5th IPPW, Bordeaux, June 25-99, 2007

Kinetic Micro-Penetrators For Kinetic Micro-Penetrators For Exploration Of Solar System Exploration Of Solar System

Bodies.Bodies.

R. Gowen & A. Smith, R. Gowen & A. Smith, MSSL/UCLMSSL/UCL

5th IPPW, Bordeaux, June 25-99, 2007

What Characterizes What Characterizes kinetic micro-penetrators ?kinetic micro-penetrators ?

Very low mass projectiles ~2-5Kg Very low mass projectiles ~2-5Kg (c.f. Lunar A 13.5Kg; DS-2 3.6Kg) (c.f. Lunar A 13.5Kg; DS-2 3.6Kg)

High impact speed ~ 200-500 m/sHigh impact speed ~ 200-500 m/s Very tough ~10-50kgeeVery tough ~10-50kgee Penetrate surface ~ few metresPenetrate surface ~ few metres Perform initial important science on Perform initial important science on

planetary surfaceplanetary surface

5th IPPW, Bordeaux, June 25-99, 2007

Mars96 (Russia) failed to leave Earth orbit

DS2 (Mars) NASA 1999 ?

Planetary Penetrators - Planetary Penetrators - History

Many paper studies and ground trials

No survivable high velocity impacting probe has been successfully landed on any extraterrestrial body

TRL 6Japanese Lunar-A cancelled (maybe now to fly on Russian Lunar Glob ?)

5th IPPW, Bordeaux, June 25-99, 2007

FeasibilityFeasibility

There is no ‘history’ of failures of There is no ‘history’ of failures of high speed planetary penetrators.high speed planetary penetrators. Has only ever been one planetary Has only ever been one planetary deployment - Mars Polar Orbiter DS2 deployment - Mars Polar Orbiter DS2 which failed alongside the soft lander.which failed alongside the soft lander.

Military have been successfully firing instrumented projectiles for Military have been successfully firing instrumented projectiles for many years to at least comparable levels of gee forces expected.many years to at least comparable levels of gee forces expected.Target materials mostly concrete and steel.Target materials mostly concrete and steel.– 40,000gee qualified electronics exist (re-used !)40,000gee qualified electronics exist (re-used !)– When asked to describe the condition of a probe that had impacted When asked to describe the condition of a probe that had impacted

2m of concrete at 300 m/s a UK expert described the device as ‘a bit 2m of concrete at 300 m/s a UK expert described the device as ‘a bit scratched’!scratched’!

5th IPPW, Bordeaux, June 25-99, 2007

Examples of hi-gee Examples of hi-gee electronic systemselectronic systems

Designed and tested :Designed and tested :

– Communication systemsCommunication systems 36 GHz antenna, receiver and 36 GHz antenna, receiver and

electronic fuze electronic fuze tested to 45 kgeetested to 45 kgee

– DataloggersDataloggers 8 channel, 1 MHz sampling rate 8 channel, 1 MHz sampling rate

tested to 60 kgeetested to 60 kgee

– MEMS devices (accelerometers, MEMS devices (accelerometers, gyros)gyros) Tested to 50 kgeeTested to 50 kgee

– MMIC devicesMMIC devices Tested to 20 kgeeTested to 20 kgee

– TRL 6TRL 6

MMIC chip tested to 20 kgeeMMIC chip tested to 20 kgee

Communication system and Communication system and electronic fuze tested to 45 kgeeelectronic fuze tested to 45 kgee

5th IPPW, Bordeaux, June 25-99, 2007

Technical RoadmapTechnical Roadmap1.1. Generic Penetrator Development Generic Penetrator Development → → confidence building.confidence building.

