Morten Bo Madsen
Encyclopedia
Morten Bo Madsen is a Danish physicist, associate professor at the Niels Bohr Institute
. He is known for his engagement in Mars research and his public lectures bringing frontier science to the public.
Madsen was a participating scientist on the Phoenix (spacecraft)
Mars mission, where the presence of water on Mars was proven.
In 1979 Madsen joined the Mössbauer spectroscopy group at the University of Copenhagen; a group led by Jens Martin Knudsen
. During the eighties this research group focused their research on subjects related to studies of the planet Mars
and based on ideas by "The Martian", Jens Martin Knudsen
formed the Danish Mars Group which soon spurred a sister-group The Mars Simulation Laboratory, in Århus, an initiative by Erik Uggerhøj and Per Nørnberg.
mission.
Where patterns of Martian dust formed on the magnetic plates revealing the magnetic properties of the dust and thus giving hints of the chemical composition of the magnetic component in the dust and geological formation.
Madsen's team was one of two the few non US teams who were working close together with NASA on the Pathfinder Mission, the other team was German.
The results from the magnetic experiments showed that there had not been liquid water on the surface of mars The last 2 billion years.
mission. Two of the three magnetic experiments were identical to the ones flown on the Pathfinder mission. Contact with the Mars Polar Lander was lost on December 3, 1999.
The dust could then be analyzed by the on board cameras using different filters. The results from the magnet experiment was considered a success in that they helped the understanding of how the dust on Mars was build up.
Madsen other members of his team was at the control center at Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena during the landing and of the rovers and the initial data collection. Jens Martin Knudsen
stayed in Denmark.
mission called "Improved Sweep Magnet Experiment" or ISWEEP.
The target consisted of a magnesium holder containing a palette of different calibrated colors of synthetic rubber with sweeping magnets underneath to clear the colored material of the magnetic Martian dust, assisting in calibrating the cameras of the mission
Niels Bohr Institute
The Niels Bohr Institute is a research institute of the University of Copenhagen. The research of the institute spans astronomy, geophysics, nanotechnology, particle physics, quantum mechanics and biophysics....
. He is known for his engagement in Mars research and his public lectures bringing frontier science to the public.
Madsen was a participating scientist on the Phoenix (spacecraft)
Phoenix (spacecraft)
Phoenix was a robotic spacecraft on a space exploration mission on Mars under the Mars Scout Program. The Phoenix lander descended on Mars on May 25, 2008...
Mars mission, where the presence of water on Mars was proven.
In 1979 Madsen joined the Mössbauer spectroscopy group at the University of Copenhagen; a group led by Jens Martin Knudsen
Jens Martin Knudsen
Jens Martin Knudsen was a Danish astrophysicist. During his scientific career Knudsen authored or co-authored more than 100 scientific articles, and was a long time advisor to NASA.-Early years:...
. During the eighties this research group focused their research on subjects related to studies of the planet Mars
Mars
Mars is the fourth planet from the Sun in the Solar System. The planet is named after the Roman god of war, Mars. It is often described as the "Red Planet", as the iron oxide prevalent on its surface gives it a reddish appearance...
and based on ideas by "The Martian", Jens Martin Knudsen
Jens Martin Knudsen
Jens Martin Knudsen was a Danish astrophysicist. During his scientific career Knudsen authored or co-authored more than 100 scientific articles, and was a long time advisor to NASA.-Early years:...
formed the Danish Mars Group which soon spurred a sister-group The Mars Simulation Laboratory, in Århus, an initiative by Erik Uggerhøj and Per Nørnberg.
Pathfinder Mission 1997
Madsen participated in the design and analysis of the five Danish magnetic experiments flown on the 1997 Mars PathfinderMars Pathfinder
Mars Pathfinder was an American spacecraft that landed a base station with roving probe on Mars in 1997. It consisted of a lander, renamed the Carl Sagan Memorial Station, and a lightweight wheeled robotic rover named Sojourner.Launched on December 4, 1996 by NASA aboard a Delta II booster a...
mission.
Where patterns of Martian dust formed on the magnetic plates revealing the magnetic properties of the dust and thus giving hints of the chemical composition of the magnetic component in the dust and geological formation.
Madsen's team was one of two the few non US teams who were working close together with NASA on the Pathfinder Mission, the other team was German.
The results from the magnetic experiments showed that there had not been liquid water on the surface of mars The last 2 billion years.
Mars Polar Lander 1999
After the success of the Pathfinder mission Madsen's team continued developing the next generation of magnetic experiments for the 1999 Mars Polar LanderMars Polar Lander
The Mars Polar Lander, also referred to as the Mars Surveyor '98 Lander, was a 290-kilogram robotic spacecraft lander, launched by NASA on January 3, 1999, to study the soil and climate of Planum Australe, a region near the south pole on Mars, as part of the Mars Surveyor '98 mission...
mission. Two of the three magnetic experiments were identical to the ones flown on the Pathfinder mission. Contact with the Mars Polar Lander was lost on December 3, 1999.
Mars Exploration Rover Mission 2003
Madsen designed magnetic experiments on board Each of the two rovers, Spirit and Opportunity. Three of the magnets are designed to draw magnetic airborne dust from the atmosphere and four magnets are placed on the arm next to the Rock Abrasion Tool and is designed to catch magnetic dust exposed from the Martian rocks.The dust could then be analyzed by the on board cameras using different filters. The results from the magnet experiment was considered a success in that they helped the understanding of how the dust on Mars was build up.
Madsen other members of his team was at the control center at Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena during the landing and of the rovers and the initial data collection. Jens Martin Knudsen
Jens Martin Knudsen
Jens Martin Knudsen was a Danish astrophysicist. During his scientific career Knudsen authored or co-authored more than 100 scientific articles, and was a long time advisor to NASA.-Early years:...
stayed in Denmark.
Phoenix 2007
Madsen's team was invited by NASA to design the three Radiometric Calibration Targets for the Phoenix (spacecraft)Phoenix (spacecraft)
Phoenix was a robotic spacecraft on a space exploration mission on Mars under the Mars Scout Program. The Phoenix lander descended on Mars on May 25, 2008...
mission called "Improved Sweep Magnet Experiment" or ISWEEP.
The target consisted of a magnesium holder containing a palette of different calibrated colors of synthetic rubber with sweeping magnets underneath to clear the colored material of the magnetic Martian dust, assisting in calibrating the cameras of the mission