Mullard Space Science Laboratory Planetary Micro-Penetrators Dr Rob

Mullard Space Science Laboratory Planetary Micro-Penetrators Dr Rob Gowen on behalf of Glyn Collinson 1 2 6 + international - Germany, France, Austria, Italy, Poland, Russia, USA

Mullard Space Science Laboratory What are kinetic penetrators ? § Low mass projectiles ~2 -13 Kg Detachable Propulsion Stage – Lunar A 13. 5 Kg – DS-2 3. 6 Kg § High impact speed ~ 200 -500 m/s Point of Separation Payload Instruments § Very tough ~10 -50 kgee § Penetrate surface ~ few metres § Perform important science from below surface Penetrator PDS (Penetrator Delivery System)

Mullard Space Science Laboratory Penetrator Mission : Europa

Mullard Space Science Laboratory History No survivable high velocity impacting probe has been successfully landed on any extraterrestrial body DS 2 (Mars) NASA 1999 ? Mars 96 (Russia) failed to leave Earth orbit Japanese Lunar-A cancelled (now planned to fly on Russian Lunar Glob) Many paper studies and ground trials

Mullard Space Science Laboratory UK Heritage and Feasibility • Military have been successfully firing instrumented projectiles for many years to at least comparable levels of gee forces expected. • Target materials mostly concrete and steel • 40, 000 gee qualified electronics exist (re-used !) • DS-2 and Lunar-A penetrators – space qualified. 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’ !

Mullard Space Science Laboratory Examples of hi-gee electronic systems Designed and tested : – Communication systems • 36 GHz antenna, receiver and electronic fuze tested to 45 kgee – Dataloggers • 8 channel, 1 MHz sampling rate tested to 60 kgee – MEMS devices (accelerometers, gyros) • Tested to 50 kgee – MMIC devices • Tested to 20 kgee MMIC chip tested to 20 kgee Communication system and electronic fuze tested to 45 kgee

Mullard Space Science Laboratory

Mullard Space Science Laboratory Prime Planetary Targets

Mullard Space Science Laboratory Scientific Objectives - Luna • Core – Water and volatile detection – Seismology – Accelerometer • Desirable – – – Descent camera Heat Flow Geochemistry/XRF Mineralogy Radiation Monitor

Mullard Space Science Laboratory Science – Polar Volatiles A suite of instruments will detect and characterise volatiles (including water) within shaded craters at both poles • Astrobiologically important – possibly remnant of the original seeding of planets by comets – may provide evidence of important cosmic-ray mediated organic synthesis • Vital to the future manned exploration of the Moon Prototype, ruggedized ion trap mass-spectrometer Open University NASA Lunar Prospector

Mullard Space Science Laboratory Science – Lunar Seismology A global network of seismometers will tell us: – – – Size and physical state of the Lunar Core Structure of the Lunar Mantle Thickness of the far side crust The origin of the enigmatic shallow moon-quakes The seismic environment at potential manned landing sites

Mullard Space Science Laboratory

Mullard Space Science Laboratory Europa Penetrator ‘Payload’ Science • Beeping Transmitter – For Earth based VLBI determination of surface ice movement (deformation, seismic vibration) • Accelerometer - Determination of ice characteristics and penetration depth. • Micro-Seismometers/tilt-meter - Detection of natural (or impact) seismic activity. - Presence and size of an under ice ocean. - ‘cryo-tectonic’ activity • Chemical Sensors - Presence, extent, concentration of organics (possible life indicators). - Presence, extent and concentration of other chemical species (minerals, chirality, isotopic abundances ? ) • Other sensors: Micro-camera (descent, surface), magnetometer, radiation monitor, etc.

Mullard Space Science Laboratory Enceladus § 500 Km dia. (c. f. with UK) § Fierce south pole plume (ice/dust) § Hi-albedo covering Saturnian moons ? § ‘Atmosphere’ (H 2 O, N 2, CO 2, CH 4) § Liquid water under surface (life ? ) (image from Wikipedia)

Mullard Space Science Laboratory Titan • • • ~50% larger than our Moon Atmosphere ~4 x denser that Earth’s at surface Mountains, sand dunes, lakes, geologically young Weather (winds, clouds, precipitation, seasons) Complex organic chemistry Very Earth like ! but cold (Life ? ) dunes (Wikipedia) Fluvial plain Cosmic Visions Proposal

Mullard Space Science Laboratory Consortium Status 1. Moon. LITE Mission - currently in discussion with BNSC and NASA 2. Europa (LAPLACE) and Titan/Enceladus (TANDEM) ESA Cosmic Vision Proposals – Selected, 18 month study phase commences. 3. Full-scale structure impact trial – March 2008 4. Pre-mission development – Preparing bids for 2 yr development to bring technology ruggedization up to TRL 5. http: //www. mssl. ucl. ac. uk/planetary/missions/Micro_Penetrators. php

Mullard Space Science Laboratory End http: //www. mssl. ucl. ac. uk/planetary/missions/Micro_Penetrators. php

Moon. LITE Polar comms orbiter 3 § Delivery and Comms Spacecraft (Orbiter). Deliver penetrators to ejection orbit. provide pre-ejection health status, and relay communications. Far side § Orbiter Payload: 4 Descent Probes 4 (each containing 10 -15 kg penetrator + 20 -25 kg de-orbit and attitude control). 2 § Landing sites: Globally spaced Far side, Polar region(s), One near an Apollo landing site for calibration. § Duration: >1 year for seismic network. Other science does not require so long (perhaps a few Lunar cycles for heat flow and volatiles much less). § Penetrator Design: Single Body for simplicity and risk avoidance. Battery powered with comprehensive power saving techniques. 1