattering Mossbauer spectroscopy. The paper describes the significance of the element iron in the study of the evolution of the planetary system and what we might expect to learn from Mossbauer spectroscopy of the surface materials of Mars. The study of Mars is expected to expand substantially in the coming decades, probably culminating with a manned flight to the planet. The international Mossbauer community may contribute significantly to the preparation of these events.