Combined Instrumentation Package COMARS+ for the ExoMars Schiaparelli Lander

Abstract

In order to measure aerothermal parameters on the back cover of the ExoMars Schiaparelli lander the instrumentation package COMARS+ was developed by DLR. Consisting of three combined aerothermal sensors, one broadband radiometer sensor and an electronic box the payload provides important data for future missions. The aerothermal sensors called COMARS combine four discrete sensors measuring static pressure, total heat flux, temperature and radiative heat flux at two specific spectral bands. The infrared radiation in a broadband spectral range is measured by the separate broadband radiometer sensor. The electronic on the ExoMars back cover radiation tests were carried out to verify their radiation hardness. Finally the bioburden reduction process was demonstrated on the qualification hardware to show the compliance with the planetary protection requirements. To test the actual heat flux, pressure and infrared radiation measurement under representative conditions, aerothermal tests were performed in an arc-heated wind tunnel facility. After all qualification tests were passed successfully, the acceptance test campaign for the flight hardware at acceptance level included the same tests than the qualification campaign except shock, radiation hardness and aerothermal tests. After passing all acceptance tests, the COMARS+ flight hardware was integrated into the Schiaparelli capsule in January 2015 at the ExoMars integration site at Thales Alenia Space in Turin. Although the landing of Schiaparelli failed, resulting in the loss of most COMARS+ flight data because they were stored on the lander, some data points were directly transmitted to the orbiter at low sampling rate during the entry phase. These data indicate that all COMARS+ sensors delivered useful data until parachute deployment with the exception of the plasma blackout phase. Since measured structure and sensor housing temperatures are far below predicted preflight values, a new calibration using COMARS+ spare sensors at temperatures below 0° C is necessary. Therefore no flight data is presented in this paper.

ExoMars 2016 Schiaparelli Module Trajectory and Atmospheric Profiles Reconstruction

“…The on-board sensor suite is composed by four pressure sensors located on the Front-Shield (FS), ten thermal plugs embedded on the Thermal Protection System (TPS) of both the Back-Shell (BS) and the FS, one calorimeter and one radiometer. These latter sensors were part of the CoMARS+ experiment [11].…”

Aerothermal Measurements from the ExoMars Schiaparelli Capsule Entry

“…As described in the reference [20] previous combined aerothermal sensors designed for the Shefex-II flight experiment was redesigned to account for different TPS thickness, fixation method, available space and temperature environment. To keep the mass as low as possible, the interface was manufactured from titanium instead of stainless steel.…”

“…Aerothermal tests were performed in the L2K facility of the Supersonic and Hypersonic Technology Department of DLR Cologne [24]. For the final aerothermal tests a representative wedge configuration with integrated qualification models was used [20]. This configuration is similar to the flight case.…”

Thermochemical Non-Equilibrium in Thermal Plasmas

“…Recently, the European Space Agency (ESA) in cooperation with the Russian Space Agency (ROSCOSMOS) managed the EXOMARS mission whose first step was the landing on the ground of Mars of a rover on board of the Schiaparelli lander on 19th October 2016 [7]. The TPS of the lander was equipped with sensors called ICOTOM embedded in the COMARS+ housing whose role was to provide information on the radiative signature in the infrared part of the spectrum [8]. The related radiation is due to the production of hot CO 2 and CO during the entry in the Martian atmosphere and corresponds to the radiative contribution to ϕ w in Equation (2) in the afterbody flow.…”