– Ground demonstrationGround demonstration

2.2. Technical Demonstrator Mission Technical Demonstrator Mission → → confidence building.confidence building.– MoonLite UK initiativeMoonLite UK initiative– LunarEX (Cosmic Visions Proposal)LunarEX (Cosmic Visions Proposal)

3.3. Scientific MissionsScientific Missions →→ delta development, delta costs. delta development, delta costs.– Europa (Cosmic Visions Proposal)Europa (Cosmic Visions Proposal)– Tandem (Titan-Enceladus) (Cosmic Visions Proposal)Tandem (Titan-Enceladus) (Cosmic Visions Proposal)– Other possibilities (Mars (seismic network), NEO’s/asteroids Other possibilities (Mars (seismic network), NEO’s/asteroids

(accelerometers0(accelerometers0

UK Penetrator consortium UK Penetrator consortium has funding awardedhas funding awarded to provide ground to provide ground impact demonstration tests in next 2 years.impact demonstration tests in next 2 years.

Because of lead times we are working on above largely simultaneouslyBecause of lead times we are working on above largely simultaneously Consortium is being gradually internationalised.Consortium is being gradually internationalised.

5th IPPW, Bordeaux, June 25-99, 2007

Suitable Bodies for Investigation ?Suitable Bodies for Investigation ?

• Moon (MoonLite- UK Intiative/LunarEX – Cosmic Vision)- is closeby – ideal technical demonstrator + excellent

science (polar water, core structure, astrobiology …)- Airless -> like Europa, Enceladus - Very cold (polar traps) -> like Europa,Enceladus,Titan

• Europa,Titan/Enceladus (Cosmic Vision)- Astrobiology, interior ocean(s).- Europa – very high radiation environment

- Titan has an atmosphere – different approach !!!• NEO/Asteroids

- Accelerometer particularly interesting for investigating internal structure

• Etc, etc, (Mars, Venus, Mercury, Neptune, Pluto, Uranus)…

5th IPPW, Bordeaux, June 25-99, 2007

SINGLE-PIECE PENETRATOR

TITANIUM NOSE SECTION

TUNGSTEN TIP

DETACHABLE PROPULSION STAGE

TITANIUM CASING

Payload•DESCENT CAMERA

•IMPACT ACCELEROMETER

•SEISMOMETERS/TILTMETER

•THERMAL SENSING (TEMP, CONDUCTIVITY,HEAT FLOW)

•GEOCHEMISTRY(E.G. WATER/VOLATILES DETECTOR)

•GROUND CAMERA (MINALOGY/ASTROBIOLOGY)

•OTHER (permitivity, magnetometer, radiation monitor)

ESTIMATED PENETRATOR SIZE

•LENGTH:- 480mm to 600mm (8:1 to 10:1 RATIO)

•DIAMETER:- 60mm

•ESTIMATED MASS 6-8kg

POINT OF SEPARATION

Penetrator Design ConceptPenetrator Design ConceptPlatform•S/C SUPPORT

•AOCS

•STRUCTURE

•POWER/THERMAL

•COMMS

•CONTROL & DATA HANDLING

5th IPPW, Bordeaux, June 25-99, 2007

PROS and CONS ?PROS and CONS ?PROS• It is difficult to envisage any other method which allows widely spaced surface

exploration of airless planetary bodies that is not prohibitively expensive.(because they are low mass, and largely generic)

• Thruster descent technology through an atmospheric body can allow more specific targetting of surface locations for investigation than for parachute or balloon investigations.

• Can target areas (e.g. more rugged) which are not accessible to soft landers.• Mostly autonomous so very little ground operational support requirements.• Provide ground truth, with feedback to interpreting orbiting instruments.CONS• Can achieve key science, but low payload mass and high-gee constraints will

limit capability c.f. soft landers.• Communications through surface material can be a challenge. (may require a

trailing aerial)• Surviving for long periods for e.g. seismic network will be a challenge with

limited mass. (Insulation and RHU’s with primary batteries)

…good for pre-cursor investigations, seismic networks, and cost effective targetting of specific terrain features.

5th IPPW, Bordeaux, June 25-99, 2007

Last day today (Cinderella time) to sign up Last day today (Cinderella time) to sign up support for LunarEx Cosmic Visions Bidsupport for LunarEx Cosmic Visions Bid

email: email: as@mssl.ucl.ac.ukas@mssl.ucl.ac.uk

See See

http://www.mssl.ucl.ac.uk/planetary/missions/Micro_Penetrators.phphttp://www.mssl.ucl.ac.uk/planetary/missions/Micro_Penetrators.php