NASA建造其下一代火星巡视器任务

正2017年11月28日,据NASA网站报道,再过几年,NASA最新的巡视器将飞往火星。目前,"火星2020"巡视器正在由NASA喷气推进实验室(JPL)开发,巡航级和下降级将由JPL的航天器总装厂进行组装。"火星2020"任务将利用下一代科学和着陆技术收集岩石样品,以便将来的任务可将样品返回地球。"火星2020"巡视器很像"好奇号"巡视器,但是其携带7个新的科学仪器,重新设计的轮子具有更好的自主性。     

火星探测器“进入、下降、着陆”过程的供配电方案综述

对国外成功着陆火星的"火星探路者"(MPF)、"火星探测巡视器"(MER)、凤凰号(Phoenix)和"火星科学实验室"(MSL)的供配电技术进行总结;着重分析探测器在"进入、下降、着陆"(EDL)过程中对电源的电池容量、放电电流、工作时间、环境温度及储存时间等方面的要求及解决方案;提出了火星探测器EDL过程中供配电设计在电池类型、器间供电接口、比能量、放电倍率、能量裕度和寿命方面要注意的重点。     

“长征”五号运载火箭成功发射“天问”一号火星探测器

正2020年7月23日12时41分,"长征"五号运载火箭在中国文昌航天发射场点火起飞。中国迈出行星探测的第一步——奔向火星。这是"长征"五号运载火箭首次执行应用性发射,成功将"天问"一号火星探测器送入预定轨道。"天问"一号火星探测器由着陆巡视器和环绕器组成,着陆巡视器包括进入舱和火星车。在地火转移轨道飞行约7个月后,"天问"一号探测器将到达火星附近,通过"刹车"完成火星捕获,进入环火轨道,并择机开展着陆、巡视等任务,进行火星科学探测。     

轻质化高性能中室压推进系统助力天问一号实现首次火星探测任务

正天问一号首次火星探测任务通过一次发射实现火星环绕、着陆和巡视三项工作目标,开展火星全球性、综合性的环绕探测,以及在火星表面开展区域性的巡视探测。这是一次中国航天史上深空探测的重要里程碑。本次任务的火星探测器系统由环绕探测器和着陆巡视器组成。环绕探测器只在火星的轨道上飞行,相当于火星的卫星。着陆巡视器则真正进入到火星的大气层,并在火星表面着陆。中室压推进系统是着陆巡视器的动力减速装置(图1)。     

“天问”一号火星探测器降落伞研制回顾

正2021年5月15日,我国第一个火星探测器"天问"一号终于踏上了着陆火星的征程,01时许,"天问"一号由停泊轨道转入火星进入轨道。3h后,环绕器与着陆巡视器分离,着陆巡视器独自奔赴火星。又3h后,着陆巡视器进入火星大气,开始气动减速。4min后,火星降落伞弹出,充气展开,开始伞系减速,又4min后,降落伞完成减速使命,与着陆平台分离,着陆平台进入动力减速阶段。1min后,着陆平台平稳着陆在火星表面。作为气动减速的主要装置,降落伞不辱使命,表现完美。"天问" 一号所用的降落伞由北京空间机电研究所研制。     

火星进入、下降与着陆技术的新进展——以“火星科学实验室”为例

文章以"火星科学实验室"为例,对火星进入、下降和着陆(EDL)技术的新进展进行了分析和总结。首先,简要介绍了"火星科学实验室"任务需求和遇到的技术挑战;然后,详细说明了相应的对策以及具体技术方案,并针对当前所遇到的问题,列举了一些可能的解决方法;最后,对"火星科学实验室"发展的新技术、新方法进行了总结。     

火星精确着陆制导问题分析与展望

美国火星科学实验室(MSL)任务成功将“好奇”号火星车着陆到火星表面,开创了火星精确着陆探测的新局面。以MSL着陆任务为典型代表,分析了目前火星着陆探测进入、下降和着陆（Entry, Descent and Landing, EDL）过程的制导方案及制导系统的发展趋势。以在火星高海拔、复杂地形区域定点着陆为潜在工程目标,归纳了火星EDL过程面临的制导主要问题。根据未来制导系统自主性和自适应性的技术需求及潜在工程任务制导面临的问题,提出了火星EDL制导方面需要解决的关键技术,并对其在未来工程中的应用潜力进行了展望。     

