NETwork studies of MARS climate and interior

A.V.Rodin, V.M.Linkin, A.N.Lipatov, V.N.Zharkov, T.V.Gudkova, R.O.Kuzmin

Scientific priorities of Mars exploration: what’s done?

• Climate dynamics (atmospheric temperature, water, dust, clouds)

• Surface and subsurface volatiles inventory

• Paleoclimate records in surface composition and morphology

• Extra rare constituents (methane)

Future plans

• NASA: Mars Science Laboratory (rover), MAVEN (atmosphere sample analysis). Soil sample return mission in a foreseeable perspective.

• ESA: ExoMars – rover with drilling capabilities.

What’s to be done by orbiters

• Wide-field hyperspectral monitoring (analog of VEX/VIRTIS)

• High resolution spectroscopy in IR and/or microwave ranges for isotopic analysis and Doppler measurements

(present in NASA and ESA programs)

What’s to be done by landers

• Mars internal structure and composition - a network of seismometers

• Meteo network

• Surface thermal & electric conductivity – penetrating probes (depth 10-20 cm )

How many stations do we need in a network?

• According to Kotelnikov theorem, 4 seismic and 6 meteo stations should be placed in each latitude zoneWave 3 feature in water vapor (model)

0

180

10

20

30

40

50

60

Minimalistic concept:2 “light” stations in the polar regions 2 “heavy” stations in tropics or midlatitudes

MEX/OMEGA 1.5 m indexMGCM

SH NH

Technical heritage:Netlander

(ESA)MET-NET (IKI & FMI)

microlanders

Lavochkin’s view on mission scenario

Wind Sensor

Thermocouples

100 cmSoil ProbeTemperature,Humidity

HumidityImager &opt. sens.

Model science payload

MET-Boom

• Descent phase instr. package

P, T, Acc• Surface phase instruments:

• Seismic sensor• Pancam • Wind speed

sensor• Pressure• Atm. temperature• Atm. humidity• Soil temperature• Soil humidity• Lidar

Thermal & electric conductivity probe(Phoenix experience)

seismic measurements: high demands on sensitivity

FirstIBU

Inflatable heat shield

MainIBU

Mass Budget

System: kg kg

Entry, Descent and 7,9Landing System Lander body 4,9 Equipment module 4Landing module 8,9

Total Entry Mass 16,8

Thermal protectionsystem tests

MetNet Flight Test

Испытания ТЗП

2007

Inflatable heatshield tested usingVolna launcher forsuborbital flight

Resume

• A network mission to Mars with small stations bearing meteo package, seismic sensors and optional instruments may get a high priority for the Russian national space program.

• Rich technical heritage and connection with European and US groups involved in similar network missions leaves a hope that it will be implemented shortly