Mars-Grunt

Mars-Grunt
NamesExpedition-M
Mission typeSingle launch: orbiter, lander, ascent vehicle, sample-return
OperatorRussian Federal Space Agency
Spacecraft properties
BusPereletny Modul or Flagman[1]
ManufacturerNPO Lavochkin
Russian Space Research Institute
Launch mass4,100 kg[2]
Landing mass2,750 kg, including Mars Ascent Vehicle (450 kg)[2]
Dry massOrbiter: 450 kg (990 lb)
Powersolar array
Start of mission
Launch date2030s (proposed)[3]
RocketAngara A5 / KTVK[2]
Launch siteVostochny Site 1A
ContractorRoscosmos
Mars orbiter
Orbital parameters
Peri altitude500 km (310 mi)
Apo altitude500 km (310 mi)
Mars lander
Sample mass≈0.2 kg (0.44 lb)[4]

Mars-Grunt, also known as Expedition-M (Russian: Марс-Грунт),[5] is a proposed robotic Mars sample-return mission.[4][6][7][8][9] It was proposed to the Russian Federal Space Agency (Roscosmos) by the Russian Space Research Institute.

As of September 2023, Mars-Grunt is expected to be sent to Mars following the success of Boomerang (Fobos-Grunt-2), which in turn is expected sometime after 2030.[3][2]

Lander

If funded by the Russian space agency Roscosmos, it would be developed by the Russian Space Research Institute and NPO Lavochkin, based on Fobos-Grunt technology.[10] Designs show a dome-shaped lander would separate from the orbiter and would enter the Martian atmosphere protected within an inflatable rubber braking cone and fire retrorockets for a soft landing.[11] Once a robotic arm selects and retrieves the samples (mass about 0.2 kilograms (0.44 lb)),[4] a small rocket in the top of the lander would blast the ascent vehicle for rendezvous and docking with the orbiter for the soil sample transfer into the return vehicle.

Cruise stage

The cruise stage PM (from Pereletny Modul Russian: Перелётный Модуль) is sometimes referred to as Flagman. It was developed for the Fobos-Grunt mission, but its basic architecture is promised to be the base for a whole generation of future planetary missions, including Luna-Glob, Luna-Resurs and Luna-Grunt to the Moon; Venera-D to Venus; Mars-NET and Mars-Grunt to Mars and, possibly, Sokol-Laplas to Jupiter. The platform's developer - NPO Lavochkin - stressed that in different configuration, the same bus could be adapted as an orbiter or as a lander.[1]

Status

If the technology being developed for Luna Glob to the Moon, and Fobos-Grunt-2 to Mars' moon Phobos, is proved successful, it will then be used on Mars-Grunt.[12]

Tasks

Tasks set by the NPO Lavochkin and Roscosmos:[13]

  • Delivery of substance samples from Mars to Earth
  • Refinement of engineering and technical models of the atmosphere and surface of Mars
  • Detailed geochemical analysis of soil substance on Mars
  • Study of the interaction processes between the atmosphere, solar radiation, and the surface of Mars

See also

References

  1. ^ a b Phobos-Grunt design
  2. ^ a b c d Zak, Anatoly (4 May 2017). "ExoMars to pave the way for soil sample return". RussianSpaceWeb. Retrieved 6 August 2024.
  3. ^ a b "Russia may launch mission to deliver soil from Mars moon after 2030". TASS. 2 September 2023. Retrieved 6 August 2024.
  4. ^ a b c Roscosmos - Space missions Published by The Space Review (p. 8-10, 19) on 2010
  5. ^ "Russian space program: a decade review (2010-2019)". Russianspaceweb. Retrieved 7 August 2015.
  6. ^ Ilya Kramnik (17 April 2012). "Russia takes a two-pronged approach to space exploration". Retrieved 7 March 2023.
  7. ^ "The Space Review: Red Planet blues". Retrieved 27 October 2015.
  8. ^ Russia To Study Martian Moons Once Again. Mars Daily July 15, 2008.
  9. ^ Major provisions of the Russian Federal Space Program for 2006-2015 Archived 2013-09-06 at the Wayback Machine. "1 spacecraft for Mars research and delivery of Martian soil to the Earth."
  10. ^ Phobos-Grunt prepares for launch. ATO - 16 August 2011.
  11. ^ Russian Space Probes: Scientific Discoveries and Future Missions. By Brian Harvey, Olga Zakutnyaya. (p 475)
  12. ^ Mars Sample Return - Russia. Anatoly Zak and Alain Chabot. Russian Space Web. May 4, 2017.
  13. ^ "Fobos-Grunt, V.V. Khartov, K.M. Pichkhadze, V.V. Efanov, M.B. Martynov (p. 38)" (PDF) (in Russian). Archived from the original (PDF) on 10 August 2023. Retrieved 12 June 2024.