Pubblicazioni

Versione: 1.0 Approvato

LDO-ID 2017-03-21-02

Titolo PHOBOS SAMPLE RETURN: Phase A System Study

Abstract

It is the long-term goal of enabling human exploration of the Moon and Mars that drives International space exploration plans. Robotic space missions must therefore develop and demonstrate the feasibility of the enabling technologies and capabilities. The Phobos Sample Return mission is a candidate mission of the Mars Robotic Exploration Preparation programme. Its objective is to acquire and return a sample from the Mars moon PhobosThe main science goal of this mission will be to understand the formation of the Martian moons Phobos and Deimos and put constraints on the evolution of the solar system. Thales Alenia Space represents one of two industrial contractors studying the mission to Phase A level. This phase involves investigation of all aspects of the mission and spacecraft design to ensure its feasibility. The planned launch date for the mission is between 2025 and 2027. The Ariane 5 ECA launch vehicle will be lauched from Kourou. A chemical propulsion module will transfer the spacecraft composite to the Martian system, and will then be separated at Phobos. A full characterisation campaign of Phobos will follow. This will include quasi-satellite orbits and flybys, using a payload suite of cameras and spectrometers. When the preferred landing site is identified, a controlled descent and touchdown onto the surface of Phobos will be performed, with a touchdown accuracy of 50m. A robotic arm and sampling mechanism will obtain and verify a sample of surface regolith, and insert it into the Earth re-entry capsule. Part of the Spacecraft wiil return to the Earth from Phobos and deliver the re-entry capsule to the Earth’s atmosphere. The capsule will perform a fully passive Earth entry, descent and landing in Woomera, Australia. It will then be recovered and transferred to a sample curation facility for sample extraction and analysis. This paper summarises the results of the Thales Alenia Space Phobos Sample Return mission and spacecraft design, with a focus on the key cost and mass drivers.

Autori Ferri Antonella, Pelle Stewart, Belluco Maurizio, Voirin Thomas, Gelmi Rolando

Tipologia Paper for Book

Media Chapter included in "Past, Present and future of small body Exploration, Advances in Space Research", Elsevier (Amsterdam, The Netherlands)

Sito web

Anno 2017