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"MicroMED" Optical Particle Counter: From Design to Flight Model.
Diego Scaccabarozzi1, Bortolino Saggin1, Riccardo Somaschini1
1Department of Mechanical Engineering, Politecnico di Milano, 23900 Lecco, Italy.
Sensors (Basel, Switzerland)
|January 26, 2020
Summary
The MicroMED (Micro Martian Environmental Dust Systematic Analyzer) instrument will analyze Martian dust size and concentration, crucial for understanding Mars
Area of Science:
- Planetary Science
- Mars Exploration
- Atmospheric Science
Background:
- Airborne dust characterization on Mars is essential for understanding Martian climate and Aeolian processes.
- Previous in situ measurements of dust size distribution and concentration have been limited.
- The ExoMars 2020 mission requires instruments compatible with harsh space environments and mass constraints.
Purpose of the Study:
- To present the thermo-mechanical design and manufacturing of the MicroMED instrument for the ExoMars 2020 mission.
- To detail the qualification of the MicroMED flight model under expected mission conditions.
- To enable novel in situ measurements of Martian airborne dust.
Main Methods:
- Utilized an optical particle counter (MicroMED) employing light scattering intensity.
- Designed and manufactured the MicroMED instrument to withstand harsh mechanical and thermal environments.
- Conducted qualification testing to ensure compatibility with the ExoMars 2020 mission payload.
Main Results:
- Successfully completed the thermo-mechanical design of the MicroMED instrument.
- Manufactured the flight model of the MicroMED instrument.
- Successfully qualified the instrument in simulated Martian thermal and mechanical environments.
Conclusions:
- The MicroMED instrument is designed, manufactured, and qualified for the ExoMars 2020 mission.
- This instrument will provide unprecedented in situ data on Martian airborne dust.
- The findings will significantly advance the understanding of Martian climate and Aeolian processes.