火星探测进入、下降、着陆过程通信方案

基于火星探测任务进入、下降、着陆过程(Entry,Descent and Landing,EDL)的特点,从信号微弱、高多普勒动态和黑障通信等3方面提出了该过程中通信的主要技术难点;简述了国外成功完成火星表面软着陆探测任务——海盗号、"火星探路者"、"火星探测巡视器"、凤凰号、"火星科学实验室"EDL过程采用的通信方案,并在其基础上进行了归纳总结;详细介绍了EDL过程所采用的直接对地通信、中继通信方案组成、通信能力和关键单机等;论述了中继通信、信号调制、信道编码以及黑障分析、防护与减轻等通信关键技术及其工程现状。最后给出了对我国火星探测EDL过程通信技术方案设计的一些建议。     

好奇号降临火星

经过约5.7亿千米的长途跋涉,美国东部时间2012年8月6日凌晨1：31（北京时间13：31）,美国于2011年11月25日发射的“火星科学实验室”所携带的好奇号火星车在火星盖尔陨坑中心山丘的山脚下着陆。其主要任务是分析盖尔陨坑的土壤和岩石,探索火星过去或现在是否存在适宜生命生存的环境,可展开为期一个火星年（约687个地球日）的探测。 继续寻找火星生命迹象 总投资达25＇f7_,美元的“火星科学实验室”是迄今最昂贵的火星探测项目,由美国航宇局喷气推进实验室负责管理,波音和洛马公司为主承包商。它是美国火星生命计划的一部分,将挖掘火星土壤、钻取火星岩石粉末,对岩石样本进行分析,探测火星过去或现在是否具有支持微生物生存的环境,从而确定火星是否具有可居住性。为了描述火星的气候特征和地形特征,确定火星上是否有过生命,为载人火星探测做准备,“火星科学实验室”的具体科学探测目标是：了解生物学效应的特点;研究火星岩石和土壤形成和变化的过程;探索火星大气长时间以来的演变过程;确定目前火星上水和二氧化碳的状态、分布和循环情况,以及有机碳复合物的特性和储量;勘测火星表面的化学、同位素、矿物质复合物和火星近表面的地质情况;分析火星表面辐射的光谱特征,包括宇宙银河射线、太阳质子效应和次级中子等;掌握构建生命的物质的含量,如碳、氢、氮、氧、磷和硫。好奇号面临最大的挑战之一就是如何保护火星不受污染。其主要任务是探索火星的过去或现在是否可以作为生命的“避难所”。这就意味着探测器一定不能带有任何的地球病菌和微生物。     

“火星科学实验室”EDL方案及其新技术分析

"火星科学实验室"进入、下降与着陆(EDL)技术代表了目前已步入应用阶段的火星探测的最新技术。在分析该方案基础上,对其所应用的升力式进入及进入制导控制技术、基于马赫数的开伞控制技术、"矢量点乘"控制的防热罩分离技术、基于"空中吊车"的动力下降与着陆缓冲技术和"空中吊车"飞离控制技术等进行了分析,可为火星探测研究提供一定的借鉴和参考。     

The Mawrth Vallis region of Mars: A potential landing site for the Mars Science Laboratory (MSL) mission

