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:
Title:
T213-01SC
Water sensor for Mars Exploration
This study is intended to develop a method, which can easily analyse water films on grains. Such a technique must be
incorporated into an instrument requiring low resources (mass, power, volume) and placed on the surface of Mars. Since
many sites on the Martian surface need to be visited, the instrument must be incorporated into a mobile surface rover having a
soil penetration capability. A possible technique, which may satisfy the requirements, is infrared spectroscopy in combination
with attenuated total reflection (ATR). In combination with a spectrometer the ATR method delivers an absorption spectrum of
the substance close to the boundary between the grain and the thin film. In the case of water films on Martian soil grains a
Fourier infrared spectrometer would appear appropriate. It would be sensitive not only to the water film but also detect other
adsorbates on the grains surface. There are other techniques and physical principles which could serve to reach the scientific
goals. Eventually the ideal technique or combination of techniques has to be identified. Measurement principles and
instrument design issues of ATR-IR spectroscopy are addressed under a current ESA contract.Resources are crucial for this
instrument and must be minimised and in particular the weight and corresponding small outer dimensions are the key drivers
for the assessment of an advanced design of an ATR. Initially the instrument must be able to be incorporated into a transport
vehicle. The baseline is the ESA Nanokhod rover having a sub-surface penetration capability, i.e. a drill with a sample return
to the surface for ATR analysis from the Rover payload cab. In a second scenario the sensor should also be integrated into a
surface penetrating device (the ESA mole now under development). The design should serve a wide range of exploration
strategies for the Martian surface.
Deliverables:
Breadboard model.
Current TRL: TRL2 Target TRL: TRL3-4 Application Need/Date: TRL5 by 2008
Application/Mission: ExoMars Contract Duration: 18 months
SW Clause : - Dossier0 Ref.: T-670
Consistency with Harmonisation
Roadmap and Conclusions:
TRP Reference: T213-03MM
Title:
Sampling drill tools for rocky and granular soils
This activity will develop and demonstrate three alternative tool designs (ca. 20 mm in diameter) to be mounted on a drill, to
collect soil samples (sand or rock) at a desired drilling depth, the Mars surface being considered as reference. Operation of
the soil sampling tools is based on opening and closing the sample chamber in the tool at the desired depth. Operation of a
rock sampling tool is based on a wedge-type core cutter ring or a conical core catcher. A combined rock and granular soil
sampling tool will be able to sample both sandy and rocky soil with negligible losses. Tool actuation force will be traded-off: it
may be generated either by electric actuators (motor, solenoid, shape memory alloy), or it may passively take advantage of
drill rotation or reversal of the drill rotation.
Deliverables:
Drill Tool
Current TRL: TRL2 Target TRL: TRL5 Application Need/Date: TRL5 in 2008
Application/Mission: ExoMars, MSR Contract Duration: 12 months
SW Clause : - Dossier0 Ref.: T-824
Consistency with Harmonisation
Roadmap and Conclusions:
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