Radar Exploration of Mars: Recent Results and Progresses - Planetary Exploration and Science: Recent Results and Advances - page 87

Hereafter, two MARSIS scientific accomplishments, which involve completely
different Martian aspects, will be described more in detail with the purpose of
pointing out the versatility of radar data on planetary investigation.

5.5.1 3D Structure of the Mars North Pole (Ice Cap

and Basal Unit)

As mentioned before, the primary scientific task of MARSIS and SHARAD is the
detection of water on Martian surface and subsurface. The observations of both
radars are particularly devoted to Martian poles study. The two radars provide an
opportunity to extend our knowledge of a planetary body to the third dimension.
In fact, planetary subsurface radar sounders represent a new generation of remote
sensing instruments which, through volumetric (3D) study, allow to detect features
that are difficult to investigate in vertical profiles.
In order to complete the description of radar observations over Martian poles, it is
worth noting that, due to flight-dynamics aspects of spacecraft orbits, there is a lack
in the coverage of about 7 ı around the two poles, but, due to the limited extension of
those areas, it is possible to acquire an accurate information of the overall Martian
pole structure.
Polar campaigns have been planned periodically for both MARSIS and
SHARAD instruments. MARSIS campaigns are focused alternatively on north
or south pole, due to Mars Express highly elliptic orbit, while SHARAD campaigns
can be performed simultaneously on both poles. Figure 5.9 shows the traces on
ground of Mars Express orbits during the MARSIS north polar campaign performed
on 2011.

Fig. 5.9 MARSIS 2011 north polar campaign