Laplace Meeting - Frascati, April 2008 MSSL/UCL UK Penetrators for Europa MSSL/UCL UK Professor Andrew Coates on behalf of UK Penetrator Consortium

Laplace Meeting - Frascati, April 2008 MSSL/UCL UK Europa Penetrators –Low mass projectiles ~4Kg+PDS –High impact speed ~ m/s –Very tough ~10-50kgee –Penetrate surface ~0.5-few metres –Perform science from below surface Penetrator Point of Separation Payload Instruments Detachable Propulsion Stage PDS (Penetrator Delivery System)

Laplace Meeting - Frascati, April 2008 MSSL/UCL UK Penetrator Payload/Science A nominal 2kg payload …  Seismometers - interior structure (existence/size of subterrannean ocean) and seismic activity  Chemical sensors – subsurface refactory/volatile (organic/ astrobiologic (e.g. sulphur mass spec) material arising from interior  Mineralogy/astrobiology camera – subsurface mineralogy and possible astrobiological material  Accelerometers – hardness/layering/ composition of subsurface material. (future landing site assessment)  Thermal sensors - subsurface temperatures  + other instruments – beeping transmitter, magnetometer, radiation sensors, etc…  descent camera (surface morphology, landing site location) Micro-seismometer Imperial College Ion trap spectrometer Open University

Laplace Meeting - Frascati, April 2008 MSSL/UCL UK Science/Technology Requirements  Target –Region of upwelled interior material (e.g. sulphur). –2 penetrators would allow improved seismic results and natural redundancy.  Lifetime –Only minutes/hours required for camera, accelerometer, chemistry, thermal & mineralogy/astrobiologic measurements. –An orbital period (~few days) for seismic measurements. (requires RHU)  Spacecraft support –~7-9 years cruise phase, health reporting

Laplace Meeting - Frascati, April 2008 MSSL/UCL UK Preliminary Estimated Mass Item Estimated Mass (kg) Estimated Mass (kg) Penetrator (inc. 1.7 kg payload) ~3.7Kg ~3.7Kg Delivery system (AOCS) ~8.1Kg Spacecraft support ~1.5kg ~1.5kg Total mass ~13Kg/probe

Laplace Meeting - Frascati, April 2008 MSSL/UCL UKHeritage  Lunar-A and DS2 space qualified.  Military have been successfully firing instrumented projectiles for many years to comparable levels of gee forces into concrete and steel.  40,000gee qualified electronics exist (and re-used).  Currently developing similar penetrators for MoonLITE.  Payload heritage: –Accelerometers, thermometers, sample drill, geophone – fully space qualified. –Seismometers (ExoMars) & chemical sensors (Rosetta) heritage but require impact ruggedizing. –Mineralogy camera – new but simple. 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 scratched’!

Laplace Meeting - Frascati, April 2008 MSSL/UCL UK Current Development Status Full-scale trial – Scheduled May Fire 3 penetrators at 300m/s impact velocity 0.56m

Laplace Meeting - Frascati, April 2008 MSSL/UCL UK Impact trial – May08

Laplace Meeting - Frascati, April 2008 MSSL/UCL UK Impact trial – May08

Laplace Meeting - Frascati, April 2008 MSSL/UCL UK Impact trial – May08

Laplace Meeting - Frascati, April 2008 MSSL/UCL UK Impact trial – May08

Laplace Meeting - Frascati, April 2008 MSSL/UCL UK Impact trial – May08

Laplace Meeting - Frascati, April 2008 MSSL/UCL UK Impact Trial Objectives  Demonstrate survivability of penetrator shell, accelerometers and power system.  Determine internal acceleration environment at different positions within penetrator.  Extend predictive modelling to new impact and penetrator materials.  Assess impact on penetrator subsystems and instruments.  Assess alternative packing methods.  Assess interconnect philosophy.

Laplace Meeting - Frascati, April 2008 MSSL/UCL UK Imminent Next Steps…  MoonLITE bids in preparation for :- a)2 yr development to bring ruggedization of penetrator subsystems and instruments up to TRL 5. b)Phase-A study for mission, currently in discussion with BNSC and NASA.  Include study of cold environment & impact into harder icy material (lunar poles) 3 penetrator firings Normal incidence into dry sand at 300m/s 5 inner compartments for full scale penetrator trial

Laplace Meeting - Frascati, April 2008 MSSL/UCL UK Trial Hardware - Status Inners Stack

Laplace Meeting - Frascati, April 2008 MSSL/UCL UK Penetrator website: No great history of failure - only 1 planetary delivery to date Significant TRL with previous space qualified technology A useful tool in the toolbox of planetary exploration Capable of addressing fundamental astrobiology signatures and habitability Provide ground truth & new information not possible from orbit Provide useful landing information for future missions. Penetrators Conclusions

Laplace Meeting - Frascati, April 2008 MSSL/UCL UK - End -