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
4
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
8
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
12
Mars exploration
Precision landing and hazard avoidance (10-km)
Highly mobile rover
INSPIRE
Network of geophysical stations
MREP Mission candidates
13
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
15
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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