2005-05-31
Active Space Technologies looks into procedures for mounting thermal hardware on satellites at the Mars Society Desert Research Station

Active Space Technologies was involved in the Leonardo research Project at Mars Society Desert Research Station, MDRS (see article from 2005-02-14) to evaluate the procedures and handling of thermal space hardware on Mars. A core activity of Active Space Technologies is the modeling of passive and active space thermal hardware such as Multi Layer Insulation (MLI) blankets, and Optical Solar Reflectors (OSR). The rationale for Martian sample return missions is being sustained by space agencies worldwide, in particular, by the European Space Agency (ESA) which has been managing the Aurora program since January 2002.

Mounting or repairing thermal hardware on a sample return probe for the Aurora program is an extremely important and key technology for a flawless Martian mission. Mounting thermal hardware is very different on Earth and in the International Space Station (ISS). Gravitational force may allow a more intuitive instrumentation handling on Mars than on the ISS. However, the absence of supporting crates as existing on Earth will make working on bigger instruments quite difficult. Furthermore, working with smaller pieces will be just as challenging as on the ISS due to the bulky astronaut gloves.

With these scientific requirements in sight, Active Space Technologies prepared a batch of thermal hardware experiments to assess mounting procedures of thermal hardware in sample return probes. Besides allowing the development of specific procedures for mounting and repairing thermal hardware on Mars and the evaluation of the unique conditions on Mars for such work conducted by Active Space Technologies, the MDRS project also contributed for the comparative testing of the two different types of space suits used during the mission.

Active Space Technologies will continue to research on user friendly and Martian specific thermal hardware and hopes to prepare a more comprehensive thermal hardware test campaign in the near future.
In the meantime, Coimbra, Portugal, will see a press conference on the activities of the Mona Lisa - Leonardo Project on June 9.

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