Research on monitoring and forecasting methods of Martian dust storms for China’s Mars Sample Return mission

Key Points

• The research aims to monitor and forecast Martian dust storms to mitigate risks to the Mars Sample Return mission.
• Analyzed characteristics of dust storms at ten candidate landing sites.
• Developed in-situ monitoring and remote sensing strategies based on existing resources.
• Utilized image sequence methods, machine learning, and numerical prediction to enhance forecasting capabilities.
• Identified significant risks of dust storms even in non-storm seasons.
• Established a comprehensive forecasting approach combining various methods to support mission decision-making.
• Outlined strategies for further research on dust storm monitoring and parameter optimization.