ExoMars Rover Operation Control Centre Architectural Design Concept
- Paper number
IAC-07-A5.I.-A3.I.B.07
- Author
Mr. Michele Trichilo, Altec S.p.A, Italy
- Coauthor
Mr. Michele Martino, Altec S.p.A, Italy
- Coauthor
Mr. Armando Ciampolini, Altec S.p.A, Italy
- Coauthor
Mr. Giacinto Gianfiglio, European Space Agency (ESA)/ESTEC, The Netherlands
- Coauthor
Mr. Michael McKay, European Space Agency/ESOC, Germany
- Coauthor
Mrs. Paola Franceschetti, Alcatel Alenia Space Italia, Italy
- Year
2007
- Abstract
ESA’s ExoMars mission has technology and scientific objectives in preparation for future robotic missions and eventually human exploration. The mission will demonstrate the feasibility of safe landing (Entry Descent Landing System) on the Mars surface, mobility (Rover) and access to sub-surface (Drill). The scientific objectives are to search for signs of past and present life on Mars, characterise the water/geochemical environment, study the surface environment, identify hazards for the future missions and to investigate the planet’s deep interior. A Spacecraft Composite, formed by a Carrier Module and a Descent Module housing the Rover, will be launched in 2013 and arrive at Mars in 2015. After release from the Carrier, the Descent module will deliver the Rover to the surface of Mars by an inflatable braking device or parachute system. Using conventional solar arrays to generate electricity, the Rover will be able to travel more than 10 kilometres over the rocky orange-red surface of Mars. The vehicle will be capable of operating autonomously by using onboard software and will navigate by using optical sensors. The rover will include in a lightweight drilling system, a sampling and handling device, capable of taking samples from 2 metres below the surface, and a set of scientific instruments to search for signs of past or present life. The Surface Operations Phase starts from the initial Rover activation and foresees the initial checkout and the commissioning before the start of its scientific mission. Once the functional checks and the commissioning will be completed, the operation control of the rover will handover to the control centre being implemented at the ALTEC premises in Turin. The Rover Operation Control Centre (ROCC) architecture will be designed to manage the Rover surface operations for both the nominal and the extended mission that will be performed after the dust storm season. The ROCC, as an element of the overall ExoMars Ground Segment, will have all the operational functionality necessary to conduct Rover operations, in particular in support of TM / TC, and will provide the core capabilities for telemetry receiving and analysis, science and vehicle planning, navigation, simulation and sequence validation, on-board software management, command sequence uplink. The ROCC will also be equipped with the Mars Terrain Simulators facility that will be exercised using the Rover QM /EM when preparing and supporting the ExoMars Surface Mission. This paper will describe the preliminary ROCC Architecture design and the Rover operation concept.
- Abstract document
- Manuscript document
IAC-07-A5.I.-A3.I.B.07.pdf (🔒 authorized access only).
To get the manuscript, please contact IAF Secretariat.