Penetrators for Europa Professor Andrew Coates on behalf
Penetrators for Europa Professor Andrew Coates on behalf of UK Penetrator Consortium Laplace Meeting - Frascati, April 2008 MSSL/UCL UK
Europa Penetrators Detachable Propulsion Stage – Low mass projectiles ~4 Kg+PDS – High impact speed ~ 200 -500 m/s – Very tough ~10 -50 kgee Point of Separation Payload Instruments – Penetrate surface ~0. 5 -few metres – Perform science from below surface Laplace Meeting - Frascati, April 2008 Penetrator PDS (Penetrator Delivery System) MSSL/UCL UK
Penetrator Payload/Science A nominal 2 kg payload … § Seismometers - interior structure (existence/size of subterrannean ocean) and seismic activity § Chemical sensors – subsurface refactory/volatile (organic/ astrobiologic (e. g. sulphur mass spec) material arising from interior § Mineralogy/astrobiology camera – subsurface mineralogy and possible astrobiological material § Accelerometers – hardness/layering/ composition of subsurface material. (future landing site assessment) § Thermal sensors - subsurface temperatures § + other instruments – beeping transmitter, magnetometer, radiation sensors, etc… § descent camera (surface morphology, landing site location) Laplace Meeting - Frascati, April 2008 Micro-seismometer Imperial College Ion trap spectrometer Open University MSSL/UCL UK
Science/Technology Requirements § Target – Region of upwelled interior material (e. g. sulphur). – 2 penetrators would allow improved seismic results and natural redundancy. § Lifetime – Only minutes/hours required for camera, accelerometer, chemistry, thermal & mineralogy/astrobiologic measurements. – An orbital period (~few days) for seismic measurements. (requires RHU) § Spacecraft support – ~7 -9 years cruise phase, health reporting Laplace Meeting - Frascati, April 2008 MSSL/UCL UK
Preliminary Estimated Mass Item Estimated Mass (kg) Penetrator (inc. 1. 7 kg payload) ~3. 7 Kg Delivery system (AOCS) ~8. 1 Kg Spacecraft support ~1. 5 kg Total mass Laplace Meeting - Frascati, April 2008 ~13 Kg/probe MSSL/UCL UK
Heritage § Lunar-A and DS 2 space qualified. § Military have been successfully firing instrumented projectiles for many years to comparable levels of gee forces into concrete and steel. § 40, 000 gee qualified electronics exist (and re-used). § Currently developing similar penetrators for Moon. LITE. § Payload heritage: – Accelerometers, thermometers, sample drill, geophone – fully space qualified. – Seismometers (Exo. Mars) & chemical sensors (Rosetta) heritage but require impact ruggedizing. – Mineralogy camera – new but simple. Laplace Meeting - Frascati, April 2008 When asked to describe the condition of a probe that had impacted 2 m of concrete at 300 m/s a UK expert described the device as ‘a bit scratched’! MSSL/UCL UK
Current Development Status Full-scale trial – Scheduled May 19 -23 2008 Fire 3 penetrators at 300 m/s impact velocity 0. 56 m Laplace Meeting - Frascati, April 2008 MSSL/UCL UK
Impact trial – 19 23 May 08 Laplace Meeting - Frascati, April 2008 MSSL/UCL UK
Impact trial – 19 23 May 08 Laplace Meeting - Frascati, April 2008 MSSL/UCL UK
Impact trial – 19 23 May 08 Laplace Meeting - Frascati, April 2008 MSSL/UCL UK
Impact trial – 19 23 May 08 Laplace Meeting - Frascati, April 2008 MSSL/UCL UK
Impact trial – 19 23 May 08 Laplace Meeting - Frascati, April 2008 MSSL/UCL UK
Impact Trial Objectives § Demonstrate survivability of penetrator shell, accelerometers and power system. § Determine internal acceleration environment at different positions within penetrator. § Extend predictive modelling to new impact and penetrator materials. § Assess impact on penetrator subsystems and instruments. § Assess alternative packing methods. § Assess interconnect philosophy. Laplace Meeting - Frascati, April 2008 MSSL/UCL UK
Imminent Next Steps… § Moon. LITE bids in preparation for : - 5 inner compartments for full scale penetrator trial a) 2 yr development to bring ruggedization of penetrator subsystems and instruments up to TRL 5. b) Phase-A study for mission, currently in discussion with BNSC and NASA. 1. Include study of cold environment & impact into harder icy material (lunar poles) Laplace Meeting - Frascati, April 2008 • 3 penetrator firings • Normal incidence into dry sand at 300 m/s MSSL/UCL UK
Trial Hardware - Status Inners Stack Laplace Meeting - Frascati, April 2008 MSSL/UCL UK
Penetrators Conclusions • • No great history of failure - only 1 planetary delivery to date Significant TRL with previous space qualified technology A useful tool in the toolbox of planetary exploration Capable of addressing fundamental astrobiology signatures and habitability • Provide ground truth & new information not possible from orbit • Provide useful landing information for future missions. Penetrator website: http: //www. mssl. ucl. ac. uk/planetary/missions/Micro_Penetrators. php email: rag@mssl. ucl. ac. uk Laplace Meeting - Frascati, April 2008 MSSL/UCL UK
- End - Laplace Meeting - Frascati, April 2008 MSSL/UCL UK
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