PHOBOS-GRUNT mission will enable to realise in-situ observations with an important payload which should operates on the surface for one year. Moreover, it will collect samples (about 200g) which will be sent back on Earth for very precise analyses.

The mission main objectives are to solve the following interogations:

the origine of Phobos (and probably of Deimos) in relation with the study of the primitive matter,
its evolution in relation with Mars,
the role of the asteroids impacts in the formation of the planets and in the evolution of their atmosphere, their crust and in the inventory of the volatil elements.

The French contributions to the instruments of the mission concern:

the instrumental suite GAP (Gas Analytic Package) which will be the main mean to characterize the molecular soil composition. It will be constituted of:

a Pyrolyser - Thermal-Differential Analyzer (TDA),
a Laser Spectrometer (TDLAS),
a Mass-Spectrometer (MS),
a Gas-Chromatograph (GC).

the supply of cameras:

two panoramic cameras (PANCAM) at the end of each arm,
a pair of stereoscopic cameras (STEREO PAIR),
a visible microscope (MICROMEGA VIS).

the supply of an infrared microscope (MICROMEGA IR),
the participation to the development of TIMM 2 instrument,
the participation to the conception of the Planetary Ion Sensor.

The Groupe Spectrométrie Moléculaire et Atmosphérique (GSMA), of the University of Reims, contributed to the realisation of the Laser Spectrometer (GAP-TDLAS: Tunable Diode Laser Absorption Spectrometer). The IAS supplied the cameras as well as the visible microscope. It supplied, in the first quarter of 2011, the IR microscope with the participation of the LESIA and IKI. The LATMOS, located near Paris, contributed to the realisation of the gas chromatographe (GAP-GC).

CNES insures, for all national partners (laboratories), the prime contractorship for the French instrument contributions to PHOBOS-GRUNT.