The origin and specific features of the martian satellites in the context of the euruption concept

The numerous problems related to the origin and evolution of Phobos and Deimos, as well as to specific features of their topography, are readily accounted for in the context of a concept presupposing the possibility of detonation (or burning) of electrolyzed ices.The explosion of an icy asteroid of mass m _A \> 10²³ g within the gravitational sphere of Mars resulted in the capture of secondary fragments into satellite orbits and the formation of a ring of icy and rocky particles. The motion of satellites in the ring reduced the eccentricities of their orbits and rendered their mutual collisions impossible. The thick regolith of Deimos is the material captured from the ring.The impact responsible for the Stickney crater on Phobos initiated a detonation in the material in the crater, and the detonation, in its turn, ignited the products of electrolysis in the bulk of the satellite. Phobos lost its regolith because of detonation-induced acceleration. As a result of the burning out of Phobos's ices, its density somewhat exeeds that of Deimos.Different grooves on Phobos have differing origins. The grooves of groups B, E, D (as specified by P. Thomas et al., J. Geophys. Res., 84, 8457–8477, 1979) are due to fracturing caused by the Sickney event; group C (which is normal to the minor axis of the Phobos ellipsoid) reflects the layered nature of the parent asteroid; while the closely arranged group A grooves, which are normal to Phobos's major axis, were formed during the contraction of the satellite as a result of the loss of burnt-out ices. A number of conclusions are drawn which can be tested by future missions to the satellites.