Electrical Architecture Design for the ExoMars Rover Vehicle

Paper number

IAC-08.A3.I.13

Author

Mr. Ian Renouf, EADS Astrium Ltd., United Kingdom

Coauthor

Dr. Jim Clemmet, EADS Astrium Ltd., United Kingdom

Coauthor

Mr. Stuart Hurst, EADS Astrium Ltd., United Kingdom

Coauthor

Mr. Bryan Dean, EADS Astrium Ltd., United Kingdom

Year

2008

Abstract

The ExoMars mission will search for traces of past and present life, characterize the Mars geochemistry and water distribution, improve the knowledge of the Mars environment and geophysics, and identify possible surface hazards to future human exploration missions. It will achieve this by using a Rover that will carry a comprehensive suite of analytical instruments dedicated to exobiology and geological research: the Pasteur Payload. Over its planned 6 month life, the Rover will ensure a regional mobility (several kilometres) searching for traces of past and present life.

One of the most challenging aspects of the Rover design is that of the electrical subsystem and in particular the data handling system. The electrical system is required to have similar functional and performance requirements to a traditional spacecraft but must be packaged into a far more compact volume and feature extensive power saving measures to make maximum use of the limited power that can be generated on the Martian surface. To achieve this we have looked towards the design of modern consumer electronics for inspiration, with a focus on higher levels of integration and System on Chip (SoC) solutions.

This paper will provide an expanded description of the electrical architecture of the Rover Vehicle and of its constituent parts. The data handling system will provide the computing power needed to manage the mission, allow autonomous navigation and locomotion, support autonomous operation of the science instruments. The power system will provide the power generation, storage, conditioning and distribution. The communications system will provide the functionality to communicate either to relay satellites in Mars orbit or directly to Earth.

Abstract document

IAC-08.A3.I.13.pdf

Manuscript document

IAC-08.A3.I.13.pdf (🔒 authorized access only).

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