ExoMars
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ExoMars is scheduled to be the first European led Mars Rover mission, and it combines technology development with investigations of major scientific interest. ExoMars is a robotic mission which will provide Europe with new enabling technologies for the exploration of Mars, specifically the Entry, Descent and Landing System (EDLS), the surface Rover and its Drill and Sample Preparation and Distribution System (SPDS).
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[edit] Mission
The deployment method limits the size of the rover to 140 kg to 180 kg, which is similar to the size of the Mars Environment Rovers
[edit] Baseline Mission
The current baseline mission scenario foresees a single launch of Soyuz ST 2-1b / Fregat from Centre Spatial Guyanais (Kourou) in 2013 of an ExoMars spacecraft composite, consisting of the Carrier Module (CM), and a Descent Module (DM) the latter including the Entry, Descent and Landing System (EDLS), the Rover Egress System, the Rover and the payload complement consisting of the Pasteur Payload and the Geophysical Science Package (GEP). The launch vehicle is currently being reconsidered as a more powerful launcher will allow a more capable probe to be launched.
After separation from the launcher and almost two years of cruise phase, in 2014, the CM will deliver the DM to Mars from a hyperbolic approach trajectory. Once safely landed on the Mars surface, the ExoMars DM will deploy the high-mobility Rover, which carries the Pasteur Payload and the Drill, and support a fixed station: the Geophysics/Environment Package (GEP). The 180-sol (6 months) Rover surface operation will then begin.
The rover will use solar arrays to generate electricity. Due to distance time-lag and complexity, ExoMars will self-navigate using 'smart' electro-optics to visually sense and interpret the surrounding terrain and will be capable of operating autonomously using intelligent on-board software.
The data relay function between the Rover and the Earth will be provided by NASA MRO satellite. However there has been some thought that the European Space Agency’s Mars Express spacecraft could be used to relay communications.
[edit] Alternative Mission
The alternative mission scenario includes a launch from Kourou with an Ariane V in 2013. Because of the higher payload of the rocket, a separate orbiter and a doubling of the scientific payload from 8 to 16 kg is possible. The landing from a orbiter makes it possible to wait for a storm free period and to land with a higher accuracy. The landing procedure and ground operations will be similar to the baseline mission. After the lander has been released and landed on the surface of Mars, the orbiter would transfer itself into a more suitable orbit where it would be able to operate as a data-relay satellite.
Originally, ExoMars was part of European Space Agency's Aurora programme as a Flagship mission.
[edit] Mission objectives
The main scientific objectives of the ExoMars mission are:
- to study the biological environment of the martian surface, and to search for possible martian life, past or present,
- to characterize the Mars geochemistry and water distribution
- to identify possible surface hazards to future human missions, and
- to improve the knowledge of the Mars environment and geophysics
Other objectives are to develop the technologies in various fields. These developments are necessary for the ExoMars mission as well as later robotic and human missions to be successful. These are:
- landing of large payloads on Mars,
- solar electric power on the surface of Mars,
- mobility on the surface of Mars
[edit] Science
The science package Pasteur will hold a variety of instruments to study the environment of Mars. The current proposal as according to the Pasteur Progress Letter 4 [1] is as follows:
[edit] Panoramic instruments
These are instruments that have a panoramic and long range view, some of them underground.
- Panoramic Camera System
- Infrared Spectrometer
- Ground-penetrating radar
- Permittivity Probe - Search for subsurface ice and water
- Neutron scattering - Search for subsurface ice and water
- Radon Exhalation - Search for subsurface water
[edit] Contact instruments
These instruments will be used to study the surface and rocks by direct contact.
- Close-up Imager
- Mössbauer Spectrometer
- Drill System
[edit] Analytical laboratory instruments
These instruments are placed internally and used to study collected samples.
- Microscope will scan the samples from the drill before milling.
- Raman spectrometer/Laser induced breakdown spectrometer (Raman/LIBS) [1] [2]
- Urey Instrument [3] consisting of the Subcritical Water Extraction (SWE), the Mars Organics Detector (MOD) and the Mars Oxidant Sensor (MOI). [4] and the Microchip Capillary Electrophoresis (CE). [5] - The water extracts from the soil and rock samples will contain any soluble compounds, which can be further analysed for amines and other organic molecules.
- Molecular Organic Molecule Analyzer (MOMA) consisting of a laser desorption ion source and a GC-MS which is similar to the instruments on Rosetta and Huygens - The laser desorption ion source is capable to evaporate organic moleculs even if they are not volatile, while the GC separates the highly volatile small molecules within the gas chromatograph. The final analysis of both instruments is done with a ion trap mass spectrometer.
