Technical aspect of the optical depth sensor

The optical depth sensor (ODS) is designed for the monitoring of Martian dust optical depth and water ice cloud properties during several Martian years from small meteorological stations on the surface of the planet. The instrument described here is a lightweight improved version of that designed for the MARS96 Russian mission which unfortunately failed to reach the planet. It can be installed along with other meteorological equipment on a small station or rovers of limited energy and transmission resources. The paper describes the technical aspects of the instrument in view of a further possible mission.