Astronomy:ExoMars 2020 surface platform

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ExoMars 2020 surface platform
NamesExoMars 2018 Surface Platform[1]
Mission typeMars lander and rover
OperatorESA & Roscosmos
Websitewww.esa.int/Our_Activities/Space_Science/ExoMars/Surface_platform
Mission durationPlanned: ≥ 1 Earth year[2]
Spacecraft properties
ManufacturerLavochkin
Launch massLander: 827.9 kg (1,825 lb)
Rover: 310 kg (680 lb)
Payload massLander: 45 kg (99 lb)
PowerSolar panels[3]
Start of mission
Launch dateJuly 2020[4]
RocketProton-M/Briz-M
Mars lander
Landing date≈April 2021[5]
ExoMars programme
 

The ExoMars 2020 surface platform is a planned robotic Mars lander, part of the ExoMars 2020 mission by the European Space Agency and the Roscosmos State Corporation.

The plan calls for a Russian Proton-M launch vehicle to deliver the Russian-built surface platform as well as the ExoMars rover to the surface of Mars.[6] Once safely landed, the platform will deploy the rover and will start a one Earth-year mission to investigate the surface environment at the landing site.[2]

The spacecraft was scheduled to launch in 2018 and land on Mars in early 2019,[6] but due to delays in European and Russian industrial activities and deliveries of the scientific payload, it was moved to the launch window in July 2020.[4]

Scientific instruments

The science payload mass is about 45 kg and consists of:[2]

  • The lander radio-science experiment (LaRa) will study the internal structure of Mars, and will make precise measurements of the rotation and orientation of the planet by monitoring two-way Doppler frequency shifts between the surface platform and Earth. It will also detect variations in angular momentum due to the redistribution of masses, such as the migration of ice from the polar caps to the atmosphere. Developed by Belgium.
  • The Habitability, Brine, Irradiation and Temperature (HABIT) package will investigate the amount of water vapour in the atmosphere, daily and seasonal variations in ground and air temperatures, and the UV radiation environment. Developed by Sweden.
  • Meteorological package (METEO-M). Developed by Russia. The instrument will incorporate the following sensor packages:
    • Pressure and humidity sensors (METEO-P, METEO-H). Developed by Finland.
    • Radiation and dust sensors (RDM). Developed by Spain.
    • Anisotropic magneto-resistance (AMR) sensor to measure magnetic fields. Developed by Spain.
  • A magnetometer named MAIGRET. Developed by Russia. The instrument will incorporate the Wave analyser module (WAM), developed by the Czech Republic.
  • A set of cameras to characterise the landing site environment (TSPP). Developed by Russia.
  • Instrument interface and memory unit (BIP). Developed by Russia.
  • IR Fourier spectrometer to study the atmosphere (FAST). Developed by Russia.
  • Active Detection of Radiation of Nuclei-ExoMars (ADRON-EM). Developed by Russia.
  • Multi-channel Diode-Laser Spectrometer for atmospheric investigations (M-DLS). Developed by Russia.
  • Radio thermometer for soil temperatures (PAT-M). Developed by Russia.
  • Dust particle size, impact, and atmospheric charging instrument suite (Dust Suite). Developed by Russia.
  • A seismometer named SEM. Developed by Russia.
  • Gas chromatography–mass spectrometry for atmospheric analysis (MGAP). Developed by Russia.
Power source

The science and communication instruments on the lander platform will be powered by solar panels and rechargeable batteries.[3] The automated voltage power system is being developed and build by ISS-Reshetnev.[3]

Russia previously evaluated the option of using a radioisotope thermoelectric generator (RTG) to power the science instruments,[7] and a radioisotope heater unit (RHU) to provide thermal control while on the frozen Martian surface.[8]

Landing site selection

Oxia Planum, near the equator, is a proposed landing site for its smooth surface and potential to preserve biosignatures

After a review by an ESA-appointed panel, a short list of four sites was formally recommended in October 2014 for further detailed analysis:[9][10]

On 21 October 2015, Oxia Planum was chosen as the preferred landing site for the ExoMars rover assuming a 2018 launch.

Since the launch was postponed to 2020, Aram Dorsum and Mawrth Vallis will also be considered.[11][12] ESA convened further workshops to re-evaluate the three remaining options and in March 2017 selected two sites to study in detail:

The final selection is scheduled to occur approximately one year before launch.[13]

References

  1. ↑ "ExoMars 2018 Surface Platform Experiment Proposal Information Package (pdf, 8.3 MB)". European Space Agency. 31 March 2015. http://exploration.esa.int/mars/55699-exomars-2018-surface-platform-experiment-proposal-information-package/. Retrieved 4 October 2016. 
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 "Exomars 2018 surface platform". European Space Agency. http://exploration.esa.int/mars/56933-exomars-2018-surface-platform/. Retrieved 14 March 2016. 
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 ISS-Reshetnev chosen for ExoMars-2020 project. ISS-Reshetnev. 23 November 2016.
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 "N° 11–2016: Second ExoMars mission moves to next launch opportunity in 2020" (Press release). ESA. 2 May 2016. Retrieved 2 May 2016.
  5. ↑ "Departure of Europe’s first Mars rover delayed to 2020". Spaceflight Now. 2 May 2016. https://spaceflightnow.com/2016/05/02/departure-of-europes-first-mars-rover-delayed-to-2020/. Retrieved 15 January 2018. 
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 "Russia and Europe Team Up for Mars Missions". Space.com. 14 March 2013. http://www.space.com/20240-mars-missions-russia-europe.html. Retrieved 24 January 2016. 
  7. ↑ Amos, Jonthan (21 June 2013). "Looking forward to Europe's 'seven minutes of terror'". BBC News. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-23010103. 
  8. ↑ Zak, Anatoly (3 March 2016). "ExoMars 2018". Russian Space Web. http://www.russianspaceweb.com/exomars_2016.html. Retrieved 15 March 2016. 
  9. ↑ "Four Candidate Landing Sites for ExoMars 2018". ESA (Space Ref). 1 October 2014. http://spaceref.com/mars/four-candidate-landing-sites-for-exomars-2018.html. Retrieved 1 October 2014. 
  10. ↑ "Recommendation for the Narrowing of ExoMars 2018 Landing Sites". ESA. 1 October 2014. http://exploration.esa.int/jump.cfm?oid=54707. Retrieved 1 October 2014. 
  11. ↑ Amos, Jonathan (21 October 2015). "ExoMars rover: Landing preference is for Oxia Planum". BBC News. https://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-34584214. Retrieved 22 October 2015. 
  12. ↑ Atkinson, Nancy (21 October 2015). "Scientists Want ExoMars Rover to Land at Oxia Planum". Universe Today. http://www.universetoday.com/123018/scientists-want-exomars-rover-to-land-at-oxia-planum/. Retrieved 22 October 2015. 
  13. ↑ Bauer, Markus; Vago, Jorge (28 March 2017). "Final two ExoMars landing sites chosen". European Space Agency. http://www.esa.int/Our_Activities/Space_Science/ExoMars/Final_two_ExoMars_landing_sites_chosen. Retrieved 31 March 2017. 

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