Final answer:
A robotic space mission with spectral analysis and direct imaging techniques can remotely determine the chemical composition of a planet's atmosphere and surface.
Step-by-step explanation:
The kind of robotic space mission that allows us to determine the chemical composition of a planet's surface and atmosphere remotely is one that employs both direct imaging techniques and spectral analysis. Direct imaging provides information about the brightness and temperature of a planet's atmosphere.
By examining the spectrum of light from the planet, as in the case of HR 8799 planet 1, scientists can identify the different gases present, such as hydrogen or methane. Spectral analysis is instrumental in this process as it enables scientists to measure the light across various wavelengths and identify the chemical signatures each element or molecule leaves on the light spectrum coming from the planet.
Remote sensing technology is also a part of such missions, enabling the capture of data about distant planets from safe distances, similar to how geographers examine Earth. Instruments like spectrometers are utilized on probes to analyze the light from these celestial bodies to ascertain their composition. For example, in the observation of exoplanets' atmospheres, infrared wavelength observations can be particularly revealing due to their capacity to shine through the planets' brightness while diminishing the glare from their central stars.