ExoMars
ExoMars is a planned Mars rover to be launched in 2011 to arrive in 2013 as part of European Space Agency's Aurora programme as a Flagship mission. As this mission is still in the early planning stages, the information here and on ESA's website is preliminary.
Mission objectives The main scientific objectives of the ExoMars mission are: to study the biological environment of the martian surface, and to search for possible martian life, past or present, to identify hazards that could complicate human missions, and to enhance our knowledge of the martian environment Other objectives are to develop the technologies in various fields. These developments are necessary for the ExoMars mission as well as later robotic and human missions to be successful. These are: landing of large payloads on Mars, solar electric power on the surface of Mars, mobility on the surface of Mars, and rendezvous in Mars orbit
Science The science package Pasteur will hold a variety of instruments to study the environment of Mars. The current proposal as according to the Pasteur Progress Letter 4 [1] is as follows:
Panoramic instruments
These are instruments that have a panoramic and long range view, some of them underground. - Panoramic Camera System
- Infrared Spectrometer
- Ground-Penetrating Radar
- Permittivity Probe - Search for subsurface ice and water
- Neutron Scattering - Search for subsurface ice and water
- Radon Exhalation - Search for subsurface water
Contact instruments
These instruments will be used to study the surface and rocks by direct contact. - Close-up Imager
- Mössbauer Spectrometer
- APXS Spectrometer
- Drill System
Analytical laboratory instruments
These instruments are placed internally and used to study collected samples. - Microscope
- Raman/LIBS
- Mars Organics Detector (MOD)
- GC-MS - To search for organic molecules
- Life Marker Chip - To detect biomarkers from possible past or present life
- Mars Oxidant Sensor (MOI)
- X-Ray Diffractometer (XRD) - Mineralogy
Hazards/Environment instruments
These are used to study the environment on Mars. - Ionising Radiation Sensor - To measure cosmic and solar particles
- UV Spectrometer
- Dust Instrument Suite
- Environmental Package - Meteorological study
External links - ESA Main site
- Aurora Flagship mission page (including ExoMars)
- ExoMars-Pasteur Progress Letters
- Pasteur Payload Package-Instrument Definition Document (PDF) Note: the document is of considerable size
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