document title / titre du document TRP W ORK PLAN ... - emits - ESA

TRP Work Plan 2005-2007
Description of Activities
TEC-SB/7935/dc
12/Feb/09
TRP Reference: 03/W35
Title:
Martian dust simulation facility for solar cells
The differences between the Mars environment and the orbital environment in which the solar cells are most commonly used
require dedicated facilities to test both the solar cell and the photovoltaic assembly Coupons.
The critical differences between the two environments having strong impacts in the solar cell and photovoltaic assembly
testing are:
- Solar intensity and spectrum modified by dust
- Low temperature operation
- Dust deposition on the solar array surface
The Martian dust does not remain suspended in the atmosphere, but deposits out of the atmosphere onto any horizontal
surfaces with a dust coverage rate of 0.3 % power loss per day. This is potentially the major lifetime limiting factor for a solar
power system on any Mars mission longer than 100 sols.
For this particular reason it is very important to upgrade and to modify existing test facilities that could allow the
characterization and the qualification of the photovoltaic components under representative Martian dust conditions so as to
timely match the needs of future Aurora missions on the surface of Mars.
To achieve the above mentioned technical objective, the following activity is proposed:
- Development of a Martian dust simulating facility for solar cells and coupons by modifying an already existing Wind Tunnel
facility.
This activity will be mainly devoted to the realization of an environmental test chamber aimed at blowing representative Mars
dust over the samples in order to perform specified dust adhesion experiments.
The activity will be based on a Mars Dust and Environment Specification to be provided by ESA. Special emphasis will be
more particularly placed on the definition of the detailed composition of representative Martian dust particulates and of the
environmental conditions to be reproduced under testing. This test specification will be elaborated in the currently running
Aurora technology activity, titled Solar Array design and technology development for Mars exploration missions.
Deliverables:
Development of Martian dust simulating facility for solar cells/coupons by modifying an already existing Wind Tunnel facility
(Mars dust particulate/environment study and consequent realization of an environmental test chamber).
Current TRL: TRL1 Target TRL: TRL4-5 Application Need/Date: TRL5 in 2009
Application/Mission: Mars Exploration Contract Duration: 18 months
SW Clause : - Dossier0 Ref.: T-7720
Consistency with Harmonisation
Roadmap and Conclusions:
Solar Generators & Solar Cells
TRP Reference: 04/G15
Title:
Precision landing GNC test facility
To mitigate technical, schedule and cost associated with enabling GNC technologies of future planetary missions requiring
safe precision landing, they have to be tested as much as possible on ground in a precision landing GNC test facility. The
main objective of the activity is to develop a precision landing GNC test facility that will emulate real lander dynamics and test
safe precision landing navigation, guidance and control technologies to the performance level required by future planetary
landing vehicles. Starting from the outputs of the on-going activity on "Verification Strategy for Smart Lander", the activity will
involve: (1) analysis and trade-offs of precision landing GNC test facility configurations, inc. test facility requirements definition;
(2) mechanical and electrical detailed design of the selected baseline test facility configuration; (3) manufacturing, assembly,
acceptance tests and test campaign definition, and (4) integration of smart lander technologies from on-going TRP activities
and test campaign results analysis.
Deliverables:
Precision Landing GNC Test Facility; Documentations (technical data package, summary report and abstract), including
precision landing test facility configuration trade-offs/analysis, detailed design, test results, GNC SW demonstrator, test
plan/results.
Current TRL: TRL2 Target TRL: TRL4-5 Application Need/Date: TR5 in 2008
Application/Mission: ExoMars, MSR Contract Duration: 24 months
SW Clause : Operational SW Dossier0 Ref.: T-8071
Consistency with Harmonisation
Roadmap and Conclusions:
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