- Specific Molecular Identification of Life Experiment (SMILE) is a Life Marker Chip to detect biomarkers from possible past or present life. The binding of organic molecules to molecular imprinted polymers (MIPs) or to antibodies is observed by of surface plasmon resonance (SPR) or fluorescently labeled tracers.[6]
- X-Ray Diffractometer (XRD) - Powder diffraction of X-Rays will give exact composition of the cristaline minerals. [7] [8]
[edit] Hazards/Environment instruments
These are used to study the environment on Mars.
- Ionizing Radiation Sensor - To measure cosmic and solar particles
- UV Spectrometer
- Dust Instrument Suite
- Environmental Package - Meteorological study
[edit] Geophysics Package (GEP)
In addition, following the April 2005 Birmingham meeting, it has been proposed that the lander carries a suite of fixed instruments dedicated to Mars internal geophysics and environment study. This "package" will measure geophysics and environment parameters, which are of first importance to understand Mars and its long term habitability. This will include a monitoring of seismic, tectonic and volcanic activity, but also magnetic field, UV radiation, dust deposition and humidity measurements. The suite will also likely include a meteo boom. It should survive several years on Mars, allowing to initiate long term environment variations, and will allow to initiate a first network of scientific stations at the Mars surface.[9]
[edit] Mission news
The ExoMars Mission was approved by Europe's space ministers in December of 2005. As this mission is still in the early planning stages, the information here and on ESA's website is preliminary. The European Space Agency (Esa) has pushed back the launch of its rover mission to Mars from 2011 to 2013. The decision will not significantly delay the mission's arrival at Mars.
But it does reflect a growing will to push for an upgrade to the ExoMars project which could raise its cost from roughly 500m euros to 800m euros.
[edit] See also
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| Flybys: Mariner 4 | Mariner 6 | Mariner 7 | Mars 4 | |
| Orbiters: Mariner 9 | Mars 2 | Mars 3 | Mars 5 | Mars 6 | Viking 1 | Viking 2 | Phobos 2 | Mars Global Surveyor | Mars Odyssey | Mars Express Orbiter | Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter | |
| Landers and Rovers: Mars 3 | Viking 1 | Viking 2 | Mars Pathfinder | Beagle 2 | Spirit rover | Opportunity rover | |
| Future: Phoenix Scout | Mars Science Laboratory | Mars 2011 | ExoMars | Astrobiology Field Laboratory | Phobos-Grunt | |
| See also: Mars | Exploration of Mars | Colonization of Mars | |
[edit] References
- ^ J. Popp, M. Schmitt (2004). "Raman spectroscopy breaking terrestrial barriers!". J. Raman Spectrosc. 35: 429–432. DOI:10.1002/jrs.1198.
- ^ F. Rull Pérez, J. Martinez-Frias (2006). "Raman spectroscopy goes to Mars". spectroscopy europe 18: 18-21.
- ^ A. M. Skelley, A. D. Aubrey, P. J. Willis, X. Amashukeli, A. Ponce, P. Ehrenfreund, F. J. Grunthaner, J. L. Bada, R. A. Mathies (2006). "Detection of Trace Biomarkers in the Atacama Desert with the UREY in situ Organic Compound Analysis Instrument". Geophysical Research Abstracts 8: 05275.
- ^ A. M. Skelley, F. J. Grunthaner, J. L. Bada, R. A. Mathies. "Mars Organic Detector III: A Versatile Instrument for Detection of Bio-organic Signatures on Mars".
- ^ A. M. Skelley, J. R. Scherer, A. D. Aubrey, W. H. Grover, R. H. C. Ivester, P. Ehrenfreund, F. J. Grunthaner, J. L. Bada, R. A. Mathies (2005). "Development and evaluation of a microdevice for amino acid biomarker detection and analysis on Mars". Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences 102: 1041-1046. DOI:10.1073/pnas.0406798102.
- ^ M.R. Sims, D.C. Cullenb N.P. Bannister W.D. Grantc O. Henryb R. Jones D. McKnight, D.P. Thompson, P.K. Wilson (2005). "The specific molecular identification of life experiment (SMILE)". Planetary and Space Science 53: 781–791. DOI:10.1016/j.pss.2005.03.006.
- ^ A. Wielders, R. Delhez (2005). "X-ray Powder Diffraction on the Red Planet". Int. Union of Crystallography Newsletter 30: 6-7.
- ^ R. Delhez, L. Marinangeli, S. van der Gaast (2005). "Mars-XRD: the X-ray Diffractometer for Rock and Soil Analysis on Mars in 2011". Int. Union of Crystallography Newsletter 30: 7-10.
- ^ P. Lognonné, T. Spohn, D. Mimoun,*, S. Ulamec, J. Biele (2006). "GEP-ExoMars: a Geophysics and Environment observatory on Mars". Lunar and Planetary Science XXXVII.
