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