Uk work on ExoMars for Aurora



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UK work on ExoMars for Aurora
PPARC is investing £1.7 million for R&D work for the ExoMars mission with UK academia and industry to develop key systems and technology for ESA’s ExoMars mission. In addition UK industry is also investing in several of these projects at a value above the PPARC award.
Whilst this overall UK investment does not guarantee that a particular instrument or technology will be selected by ESA when the final mission payload is decided in 2007, it does enable the UK to develop robust and highly competitive technology proposals that will position it to win leading roles.
The potential for transferring the knowledge gained and technology developed out of Aurora and into other sectors is being actively fostered within this work package.
In addition to the work funded by PPARC, several UK groups are also working on other instruments and technology for ExoMars.
Rover - Meet Britain's Robotic Mars Explorer!

Institutions: EADS Astrium, SciSys Ltd, Roke Manor Research Ltd, University of Wales Aberystwyth, University of Leicester, Cranfield University, Strathclyde

University, Surrey University,

Contact: Mark Roe at EADS Astrium: mark.roe@astrium.eads.net Tel 01438 773330


PPARC funding has been targeted at developing novel autonomous technology that can enhance the science return from the ExoMars mission. The highest priority has been given to the development of an “autonomous robotic scientist”, which will assist in the identification and analysis of scientifically interesting Martian features. The "autonomous scientist" will be led by team member SciSys with support from Aberystwyth, Leicester and Strathclyde Universities.
To support this, improvements in Rover navigation and mobility will also be addressed by Roke Manor Research and Surrey University. Improvements in the odometry (measurement of distance traveled) are being addressed by Cranfield University, applying scientific methods to an industrial application. EADS Astrium will coordinate these Rover developments.
An “Autonomous Robotic Scientist”

The aim for the Mars Rover is to act as a surrogate for the science team back on Earth by allowing it to autonomously detect scientific targets of interest and explore these in greater detail without the need for detailed supervision from ground control. This robotic scientist will be able to identify potential targets from sensors such as cameras using advanced image processing techniques.


Once a target is detected it will choose an appropriate investigative response compatible with the intent of the science team. For example it may simply be to take a high resolution image or move closer to the target in order to carry out more detailed analysis. Having selected a desired action the system will then be able to decide whether or not it has sufficient resources or energy to carry out this unplanned procedure and ensure that it does not jeopardise the pre-planned science activities for the day.
The overall objective of the autonomous robotic scientist is to increase the amount of productive "science time" on the surface of Mars. The concept will be demonstrated on the Mars Yard facility at Aberystwyth (see later in document)
“Bridget”

In support of these investigations EADS Astrium has developed its own Mars Rover test bed to prove and integrate the different technologies required for interplanetary robotic missions. The Rover, nicknamed "Bridget", has six driven wheels, four of which steer, and is therefore capable of conventional and on-the-spot turning to negotiate the kinds of obstacles found on Mars. Bridget recently underwent locomotion trials in the El Teide National Park in Tenerife where engineers evaluated its climbing and traction capability. The next stage in the test bed development is to provide an autonomous navigation system which will enable the rover to navigate a rocky landscape without the need for human intervention. The Rover test bed weighs approx 120kg and has an "all up" weight capability of 300kg.


Life Marker Chip - taking ‘pregnancy test’ technology to Mars

UK Institutes: University of Leicester, Cranfield University, EADS Astrium, SSTL, SciSys (flight programme), Qinetiq, University of Aberdeen, Open University, Imperial College London

