1 Science and Robotic Exploration (SRE)

ESA’s planetary

probes

10th International Planetary Probe Workshop

David Agnolon & Peter Falkner,

Solar System and Robotic Exploration Mission Section,

Future Missions Preparation Office,

17th June 2013

2 Science and Robotic Exploration (SRE)

ExoMars

JUICEInvestigating Jupiter and its icy Moons

+ Mission candidates+ Mission candidates

Phootprint/Inspire

MarcoPolo-R

Solar Orbiter

Smart-1

Giotto

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Planetary exploration programmes

ESA’s mandatory science programmes: Pioneers: Horizon 2000, Horizon 2000+ The future: Cosmic-Vision 2015-2025 The ‘Cosmic Vision’ looks for answers to

mankind's fundamental questions:

How did we get from the 'Big Bang' to

where we are now?

Where did life come from?

Are we alone?

Backbone of the Agency

Inputs from science community, peer

reviewed

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ESA’s optional exploration programmes: Inherited from Aurora ExoMars Programme Mars Robotic Exploration Programme Based on Member States subscription

The ‘MREP’objectives:

Establish the foundations of a European

long-term robotic Mars exploration

programme

Prepare for Mars Sample Return

Planetary exploration programmes

5

Venus Express (2005 – )

New atmospheric data obtained supporting preparation of future Venus missions

Venus entry probes regularly proposed in the Science Programme (no current mission candidates): Harsh re-entry into Venus atmosphere

(> 20 MW/m2)

Balloon technologies

Very hot and high pressure environment

Venus

Venus entry probe

concept

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Small bodies and moons

May 2014, Rosetta reaches its target

In-depth observations of the comet nucleus

Landing and in-situ analysis

10 year voyage

2 asteroid fly-bys

Preparing future asteroid and comet mission studies, e.g. MarcoPolo-R, Phootprint, etc.

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Small bodies and moons

MREP mission candidate

MARCOPOLO-RNear-Earth Asteroid sample return

Cosmic-Vision mission candidate

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Small bodies and moons– technology

GNC for small body safe precision landing &

touchdown

Touchdown/landing in micro-g

Sampling, sample handling containment system

Navigation camera breadboard, Credit: Astrium GNC testbed, GMV platform®,

Credit: GMV

Parabolic flight test bed, Credit:Novespace

Brush-wheel sampler concept, Credit: AVS

Bucket sampler early breadboarding, Credit: Selex Galileo

Planetary touch and go test facility candidate, Credit: DLR

Image processing, Credit: GMV

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Small bodies and moons– technology

High-speed Earth re-entry:

12 km/s

Heat shield material (~ 15

MW/m2)

Crushable material

Aerodynamics

Radiations

air

Plasma sample tests, Credit: DLR

Heat shield demonstrator, Credit: Astrium

Titanium crushable foam, Credit: Magnaparva

Earth Re-entry capsule design and impact analysis, Credit: TAS

Dynamic stability flight test, Credit: ISL/Astrium

ESTHER shock tube, Credit: IST

10

Mars Express (2003 – ) studying Mars, its moons and atmosphere from orbit

Collaboration with NASA missions, i.e. science and support to Mars landings

Outstanding information on the Mars environment for future missions (Mars and Phobos)

Lessons learnt from loss of Beagle 2

10 years of Mars Express

Mars exploration

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Two ExoMars missions (2016 and 2018)

2016: Trace Gas Orbiter + EDL demo

2018: Exobiology rover

In cooperation with Roscosmos

Objectives: Investigate the martian environment,

particularly astrobiological issues

Develop and demonstrate new technologies for Mars exploration

Mars exploration

ExoMarsExoMars DM STM –

vibration testing

ExoMars rover demo, Credit: TAS

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Mars exploration

Precision landing and hazard avoidance (10-km)

Highly mobile rover

INSPIRE

Network of geophysical stations

MREP Mission candidates

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Mars exploration – technology

Precision landing & guided re-entry

Aerodynamic decelerators

Landing systems

Parachute testing, Credit: Vorticity

Airbag puncture tests, Credit: Vorticity

The guided re-entry ARD demonstrator, Credit: Astrium

Miniaturization, IMU, altimeters, etc.

MREP altimeter, Credit: EFACEC

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Mars exploration

Long-term goal

Return a sample from the Mars

surface

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Mars exploration – technology

Rendezvous and capture in Mars

orbitBio-containment,

sealing

Extremely reliable re-entry

Sample return facilityLanding ellipse, Credit: Astrium

Bio-sealing mechanism, Credit: Selex Galileo/Tecnomare

Sample container capture mechanism, Credit: Carlo Gavazzi Space

16

Outer planets

14th January 2005, Huygens reaches TitanFirst landing on a world in the outer Solar System

Most distant landing ever

Technology (e.g. parachutes, comms)

All data (incl. Cassini) help prepare mission studies, e.g. TANDEM

Outer planets entry probes + moons regularly proposed in the Science programme (no current mission candidate)

17

Outer planets

JUICE

Jupiter Icy Moon Explorer

Extensive characterization of Ganymede (8-month tour), Callisto and Europa (fly-bys)

Very harsh radiation environment

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Outer planets – technology

Radiations

Penetrators

Nuclear power

systemsCarbon-Phenolic

19 Science and Robotic Exploration (SRE)

Summary

ESA’s fleet is widespread in the solar system and is extending

Every mission helps the next one

Re-entries & landing become part of almost every planetary mission

We must be prepared … before mission selection

A significant part of ESA’s planetary programmes’ budget is spent on:

Early phases system studies (0/A/B)

Early generic technology development up to TRL 4

Try to reach TRL 5 or beyond for critical technologies by mission adoption (i.e. SRR)

Some of these challenges can no longer be undertaken alone

IPPW as a key to technical collaboration

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