Progress in Earth and Planetary Science (Jul 2025)
The WheelCams on the IDEFIX rover
- Naomi Murdoch,
- Valérian Lalucaa,
- Cecily Sunday,
- Simon Tardivel,
- Jean Bertrand,
- Nicolas Théret,
- Damien Vivet,
- Alice Amsili,
- Colas Robin,
- Panos Delton,
- Alexia Duchene,
- Quentin Douaglin,
- Antoine Maillard,
- Cedric Virmontois,
- Pierre Vernazza,
- Laurent Jorda,
- Olivier Groussin,
- Hideaki Miyamoto,
- Jean-Baptiste Vincent,
- Jessica Flahaut,
- Jens Biele,
- Olivier Barnouin,
- Christine Hartzell,
- Fabien Buse,
- Stefan Barthelmes,
- Stephan Ulamec,
- Patrick Michel,
- Julien Baroukh
Affiliations
- Naomi Murdoch
- ISAE-SUPAERO, Université de Toulouse
- Valérian Lalucaa
- CNES
- Cecily Sunday
- ISAE-SUPAERO, Université de Toulouse
- Simon Tardivel
- CNES
- Jean Bertrand
- CNES
- Nicolas Théret
- CNES
- Damien Vivet
- ISAE-SUPAERO, Université de Toulouse
- Alice Amsili
- ISAE-SUPAERO, Université de Toulouse
- Colas Robin
- ISAE-SUPAERO, Université de Toulouse
- Panos Delton
- ISAE-SUPAERO, Université de Toulouse
- Alexia Duchene
- ISAE-SUPAERO, Université de Toulouse
- Quentin Douaglin
- ISAE-SUPAERO, Université de Toulouse
- Antoine Maillard
- CNES
- Cedric Virmontois
- CNES
- Pierre Vernazza
- Aix Marseille Université, CNRS, CNES, LAM
- Laurent Jorda
- Aix Marseille Université, CNRS, CNES, LAM
- Olivier Groussin
- Aix Marseille Université, CNRS, CNES, LAM
- Hideaki Miyamoto
- University of Tokyo
- Jean-Baptiste Vincent
- German Aerospace Center, DLR
- Jessica Flahaut
- Université de Lorraine, CNRS, CRPG
- Jens Biele
- Université de Lorraine, CNRS, CRPG
- Olivier Barnouin
- APL
- Christine Hartzell
- University of Maryland
- Fabien Buse
- German Aerospace Center, DLR
- Stefan Barthelmes
- German Aerospace Center, DLR
- Stephan Ulamec
- German Aerospace Center, DLR
- Patrick Michel
- Université Côte d’Azur, Observatoire de la Côte d’Azur, CNRS, Laboratoire Lagrange
- Julien Baroukh
- CNES
- DOI
- https://doi.org/10.1186/s40645-025-00725-3
- Journal volume & issue
-
Vol. 12,
no. 1
pp. 1 – 29
Abstract
Abstract IDEFIX, the Martian Moons eXploration (MMX) mission Phobos rover, will be the first of its kind to attempt wheeled-locomotion on a low-gravity surface. The IDEFIX WheelCams, two cameras placed on the underside of the rover looking at the rover wheels, provide a unique opportunity to study the surface properties of Phobos, regolith behaviour on small-bodies and rover mobility in low-gravity. The information gained about Phobos’ surface will be of high importance to the landing and sampling operations of the main MMX spacecraft, in addition to being valuable for understanding the surface processes and geological history of Phobos. Here we introduce the WheelCam science objectives, the instrument and the characterisation activities. We also discuss the on-going preparations linked to the analysis and interpretation of the WheelCam images on the surface of Phobos.
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