The primary objective of NASA's Mars Science Laboratory (MSL) mission, which will launch in 2011, is to characterize the habitability of a site on Mars through detailed analyses of the composition and geological context of surface materials. Within the framework of established mission goals, we have evaluated the value of a possible landing site in the Mawrth Vallis region of Mars that is targeted directly on some of the most geologically and astrobiologically enticing materials in the Solar System. The area around Mawrth Vallis contains a vast (>1?×?10? km2) deposit of phyllosilicate-rich, ancient, layered rocks. A thick (>150?m) stratigraphic section that exhibits spectral evidence for nontronite, montmorillonite, amorphous silica, kaolinite, saponite, other smectite clay minerals, ferrous mica, and sulfate minerals indicates a rich geological history that may have included multiple aqueous environments. Because phyllosilicates are strong indicators of ancient aqueous activity, and the preservation potential of biosignatures within sedimentary clay deposits is high, martian phyllosilicate deposits are desirable astrobiological targets. The proposed MSL landing site at Mawrth Vallis is located directly on the largest and most phyllosilicate-rich deposit on Mars and is therefore an excellent place to explore for evidence of life or habitability.     

美国火星表面探测使命述评（上）

从1975年发射（1976年着陆火星）的海盗-1探测器以来,美国已成功执行了6次火星表面探测使命,即海盗-1与海盗-2轨道器/着陆器,＂火星探路者＂（MPF）着陆器/巡游车,＂勇气＂与＂机遇＂火星探测巡游车（MER）,以及＂凤凰＂着陆器;而推迟到2011年发射的＂好奇心＂火星科学实验室（MSL）将火星着陆技术与表面巡游车技术推向一个新的高度。从＂海盗＂着陆器到＂好奇心＂巡游车、美国历经三种火星着陆系统与三代火星表面巡游车技术的发展。三种着陆系统为着陆腿着陆系统（＂海盗＂与＂凤凰＂）,气囊着陆系统（MPF与MER）,以及空中吊机着陆系统（MSL）。三代巡游车为MPF＂旅居者＂巡游车、MER＂勇气＂与＂机遇＂巡游车,以及MSL＂好奇心＂巡游车。现在,美国在火星进入、降落与着陆（EDL）运作与表面避障移动方面,已达到技术成熟与先进的水平,满足安全着陆与表面移动探测的要求。文章阐述美国上述七项火星表面探测使命的立项背景、科学目标与有效载荷、飞行系统组成,以及飞行运作程序;分析美国火星着陆技术与表面巡游车技术的发展。     

美国火星表面探测使命述评（下）

从1975年8月发射（1976年7月着陆火星）的海盗-1探测器以来,美国已成功执行了6次火星表面探测使命,即海盗-1与海盗-2轨道器/着陆器,＂火星探路者＂（MPF）着陆器/巡游车,＂勇气＂与＂机遇＂火星探测巡游车（MER）,以及＂凤凰＂着陆器;而推迟到2011年发射的火星科学实验室（MSL）将火星着陆技术与表面巡游车技术推向一个新的高度。从＂海盗＂着陆器到MSL＂好奇心＂巡游车、美国历经三种火星着陆系统与三代火星表面巡游车技术的发展。三种着陆系统为着陆腿着陆系统（＂海盗＂与＂凤凰＂）,气囊着陆系统（MPF与MER）,以及空中吊机着陆系统（MSL）。三代巡游车为MPF＂旅居者＂巡游车、MER＂勇气＂与＂机遇＂巡游车,以及MSL＂好奇心＂巡游车。现在,美国在火星进入、降落与着陆（EDL）运作与表面避障移动方面,已达到技术成熟与先进的水平,满足安全着陆与表面移动探测的要求。文章阐述美国上述七项火星表面探测使命的立项背景、科学目标与有效载荷、飞行系统组成,以及飞行运作程序;分析美国火星着陆技术与表面巡游车技术的发展。     

Venus, Mars, and the ices on Mercury and the moon: astrobiological implications and proposed mission designs

Venus and Mars likely had liquid water bodies on their surface early in the Solar System history. The surfaces of Venus and Mars are presently not a suitable habitat for life, but reservoirs of liquid water remain in the atmosphere of Venus and the subsurface of Mars, and with it also the possibility of microbial life. Microbial organisms may have adapted to live in these ecological niches by the evolutionary force of directional selection. Missions to our neighboring planets should therefore be planned to explore these potentially life-containing refuges and return samples for analysis. Sample return missions should also include ice samples from Mercury and the Moon, which may contain information about the biogenic material that catalyzed the early evolution of life on Earth (or elsewhere). To obtain such information, science-driven exploration is necessary through varying degrees of mission operation autonomy. A hierarchical mission design is envisioned that includes spaceborne (orbital), atmosphere (airborne), surface (mobile such as rover and stationary such as lander or sensor), and subsurface (e.g., ground-penetrating radar, drilling, etc.) agents working in concert to allow for sufficient mission safety and redundancy, to perform extensive and challenging reconnaissance, and to lead to a thorough search for evidence of life and habitability.     

