mullard space science laboratory planetary micro-penetrators dr rob gowen on behalf of glyn...
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Mullard Space Science Laboratory
PlanetaryMicro-Penetrators
Dr Rob Gowen on behalf of Glyn Collinson
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+ international - Germany, France, Austria, Italy, Poland, Russia, USA
Mullard Space Science Laboratory
What are kinetic penetrators ?What are kinetic penetrators ?
Penetrator
Point of Separation
Payload Instruments
Detachable Propulsion Stage
PDS (Penetrator
Delivery System)
Low mass projectiles ~2-13Kg
– Lunar A 13.5Kg
– DS-2 3.6Kg
High impact speed ~ 200-500 m/s
Very tough ~10-50kgee
Penetrate surface ~ few metres
Perform importantscience from below surface
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Mars96 (Russia) failed to leave Earth orbit
DS2 (Mars) NASA 1999 ?
Many paper studies and ground trials
No survivable high velocity impacting probe has been successfully landed on any extraterrestrial body
Japanese Lunar-A cancelled (now planned to fly on Russian Lunar Glob)
History
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• Military have been successfully firing instrumented projectiles for many years to at least comparable levels of gee forces expected.
• Target materials mostly concrete and steel• 40,000gee qualified electronics exist (re-used !)• DS-2 and Lunar-A penetrators – space qualified.
When asked to describe the condition of a probe that had impacted 2m of concrete at 300 m/s a UK expert described the device
as ‘a bit scratched’ !
UK Heritage and Feasibility
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Examples of hi-gee electronic systems
Designed and tested :
– Communication systems
• 36 GHz antenna, receiver and electronic fuze tested to 45 kgee
– Dataloggers
• 8 channel, 1 MHz sampling rate tested to 60 kgee
– MEMS devices (accelerometers, gyros)
• Tested to 50 kgee
– MMIC devices
• Tested to 20 kgee
MMIC chip tested to 20 kgee
Communication system and electronic fuze tested to 45 kgee
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Scientific Objectives - Luna
• Core– Water and volatile detection– Seismology– Accelerometer
• Desirable– Descent camera– Heat Flow– Geochemistry/XRF– Mineralogy– Radiation Monitor
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Science – Polar VolatilesA suite of instruments will detect and characterise volatiles (including water) within shaded craters at both poles• Astrobiologically important
– possibly remnant of the original seeding of planets by comets
– may provide evidence of important cosmic-ray mediated organic synthesis
• Vital to the future manned exploration of
the Moon
NASA Lunar Prospector
Prototype,
ruggedized ion trap
mass-spectrometer
Open University
Mullard Space Science Laboratory
A global network of seismometers will tell us: – Size and physical state of the Lunar Core
– Structure of the Lunar Mantle
– Thickness of the far side crust
– The origin of the enigmatic shallow moon-quakes
– The seismic environment at potential manned landing sites
Science – Lunar Seismology
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Europa Penetrator ‘Payload’ Science
• Beeping Transmitter– For Earth based VLBI determination of surface ice
movement (deformation, seismic vibration)• Accelerometer
- Determination of ice characteristics and penetration depth.
• Micro-Seismometers/tilt-meter- Detection of natural (or impact) seismic activity.- Presence and size of an under ice ocean. - ‘cryo-tectonic’ activity
• Chemical Sensors - Presence, extent, concentration of organics
(possible life indicators). - Presence, extent and concentration of other
chemical species (minerals, chirality, isotopic abundances ?)
• Other sensors: Micro-camera (descent, surface), magnetometer, radiation monitor, etc.
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Enceladus
500Km dia. (c.f. with UK) Fierce south pole plume (ice/dust) Hi-albedo covering Saturnian moons ? ‘Atmosphere’ (H2O,N2,CO2,CH4) Liquid water under surface (life ?)
(image from Wikipedia)
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Titan • ~50% larger than our Moon• Atmosphere ~4x denser that Earth’s at
surface• Mountains, sand dunes, lakes,
geologically young• Weather (winds, clouds, precipitation,
seasons)• Complex organic chemistry• Very Earth like ! but cold (Life ?)
Fluvial plain
dunes
(Wikipedia)
Cosmic Visions Proposal
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Consortium Status
1. MoonLITE Mission - currently in discussion with BNSC and NASA
2. Europa (LAPLACE) and Titan/Enceladus (TANDEM) ESA Cosmic Vision Proposals – Selected, 18 month study phase commences.
3. Full-scale structure impact trial – March 2008
4. Pre-mission development – Preparing bidsfor 2 yr development to bring technology ruggedization up to TRL 5.
http://www.mssl.ucl.ac.uk/planetary/missions/Micro_Penetrators.php
Mullard Space Science Laboratory
End
http://www.mssl.ucl.ac.uk/planetary/missions/Micro_Penetrators.php
MoonLITEMoonLITE Delivery and Comms Spacecraft (Orbiter).
Deliver penetrators to ejection orbit. Deliver penetrators to ejection orbit. provide pre-ejection health status, provide pre-ejection health status, and relay communications.and relay communications.
Orbiter Payload: 4 Descent Probes 4 Descent Probes (each containing 10-15 kg penetrator (each containing 10-15 kg penetrator + 20-25 kg de-orbit and attitude + 20-25 kg de-orbit and attitude control).control).
Landing sites: Globally spaced Globally spaced Far side, Polar region(s), One near Far side, Polar region(s), One near an Apollo landing site for calibration.an Apollo landing site for calibration.
Duration: >1 year for seismic network. >1 year for seismic network. Other science does not require so long Other science does not require so long (perhaps a few Lunar cycles for heat flow (perhaps a few Lunar cycles for heat flow and volatiles much less).and volatiles much less).
Penetrator Design: Single Body for Single Body for simplicity and risk avoidance. Battery powered simplicity and risk avoidance. Battery powered with comprehensive power saving techniqueswith comprehensive power saving techniques..
3
2
1
4
Far side
Polar commsorbiter