ExoMars: one project two missions

Paper number

IAC-12,A3,3A,3,x14689

Author

Mr. Carlo Cassi, Thales Alenia Space Italia, Italy

Coauthor

Mr. Bruno Vinai, Thales Alenia Space Italia, Italy

Coauthor

Dr. Giacinto Gianfiglio, ESA/ESTEC, The Netherlands

Coauthor

Mr. Pietro Baglioni, ESA/ESTEC, The Netherlands

Year

2012

Abstract

Following the recent evolution in the International Cooperation arena, the European Space Agency has successfully started discussion with the Russian Space Agency (Roscosmos – RSA), to maintain the current development schedule of the ExoMars project. The two Agencies are now going to actively work together  to consolidate the cooperation plan to secure the overall ExoMars implementation scenario, which still foresees two missions, to be launched respectively in 2016 and 2018, both under the ESA leadership. 
The 2016 mission remains substantially unchanged w.r.t. the current baseline, with an Orbiter Module (OM) carrying scientific instruments and a UHF proximity link data relay payload, and an Entry Descent and Landing Demonstrator Module (EDM). The OM is provided by ESA and will carry two European and two Russian instruments. The EDM is also provided by ESA, however its mission scope is enlarged with one Russian surface package to complement the two European instruments and a Radio-isotope Thermal Generator (RTG)/Radio-isotope Heater Unit (RHU) package to increase the surface platform lifetime on Mars  to  one Mars year.
The 2018 mission  consists of a Carrier Module which will bring to Mars a large Entry, Descent and Landing Module hosting a 300 kg class Rover accommodated onto an instrumented landing platform; this mission scenario and  the associated system architecture is therefore very  similar to the previously studied “Enhanced Baseline Mission”, which was  reviewed  at the  ExoMars Interim PDR (I-PDR) in March 2009. However, now relevant contributions would be different, whereby ESA would provide the Carrier and the Rover whilst RSA would take the lead of the Descent Module, though with some  key subsystems (e. g. in the avionics and GNC areas) being provided by ESA. RSA will also provide scientific instruments both on the Rover and on the landing platform.
The Rover configuration will be the one reviewed at the EXM System PDR in December 2010, with a 2 m subsurface Drill and with its Pasteur Payload complement.

For both missions RSA will provide the Proton M/Breeze M launcher to inject the SC into a direct transfer  trajectory from the Earth to Mars.
The profile of the 2016 mission will be similar to the present baseline; however it will have to be adapted to the new scenario for the phases following Mars insertion.
In the 2018 mission the Carrier Module, after separation from the Descent Module, will burn and break during its crossing of the Mars atmosphere.

Abstract document

IAC-12,A3,3A,3,x14689.brief.pdf

Manuscript document

IAC-12,A3,3A,3,x14689.pdf (🔒 authorized access only).

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