the mission of the probe ExoMars2016 is entering a decisive phase. On Wednesday on the surface of the red Planet landing sample Schiaparelli. At the same time, to the orbit of Mars probe will include the Trace Gas Orbiter. Both cars made it to Mars together, in the framework of the European Space Agency and the Russian Agency Roskosmos to look there for traces of biological life. Today rozłączą. About the objectives of the mission tells RMF FM one of the Polish scientists participating in this program, Dr. Paul Wajer from the Space Research Centre PAN, Warsaw.
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Gregory Jasinski: thank you very much that you have agreed to donate a little time, I understand that this is such an exciting phase of adventure that is associated with the probe ExoMars…
Dr. Paul Wajer: really exciting, and we keep our fingers crossed, to make this work.
This mission consists of several stages. It is at first glance somewhat reminiscent of the Rosetta mission on the comet nucleus. There was orbiter camera, and here as well. The probe Trace Gas Orbiter will remain in orbit around Mars, the lander Schiaparelli on Wednesday will land on the surface of the red Planet and will perform the measurements in the next few days. Let’s start with the lander, the mission which begins on Sunday after disconnecting from orbitera…
After disconnecting from orbitera the unit will be headed in the direction of the surface of Mars. Since moving with great speed when entering the atmosphere has warmed, so has the insulator. Will wyhamowywał, then open the parachute, which will lower its speed. In the end, this will include engine braking and free lands on the surface. It is planned that he will only work a few days, but at this time performs various kinds of measurement.
As I understand it, the landing will be a kind of experiment…
Yes, it will be an occasion to test the methods of planting, which will be useful for the next missions. ExoMars mission consists of two parts, now in 2016 we have a lander and orbiter in 2020, it is planned to send the Mars Rover.
Your work is connected more with orbiterem and what the results may bring the studies carried out using it tools. But let us dwell a little on the Shuttle and say that scientists expect. They want to know?
Scientists want to find out what will be the temperature, pressure, wind speed, electric field at the landing site. They are interested in the level of dust. And – as already mentioned – will be investigated also the process of landing, to enter the atmosphere, slow down, we want to check if we can do well to learn something for future missions. Both vehicles are equipped with devices produced in Poland. In the case of the boat it heat sensors, in the case orbitera one of the tools is a camera smoothly Cassis. The power supply system of this camera was developed and tested in the Space research Centre of the PAN.
/Camille Młodawski (RMF FM) /RMF FM
the results of the study of this camera is what are you personally most interested in…
Yes, but we must remember that these instruments are worked, their area of research will to some extent penetrate. In short, one of the goals orbitera is the study of the presence of trace gases, that is, those that occur in the atmosphere in small concentrations, such as, for example, outdoor there recently methane. Other tools they were looking for methane, while one of the goals of the camera kasi to look at the places where the methane is.
methane-a gas that on Earth binds us to life, in this regard, all those who dream of finding traces of life on Mars, specifically on the places from which it secretes, they have focused attention in particular. Is there something about those places know? Do we know where to find them?
In the case of methane, a thing quite mysterious, as it appears very quickly and can very quickly disappear. We at the moment we don’t know what are the sources of this methane. We don’t know why so fast he can run. There are several hypotheses that explain the origin of the methane. Say, for example, about the so-called klatratach methane mines. Methane trapped in these cages, surrounded by water and from time to time thrown up to the surface. The question is how the methane was created, ever, and now he just released, you also know. It is also a question what we could to help the uprising of the organisms that are there any other mechanisms that do not require biological life. These are some of the questions that this mission should give an answer.
results of studies of this camera will have to wait a bit, because orbiter is not included in this weekend’s final orbit, which would observe only preliminary, and that will doprecyzowana. Used for this purpose is the so-called “aerobreaking”, will adjust the orbit using the resistance of the atmosphere…
the Orbiter to the final orbit will enter in about a year. Aerobreaking uses the fact that air offers resistance and due to the fact that we can change the shape of the orbit. Of course orbiter will use its own engines. The target orbit is at an altitude of 400 km above the surface, will be tilted to the plane of the equator at an angle of 74 degrees.
we Know that the atmosphere of Mars is very thin, however, when it comes to space manoeuvres at high speeds, it turns out that the resistance causes serious thermal effects and the device must be protected from them. As we can these processes be compared with what happens when entering the earth’s atmosphere?
compared with the earth’s atmosphere, the Martian atmosphere is actually very rare, but the speed at which the apparatus will initially move will reach more than 20 thousand km/h. Despite the fact that the atmosphere is so rare, that at this speed the resistance is big, so big that need thermal protection. It is assumed that the mask can heat up to a temperature in excess of even 1000-1500 degrees Celsius.
what will happen around the lander, this heated plasma will have a similar structure, as in the case of the earth’s atmosphere? It will help to explore?
the Structure will be similar, the processes occurring during pre-heating, they are there and here are similar. The only difference is that in the earth’s atmosphere we have a lot of oxygen, but the Martian almost 100 percent of the carbon dioxide. In the course of the flight apparatus to measure, for example temperature and other parameters.
you Mentioned that the ExoMars mission will be continued, will be sent another probe. How the results of these preliminary studies, which we learn after landing Schiaparellego and possibly even study from orbit, will impact more on the second part of the mission? Or is there no chance, everything is planned…
– This is how it will behave with the device will be useful for planning the second part of the mission. This is a very complicated process, we went with very great speed, at the right time to open the parachute, you must enable actuators, brake. And observations orbitera will also provide important information, such as photos, three-dimensional. And everything here is mostly we expect answers to questions relating to the methane.
When do you expect the first concrete results of the measurements of the boat? When they fall to the Ground?
It will run for several days, and in this mode will transmit data on the course. The first results should be immediately. Of course, then he will need to develop…
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