Contact Mark Sims, mrs@star.le.ac.uk Tel 0116 252 3513
The Life Marker Chip (LMC) will be used to look for specific molecules that may be associated with life. It will use the fact that proteins and other biological molecules will only bond with other molecules of a particular shape, essentially a “lock and key” approach. Target molecules will only bind with the correct molecular receptor just as only the right shaped key will turn in a lock.
Target molecules will include amino-acids, long chain molecules which are associated with life on Earth for example cell membranes and pigments. The instrument will search for evidence of past or present life based around water based carbon life chemistry. It will operate in conjunction with other instruments on the ExoMars payload to search for life and organics on Mars (for example the MOD/MOI package – see later in this document).
“Essentially we are using biological molecules (proteins) and biological principles to look for biology,” said Dr. Mark Sims University of Leicester “It will provide not only an instrument for space research but will we hope have many terrestrial applications”.
"In essence, we are proposing to send hi-tech "pregnancy test" type devices - in other words, molecular receptor based devices that can look for multiple pieces of molecular evidence of life" said Dr David Cullen of Cranfield University who went on to clarify "... but the intention and expectation is not to find pregnant Martians!"
The study builds upon work undertaken within the UK by the team over the last few years to develop and apply the Life Marker Chip to space and other applications in areas such as forensic science, health and defence and security, all areas where in situ detection of organic markers / molecules are required. Examples include detection of trace forensic evidence in the form of body fluids, detection of biological or chemical hazards along with detection of explosive residues. During the last 15 months, discussions have been held with the Forensic Science Service and the Health Protection Agency regarding possible applications of LMC technology.
The international consortium behind the LMC is led by the UK. The PPARC funding will be used to develop the system to demonstrate its viability as an instrument. For more details on the Life Marker Chip see the additional information in the press pack.
X-Ray Diffractometer/Spectrometer – looking at the geology of Mars

UK Institutes: Brunel University, University of Leicester, E2V, Imperial College London, Natural History Museum and Open University

Contact: Andrew Holland, Tel. 01895 266516, Andrew.holland@brunel.ac.uk
X-ray diffraction is an essential tool in the mineralogical identification of rock samples. ExoMars will be the first time a diffractometer will be used in-situ on Mars to assess the local geology. Of particular importance will be the identification of carbonates, silicates and other minerals, to assess the effect of possible chemical weathering on the surface sediments, and to attempt to identify possible geochemical fingerprints of past life on Mars. Traditional laboratory XRD instruments are huge and weigh ~100kg, the real challenge for this project will be to make an instrument which will return useful scientific data within an 800g mass envelope. The combination of XRD with X-Ray Fluorescence (XRF) provides highly complementary techniques; knowing the chemistry helps interpret the mineralogy and vice versa. XRD and XRF together can constrain the composition of individual minerals; which is not currently obtained using existing Mars surface instruments.
The project is already developing a breadboard instrument funded by ESA to investigate the sensitivity of the instrument and to investigate system concepts with project leaders in Italy (IRSPS and Laben) and collaborators in the Netherlands (Delft U.). The PPARC investment will fund activities which go beyond the breadboard development to prototype flight-style components which advance the technical readiness of the instrument ready for the mission. The work will be an essential activity toward meeting the challenging instrument mass goal!
Microseismometer – searching for Marsquakes

UK Institute: Imperial College London



Contact Tom Pike, Tel (0)20 7594 6207, Email w.t.pike@imperial.ac.uk
Researchers are planning to look deep inside Mars with a microseismometer developed at Imperial College London. As part of a seismic system produced in collaboration with France, Switzerland, the Netherlands, Germany and the US, this will be the first in-situ investigation of the internal structure of another planet. The first task of the seismic system will be to listen out for Marsquakes. By looking at how the vibrations from any quakes have travelled through the planet, the microseismometer will help work out what’s going on in the deep interior. It may also give some first indications of the presence of liquid water.
Dr Tom Pike is designing the core of the sensor in the Electrical and Electronic Engineering department of Imperial College. “We’re carving out a near perfect spring and weight from a single piece of silicon. We expect this 2-cm-square sensor will be able to detect Marsquakes when they cause the smallest shuddering of the silicon suspension. It looks like this sensor is going to stay on the static lander and so we should also be able to feel the vibrations as the ExoMars rover sets off. This should give some clues as to what is sitting directly below the surface of the landing site. Depending on where we land on Mars, there is the possibility of detecting sub-surface water.” The seismic system is designed to be part of a long-lived geophysical and environmental package which should be able to listen for Marsquakes and record the Martian weather for up to two years. The microseismometer will give some indication of the level of any local volcanicity on Mars.
The PPARC grant is funding the initial development work for a highly advanced silicon micro-seismometer.
Caption: The heart of the microseismometer, the 2-cm-square micromachined silicon suspension.

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