EXOMARS 2020 MISSION: PROGRESS REPORT ON SAMPLE PREPARATION AND DISTRIBUTION SYSTEM (SPDS) DEVELOPMENT

Paper number

IAC-17,A3,3B,1,x39698

Author

Dr. Lutz Richter, OHB System AG, Germany

Coauthor

Ms. Andrea Jaime, OHB System AG - Munich, Germany

Coauthor

Mrs. Christiane Bergemann, OHB System AG - Munich, Germany

Coauthor

Dr. Quirin Muehlbauer, OHB System AG - Munich, Germany

Coauthor

Mr. Daniel Redlich, OHB System AG, Germany

Coauthor

Mr. Robert Paul, OHB System AG, Germany

Year

2017

Abstract

This paper provides a progress report on the on-going ‎development ‎of the Sample Processing and ‎Distribution ‎Subsystem (SPDS) for the 2020 ExoMars ‎rover‎ mission of the European Space Agency (ESA) since the last update presented at the IAC2016.

The SPDS is being developed by OHB under direct ‎subcontract to TAS-I to supply the ‎scientific ‎instruments of ‎the rover with ‎granular ‎Mars rock and soil samples of a specific ‎particle size distribution. This is ‎achieved through a set ‎of mechanisms making up the SPDS which receive the ‎samples from the rover drill, then subsequently ‎crush, meter (‘dose’), and ‎distribute ‎them to the science payloads

Since ‎mid 2013, OHB Munich have also been ‎developing the structure of the ExoMars rover ‎analytical laboratory (ALD) (a task ‎delegated to OHB ‎by TAS-I) including the ALD pressurized Ultra Clean ‎Zone (UCZ) surrounding the sample ‎path, on which this ‎paper also provides an update on, including the ‎attendant development of the UCZ pressure ‎relief valve ‎and of the ALD optical windows that likewise are under ‎responsibility of OHB.‎

At the last ESA ministerial, ExoMars got the needed funding to carry on the mission until 2020, although this also implies slight changes in the schedule and some potential storage management.

Currently, the SPDS is completing its qualification programme, and – in parallel – flight H/W production is well under way. The ALD structure qualification has already been closed a year ago, and the flight model structure is in fabrication.

Abstract document

IAC-17,A3,3B,1,x39698.brief.pdf

Manuscript document

IAC-17,A3,3B,1,x39698.pdf (🔒 authorized access only).

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