8’th ILEWG Conference, Beijing, July 23-27, 2006 MSSL/UCL UK.

Lunar Exploration with Lunar Exploration with PenetratorsPenetrators

A.Smith, R.Gowen, A.Coates – MSSL/UCL I.Crawford – Birkbeck/UCL P.Church, R.Scott - Qinetiq

A.Ellery, Yang Gao – Surrey Space Centre T.Pike – Imperial College

(UK)

8’th ILEWG Conference, Beijing, July 23-27, 2006 MSSL/UCL UK.

8’th ILEWG Conference, Beijing, July 23-27, 2006 MSSL/UCL UK.

Lunar Exploration Lunar Exploration with high with high velocity micro-velocity micro-PenetratorsPenetrators

A.Smith, R.Gowen, A.Coates – MSSL/UCL I.Crawford – Birkbeck/UCL P.Church, R.Scott - Qinetiq

A.Ellery, Yang Geo – Surrey Space Centre T.Pike – Imperial College

(UK)

8’th ILEWG Conference, Beijing, July 23-27, 2006 MSSL/UCL UK.

8’th ILEWG Conference, Beijing, July 23-27, 2006 MSSL/UCL UK.

Lunar Exploration with PenetratorsLunar Exploration with Penetrators

• Introduction/History• Advantages• Challenges• Meeting the Challenges

8’th ILEWG Conference, Beijing, July 23-27, 2006 MSSL/UCL UK.

What are kinetic What are kinetic micro-penetrators ?micro-penetrators ?

• Very high impact speed ~ 200-700 m/s• Very tough ~100,000g• Penetrate (lunar) surface ~ few metres• Very low mass ~2-5Kg

8’th ILEWG Conference, Beijing, July 23-27, 2006 MSSL/UCL UK.

‘‘Classic’Classic’ Design:Design:

forebody - forebody - aftbodyaftbodypenetratorpenetrator

Umbilical ?

CommsPower (solar cells)

Chemistry

Temperature deep access optical fibres

optical fibres protected

inside micro perforated

cylinder

Chemistry

Temperature

microscope

Aft Body

Fore Body

Sub Surface(Regolith)

Surface

Seismometeraccelerometer

8’th ILEWG Conference, Beijing, July 23-27, 2006 MSSL/UCL UK.

Complete System Architecture

Orbiter • Microprobe platform • Microprobe ejection system• Microprobe communications

Probesystem

• De-orbiter/attitude control system• Microprobe(s) few kg each

8’th ILEWG Conference, Beijing, July 23-27, 2006 MSSL/UCL UK.

Mars96 (Russia) Failed to leave Earth orbit

DS2 (Mars) NASA 1999 ?

Planetary PenetratorsPlanetary PenetratorsHistory

Japanese Lunar-Amuch delayed

Several paper studies

8’th ILEWG Conference, Beijing, July 23-27, 2006 MSSL/UCL UK.

Planetary PenetratorsPlanetary PenetratorsTechnical Demonstrator

Propose Engineering Monitoring of microprobe system at all mission Phases :- - post launch survival - never done before- cruise phase - never done before- pre-ejection - never done before - entry phase - never done before- post landing survival - never done before- continuous surface operations - never done before

• The only previous technical demonstrator penetrator mission was NASA Deep Space-2 which had no operational confirmation at all from launch to landing.

8’th ILEWG Conference, Beijing, July 23-27, 2006 MSSL/UCL UK.

Penetrators - AdvantagesPenetrators - Advantages• Suitable for widely spaced multi-point seismic measurements.• Can provide information from regions soft landers cannot go.• Very low mass (few Kg) -> low launch cost -> allow multiple probes -> provide high redundancy• Regolith naturally provides relatively soft impact.• Moon is nearby -> limited radiation exposure; possibility of direct line of sight communications; solar power.

8’th ILEWG Conference, Beijing, July 23-27, 2006 MSSL/UCL UK.

Penetrator SciencePenetrator Science• Lunar Seismology

Presence and size of lunar core, crustal & basal fill thickness; deepstructure of lunar mantle; Origin & location of shallow moonquakes.(profound understanding of Moon’s residual magnetism; origin ofMoon; evolution of planetary magnetic fields)

• Lunar Thermal GradientsInhomogeneity of crustal heat producing elements (K,Th). (understanding of Moon’s early history).

• Lunar Water SensingPresence, extent and concentration of water.(Lunar evolution, future lunar resource.)

• Geochemical AnalysisProvide ground truth for remote sensing XFA and multi-spectralimaging. (Co-detection of organics with water might be interesting)

8’th ILEWG Conference, Beijing, July 23-27, 2006 MSSL/UCL UK.

Penetrators - ChallengesPenetrators - Challenges

• Impact Survival• Effective operating configuration

• Lifetime• Low mass• Communications

• Deceleration/attitude control

- platform / instruments - Impact angle, penetration depth, forebody/aftbody - Power / thermal - micro/nano technology - Fore and aft body. To orbiter. - Requires mass

8’th ILEWG Conference, Beijing, July 23-27, 2006 MSSL/UCL UK.

Penetrators Penetrators Meeting the Challenges Meeting the Challenges

QinetiQ – Defence and space systems company.Impact survival; electronics; comms; space platform systems.

Program for ground demonstration of impact survival of platform and scientific instruments.

8’th ILEWG Conference, Beijing, July 23-27, 2006 MSSL/UCL UK.

Penetrators Penetrators Meeting the Challenges Meeting the Challenges

IC – (Imperial College) University with long space experience.Micro seismometers (U.S. heritage)Program to develop to withstand high-g ~100,000.

10 mm

Microseismometer for ExoMars fabricated from one piece of single-crystal silicon

8’th ILEWG Conference, Beijing, July 23-27, 2006 MSSL/UCL UK.

Penetrators Penetrators Meeting the Challenges Meeting the Challenges

SSC – Surrey Space Science Centre (& SSTL). Construct and operate small satellites and instruments.Micro-drill, general micro instruments; platform electronics.

Wood wasp ovipositor

8’th ILEWG Conference, Beijing, July 23-27, 2006 MSSL/UCL UK.

Penetrators Penetrators Meeting the Challenges Meeting the Challenges

Southampton - optical fibresPotential for detection of water and chemicals.

MSSL/UCL – University College London with long experience of developing variety of scientific instruments for major space missions and science analysis.Cameras, water detection. Onboard data processing.Systems engineering & project management.Space and lunar science.

e.g. …Giotto (Halleys’ comet), Mars’96, Beagle-2, Soho, Cluster, Doublestar, XMM, Cassini, Swift (UVOT),Venus Express, …

8’th ILEWG Conference, Beijing, July 23-27, 2006 MSSL/UCL UK.

ConclusionsConclusions

• We are looking to develop kinetic penetrators for airless planetary bodies through conceptual design -> ground demonstration -> technical demonstrator missions -> science missions.

• Penetrators are now a priority for UK planetary future directions.

• We are happy to gain further partners, particularly in areas of expertize not already covered.

• We are looking for mission opportunities…. for exciting engineering and science.