Phootprint Explained

Phootprint
Names List:Phobos Sample Return Mission
Mission Type:Technology demonstrattor, sample return
Operator:European Space Agency
Mission Duration:3.5 years (planned)
Manufacturer:Airbus Defence and Space
Launch Mass:4200kg (9,300lb)
Launch Date:2024 (proposed)
Launch Rocket:Ariane 5
Disposal Type:Re-entry capsule
Landing Date:~2027
Interplanetary:Phobos
Type:lander
Sample Mass:800 g; return about 100g

Phootprint is a proposed sample-return mission to the Mars moon Phobos by the European Space Agency (ESA), proposed to be launched in 2024.

Overview and status

The Phootprint mission is a candidate for the Mars Robotic Exploration Preparation Programme 2 (MREP-2) at ESA.[1] During 2014, ESA funded a pre-phase A feasibility study and industrial system studies of 8-month duration.[1] [2] Currently, it is in phase A, meaning 'mission definition study.'

The mission is proposed to be launched on an Ariane 5 in 2024 with early 2026 as backup date.[1] An Earth swingby would provide greater launcher margin.[1] The spacecraft would orbit Mars for the characterisation phase,[1] [3] and when ready, it would maneuver into a quasi-satellite orbit to facilitate landing.[1] Because of the low gravity, the lander would be anchored to the surface during sample collection and launch of the Earth Re-entry Capsule (ERC).

The mission would last about 3.5 years, including cruise, mapping orbit, 7 days on the surface, and sample return cruise time.[1] The spacecraft would be powered by solar arrays.

In August 2015, the ESA-Roscosmos working group on post-ExoMars cooperation, completed a joint study for a possible future Phobos Sample Return mission, and preliminary discussions were held.[4] [5]

Objectives

The top-level science goal is to understand the formation of the Martian moons Phobos and Deimos and put constraints on the evolution of the Solar System (co-formation, capture, impact ejecta).[1]

The mission objectives are:[1]

Mission engineers remark that "no rebound" after landing is a critical condition given the low-gravity environment of landing. Currently, engineers at ESA are leaning toward four cantilever-type landing legs with crushable aluminium honeycomb shock absorber and secondary load limiters.[1]

Spacecraft

The concept of the Phootprint spacecraft is still preliminary and composed by three modules:[6]

Proposed payload

, the conceptual 30 kg (66.1 lb) payload is:[3]

Mission architecture

The proposed mission architecture is:[7]

  1. Ariane 5 launch from Kourou in direct escape
  2. Transfer to Mars (11 months)
  3. Nine months orbiting Phobos/Mars dedicated to science observations and sampling (7 days on the surface)
  4. Departure from Mars to Earth (8 months)

Notes and References

  1. Barraclough . Simon . Ratcliffe . Andrew . Buchwald . Robert . Scheer . Heloise . Chapuy . Marc . Garland . Martin . Phootprint: A European Phobos Sample Return Mission . 11th International Planetary Probe Workshop . Airbus Defense and Space . June 16, 2014 . December 22, 2015 . https://web.archive.org/web/20160129204028/http://solarsystem.nasa.gov/docs/03_Phootprint_A%20European%20Phobos%20Sample%20Return%20Mission_Ratcliffe.pdf . January 29, 2016 . dead .
  2. http://sci.esa.int/sre-fmp/31586-sre-fmp-solar-system-and-robotic-exploration-missions-section/ Supporting the Mars Robotic Exploration Preparation Programme.
  3. 2014cosp...40E1592K . Phootprint - A Phobos sample return mission study . Koschny . Detlef . Svedhem . Håkan . Denis . Rebuffat . ESA . August 2, 2014 . 40 . B0.4–9–14 .
  4. News: ESA at MAKS 2015 . European Space Agency . Zhukovsky, Russia . ESA . 2015-12-22 .
  5. News: Kane . Van . A Checkup on Future Mars Missions . The Planetary Society . 9 June 2014 . 2015-12-22 .
  6. Chitu . Cristian Corneliu . Stefanescu . Raluca . Bajanaru . Paul . Galipienzo . Julio. Rybus . Tomasz . Seweryn . Karol . Visentin . Gianfranco . Ortega . Cristina. Barciński . Tomasz . Design and Development of an Active Landing Gear System for Robotically Enhanced Surface Touchdown . European Space Research and Technology Centre . European Space Agency . 2014 .
  7. http://www.congrexprojects.com/docs/default-source/13c06_docs/session-1-rebuffat.pdf?sfvrsn=0