SIMBIO-SYS for Bepi Colombo: Key Enabling Technologies for Mercury exploration

Paper number

IAC-17,A3,5,3,x41316

Author

Dr. Leonardo Tommasi, Leonardo Spa, Italy

Coauthor

Mr. Iacopo Ficai Veltroni, Leonardo Spa, Italy

Coauthor

Mr. Marco Baroni, Leonardo Spa, Italy

Coauthor

Mr. Franco Boldrini, Leonardo Spa, Italy

Coauthor

Mr. Donato Borrelli, Leonardo Spa, Italy

Coauthor

Mr. Michele Dami, Leonardo Spa, Italy

Coauthor

Dr. Emiliano Di Carmine, Leonardo Spa, Italy

Coauthor

Mr. Riccardo Paolinetti, Leonardo Spa, Italy

Coauthor

Dr. Cremonese Gabriele, Italy

Coauthor

Dr. Capaccioni Fabrizio, Italy

Coauthor

Prof.Dr. Pasquale Palumbo, University of Napoli – Parthenope, Italy

Coauthor

Dr. Yves Langevin, Institut d'Astrophysique Spatiale, France

Coauthor

Dr. Alain Doressoundiram, Observatoire de Paris, France

Coauthor

Prof. Stefano Debei, CISAS – “G. Colombo” Center of Studies and Activities for Space, University of Padova, Italy

Coauthor

Dr. Francesca Altieri, INAF-IAPS, Italy

Coauthor

Dr. Vania Da Deppo, INAF-IAPS, Italy

Coauthor

Dr. Vincenzo Della Corte, INAF-IAPS, Italy

Coauthor

Dr. Gianrico Filacchione, INAF-IAPS, Italy

Coauthor

Dr. Cristina Re, Italy

Coauthor

Dr. Emanuele Simioni, Italy

Coauthor

Dr. Michele Zusi, National Institute for Astrophysics (INAF), Italy

Coauthor

Prof. Enrico Flamini, Italian Space Agency (ASI), Italy

Coauthor

Mr. Francesco Longo, Agenzia Spaziale Italiana (ASI), Italy

Coauthor

Mr. Roberto Formaro, ASI - Italian Space Agency, Italy

Coauthor

Prof. Luigi Colangeli, ESA - European Space Agency, The Netherlands

Year

2017

Abstract

The SIMBIO-SYS instrument (Spectrometers and Imagers for MPO Bepi Colombo Integrated Observatory System), devoted to Mercury surface exploration on board the Bepi Colombo mission, has been developed by Leonardo (formerly Selex ES) under ASI funding and coordination and in collaboration with several Italian and French research Institutes and Universities. It has been delivered to ESA and integrated on the MPO satellite in April 2015. The Launch of Bepi Colombo is planned in 2018.
SIMBIO-SYS is a suite of three optical channels for Mercury remote sensing which includes a High Resolution Imaging Channel (HRIC), a Stereo imaging Channel (STC) and a Visual and Infrared Hyperspectral Imager (VIHI). The three channels are integrated on a single optical bench: this solution optimizes the overall mass and allow the best co-alignment between the channels.
To fulfill the scientific goals of the mission, in compliance with the limited resources available on MPO and the harsh operative environment, several innovative solutions and technologies have been implemented:
\begin{itemize}\item a very compact design for HRIC,\end{itemize}
\begin{itemize}\item a wide spectral coverage with a single channel instrument for VIHI,\end{itemize}
\begin{itemize}\item a single detector  dual channel design for STC,\end{itemize}
\begin{itemize}\item a special coating (ITO) and baffle (Stavroudis design) for heat load rejection,\end{itemize}
\begin{itemize}\item diamond turned mirrors in RSA905 aluminum alloy,\end{itemize}
\begin{itemize}\item spectral and radiometric in-flight calibration unit with no moving parts,\end{itemize}
\begin{itemize}\item a large use of composite materials for the structural parts
capabilities for stereo imaging.\end{itemize}
In addition, an instrument architecture with three dedicated Proximity Electronics and a common Main Electronics was designed, aimed at the best use of available electrical resources thanks to sharing of functions among the three channels.
The SIMBIO-SYS Flight model (FM) has been successfully tested and characterized at Leonardo Spa premises in Campi Bisenzio (FI) by means of two dedicated Optical Ground Support Equipment (OGSE) which  have been developed and manufactured for this purpose.
The data obtained during the optical calibration campaign show a good agreement between the required performance and the experimental results and are presented in this paper.

Abstract document

IAC-17,A3,5,3,x41316.brief.pdf

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