M-MATISSE

The 'Mars Magnetosphere ATmosphere Ionosphere and Space-weather SciencE (M-MATISSE)' mission is an European Space Agency (ESA) Medium class (M7) candidate currently in Phase A study by ESA.

M-MATISSE’s main scientific goal is to unravel the complex and dynamic couplings of the Martian magnetosphere, ionosphere and thermosphere (MIT coupling) with relation to the solar wind (i.e. space weather) and the lower atmosphere. It will provide the first global characterisation of the dynamics of the Martian system at all altitudes, to understand how the atmosphere dissipates the incoming energy from the solar wind, including radiation, as well as how different surface processes are affected by space weather activity.

It will consist of two orbiters with focused, tailored, high-heritage payloads that will observe the plasma environment from the surface to space through coordinated simultaneous observations, named Henri and Marguerite in honour of the French artist Henri Matisse and his daughter. It will utilize a unique multi-point vantage point observational perspective, with the combination of in-situ measurements by both orbiters and remote observations of the lower atmosphere and ionosphere by radio crosstalk between them.

Dr Beatriz Sánchez–Cano from the University of Leicester is leading the overall mission as well as acting as Principal Investigators for the Mars Ensemble of Particle Instruments (M-EPI) and the Science Data Centre for mission coordination, planning and science exploitation.

M-MATISSE is the product of a large organized and experienced international consortium. It has the unique capability to track solar perturbations from the solar wind down to the surface, being the first mission fully dedicated to understand planetary space weather at Mars. It will revolutionize our understanding and ability to forecast potential global hazard situations at Mars, an essential precursor to any future robotic and human exploration.