laplace meeting - frascati, april 2008 mssl/ucl uk penetrators for europa mssl/ucl uk professor...

Laplace Meeting - Frascati, April 2008 MSSL/UCL UK

Penetrators for EuropaPenetrators for Europa

MSSL/UCL UK

Professor Andrew Coates on behalf of UK Penetrator Consortium


Europa Penetrators Europa Penetrators

– Low mass projectiles Low mass projectiles ~4Kg+PDS~4Kg+PDS

– High impact speed High impact speed ~ 200-500 m/s~ 200-500 m/s

– Very tough Very tough ~10-50kgee~10-50kgee

– Penetrate surface Penetrate surface ~0.5-few metres~0.5-few metres

– Perform science Perform science from below surfacefrom below surface

Penetrator

Point of Separation

Payload Instruments

Detachable Propulsion Stage

PDS (Penetrator

Delivery System)


Penetrator Payload/Science Penetrator Payload/Science A nominal 2kg payload …A nominal 2kg payload …

SeismometersSeismometers - interior structure (existence/size of - interior structure (existence/size of subterrannean ocean) and seismic activitysubterrannean ocean) and seismic activity

Chemical sensorsChemical sensors – subsurface refactory/volatile – subsurface refactory/volatile (organic/ astrobiologic (e.g. sulphur mass spec) (organic/ astrobiologic (e.g. sulphur mass spec) material arising from interiormaterial arising from interior

Mineralogy/astrobiology cameraMineralogy/astrobiology camera – subsurface – subsurface mineralogy and possible astrobiological materialmineralogy and possible astrobiological material

AccelerometersAccelerometers – hardness/layering/ composition – hardness/layering/ compositionof subsurface material. (future landing site assessment)of subsurface material. (future landing site assessment)

Thermal sensorsThermal sensors - subsurface temperatures - subsurface temperatures

+ other instruments – beeping transmitter, magnetometer, + other instruments – beeping transmitter, magnetometer, radiation sensors, etc…radiation sensors, etc…

descent cameradescent camera (surface morphology, (surface morphology, landing site location)landing site location)

Micro-seismometer

Imperial College

Ion trap spectrometer

Open University


Science/Technology RequirementsScience/Technology Requirements

TargetTarget– Region of upwelled interior material (e.g. sulphur).Region of upwelled interior material (e.g. sulphur).– 2 penetrators would allow improved seismic results and 2 penetrators would allow improved seismic results and

natural redundancy.natural redundancy. LifetimeLifetime

– Only minutes/hours required for camera, accelerometer, Only minutes/hours required for camera, accelerometer, chemistry, thermal & mineralogy/astrobiologic chemistry, thermal & mineralogy/astrobiologic measurements.measurements.

– An orbital period (~few days) for seismic measurements. An orbital period (~few days) for seismic measurements. (requires RHU)(requires RHU)

Spacecraft supportSpacecraft support– ~7-9 years cruise phase, health reporting~7-9 years cruise phase, health reporting


Preliminary Estimated MassPreliminary Estimated Mass

ItemItem Estimated Mass (kg)Estimated Mass (kg)

Penetrator (inc. 1.7 kg payload)Penetrator (inc. 1.7 kg payload) ~3.7Kg~3.7Kg

Delivery system (AOCS)Delivery system (AOCS) ~8.1Kg~8.1Kg

Spacecraft supportSpacecraft support ~1.5kg~1.5kg

Total massTotal mass ~13Kg/probe~13Kg/probe


HeritageHeritage Lunar-A and DS2 space qualified.Lunar-A and DS2 space qualified. Military have been successfully firing Military have been successfully firing

instrumented projectiles for many years instrumented projectiles for many years to comparable levels of gee forces into to comparable levels of gee forces into concrete and steel.concrete and steel.

40,000gee qualified electronics exist 40,000gee qualified electronics exist (and re-used).(and re-used).

Currently developing similar penetrators Currently developing similar penetrators for MoonLITE.for MoonLITE.

Payload heritage:Payload heritage:– Accelerometers, thermometers, sample Accelerometers, thermometers, sample

drill, geophone – fully space qualified.drill, geophone – fully space qualified.– Seismometers (ExoMars) & chemical Seismometers (ExoMars) & chemical

sensors (Rosetta) heritage but require sensors (Rosetta) heritage but require impact ruggedizing.impact ruggedizing.

– Mineralogy camera – new but simple.Mineralogy camera – new but simple.

When asked to describe the When asked to describe the condition of a probe that had condition of a probe that had

impacted 2m of concrete at 300 m/s impacted 2m of concrete at 300 m/s a UK expert described the device as a UK expert described the device as

‘a bit scratched’!‘a bit scratched’!


Current Development StatusCurrent Development Status

Full-scale trial – Scheduled May 19-23 2008

Fire 3 penetrators at 300m/s impact velocity

0.56m


Impact trial – 19Impact trial – 19--2323 May08May08


Impact Trial ObjectivesImpact Trial Objectives

Demonstrate survivability of penetrator shell, Demonstrate survivability of penetrator shell, accelerometers and power system.accelerometers and power system.

Determine internal acceleration environmentDetermine internal acceleration environmentat different positions within penetrator. at different positions within penetrator.

Extend predicExtend predictive tive modelling to new impact and penetrator modelling to new impact and penetrator materials.materials.

Assess impact on penetrator subsystems and instruments.Assess impact on penetrator subsystems and instruments. Assess alternative packing methods.Assess alternative packing methods. Assess interconnect philosophy.Assess interconnect philosophy.


Imminent Next Steps…Imminent Next Steps…

MoonLITE bids in MoonLITE bids in preparation for :-preparation for :-

a)a) 2 yr development to 2 yr development to bring ruggedization of bring ruggedization of penetrator subsystems penetrator subsystems and instruments up to and instruments up to TRL 5. TRL 5.

b)b) Phase-A study for Phase-A study for mission, currently in mission, currently in discussion with BNSC discussion with BNSC and NASA.and NASA.

Include study of cold Include study of cold environment & impact into environment & impact into harder icy material (lunar harder icy material (lunar poles)poles)

• 3 penetrator firings• Normal incidence into dry sand at 300m/s

5 inner compartments for full scale penetrator trial


Trial Hardware - StatusTrial Hardware - Status

Inners Stack


Penetrator website:http://www.mssl.ucl.ac.uk/planetary/missions/Micro_Penetrators.php

email: [email protected]

• 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.

Penetrators ConclusionsPenetrators Conclusions


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laplace meeting - frascati, april 2008 mssl/ucl uk penetrators for europa mssl/ucl uk professor...

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