Martian gravity field model and its time variations from MGS and Odyssey data

Abstract

We present results of several years of research and data processing aimed at modelling the Mars gravity field and its longest wavelength time variations. The new solution includes tracking data from Mars Global Surveyor (MGS) from 1998 to 2006 (end of mission) and from Mars Odyssey from 2002 to the spring of 2008; this is the longest analyzed data set from these two orbiter missions as compared to previous works. The new model has been obtained by a team working in Europe, independently from the works of groups at NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) and Goddard Space Flight Center (GSFC), also with totally independent software. Observations consist in two and three-way Doppler measurements (also one way for MGS), and range tracking data collected by the Deep Space Network and have been processed in 4 day arcs, taking into account all disturbing forces of gravitational and non-gravitational origins; for each arc the state vector, drag and solar pressure model multiplying factors, and angular momentum dump parameters are adjusted. The static field (MGGM08A) is represented in spherical harmonics up to degree and order 95 and is very close to previously published models (in terms of spectral components and also over specific features); correlations with the global Mars topography are established and apparent depths of compensation by degree are derived. Lumped zonal harmonics of degree two and three are solved for every 10 days, exhibiting variations in line with previous results (including authors’ ones); the work also shows the difficulty of finding clean signatures (annual and semi-annual) for the zonal coefficient of second degree. The k 2 Love number is also derived from the ensemble of data, as well as from subsets of them; values between 0.110 and 0.130 are found, which are consistent with the existence of a Martian fluid core of significant radius.