Vanguard--a European robotic astrobiology-focussed Mars sub-surface mission proposal.
We present a new European Mars mission proposal to build on the UK-led Beagle2 Mars mission and continue its astrobiology-focussed investigation of Mars. The small surface element to be delivered to the Martian surface--Vanguard--is designed to be carried by a Mars Express-type spacecraft bus to Mars and adopts a similar entry, descent and landing system as Beagle2. The surface element comprises a triad of robotic devices--a lander, a micro-rover of the Sojourner class for surface mobility, and three ground-penetrating moles mounted onto the rover for sub-surface penetration to 5 m depth. The major onboard instruments on the rover include a Raman spectrometer/imager, a laser plasma spectrometer, an infrared spectrometer--these laser instruments provide the basis for in situ "remote" sensing of the sub-surface Martian environment within a powerful scientific package. The moles carry the instruments' sensor head array to the sub-surface. The moles are thus required to undergo a one-way trip down the boreholes without the need for recovery of moles or samples, eliminating much of the robotic complexity invoked by such operations.
Ellery
Alex
A
Astronautics and Space Systems Group, School of Engineering, Kingston University, Friars Avenue, Roehampton Vale, London, UK. a.ellery@eim.surrey.ac.uk
Ball
Andrew J
AJ
Cockell
Charles
C
Dickensheets
David
D
Edwards
Howell
H
Kolb
Christof
C
Lammer
Helmut
H
Patel
Manish
M
Richter
Lutz
L
D004867:Equipment Design; D018559:Exobiology; D005844:Geology / Q000295:instrumentation*; D018535:Mars; D012371:Robotics; D013026:Space Flight / Q000295:instrumentation*; D018531:Spacecraft / Q000295:instrumentation*; D013059:Spectrum Analysis, Raman