Mitigation of the impact of terrestrial contamination on organic measurements from the Mars Science Laboratory

The objective of the 2009 Mars Science Laboratory (MSL), which is planned to follow the Mars Exploration Rovers and the Phoenix lander to the surface of Mars, is to explore and assess quantitatively a site on Mars as a potential habitat for present or past life. Specific goals include an assessment of the past or present biological potential of the target environment and a characterization of its geology and geochemistry. Included in the 10 investigations of the MSL rover is the Sample Analysis at Mars (SAM) instrument suite, which is designed to obtain trace organic measurements, measure water and other volatiles, and measure several light isotopes with experiment sequences designed for both atmospheric and solid-phase samples. SAM integrates a gas chromatograph, a mass spectrometer, and a tunable laser spectrometer supported by sample manipulation tools both within and external to the suite. The sub-part-per-billion sensitivity of the suite for trace species, particularly organic molecules, along with a mobile platform that will contain many kilograms of organic materials, presents a considerable challenge due to the potential for terrestrial contamination to mask the signal of martian organics. We describe the effort presently underway to understand and mitigate, wherever possible within the resource constraints of the mission, terrestrial contamination in MSL and SAM measurements.     

Preservation of martian organic and environmental records: final report of the Mars biosignature working group

The Mars Science Laboratory (MSL) has an instrument package capable of making measurements of past and present environmental conditions. The data generated may tell us if Mars is, or ever was, able to support life. However, the knowledge of Mars' past history and the geological processes most likely to preserve a record of that history remain sparse and, in some instances, ambiguous. Physical, chemical, and geological processes relevant to biosignature preservation on Earth, especially under conditions early in its history when microbial life predominated, are also imperfectly known. Here, we present the report of a working group chartered by the Co-Chairs of NASA's MSL Project Science Group, John P. Grotzinger and Michael A. Meyer, to review and evaluate potential for biosignature formation and preservation on Mars. Orbital images confirm that layered rocks achieved kilometer-scale thicknesses in some regions of ancient Mars. Clearly, interplays of sedimentation and erosional processes govern present-day exposures, and our understanding of these processes is incomplete. MSL can document and evaluate patterns of stratigraphic development as well as the sources of layered materials and their subsequent diagenesis. It can also document other potential biosignature repositories such as hydrothermal environments. These capabilities offer an unprecedented opportunity to decipher key aspects of the environmental evolution of Mars' early surface and aspects of the diagenetic processes that have operated since that time. Considering the MSL instrument payload package, we identified the following classes of biosignatures as within the MSL detection window: organism morphologies (cells, body fossils, casts), biofabrics (including microbial mats), diagnostic organic molecules, isotopic signatures, evidence of biomineralization and bioalteration, spatial patterns in chemistry, and biogenic gases. Of these, biogenic organic molecules and biogenic atmospheric gases are considered the most definitive and most readily detectable by MSL.     

Astrobiology through the ages of Mars: the study of terrestrial analogues to understand the habitability of Mars

Mars has undergone three main climatic stages throughout its geological history, beginning with a water-rich epoch, followed by a cold and semi-arid era, and transitioning into present-day arid and very cold desert conditions. These global climatic eras also represent three different stages of planetary habitability: an early, potentially habitable stage when the basic requisites for life as we know it were present (liquid water and energy); an intermediate extreme stage, when liquid solutions became scarce or very challenging for life; and the most recent stage during which conditions on the surface have been largely uninhabitable, except perhaps in some isolated niches. Our understanding of the evolution of Mars is now sufficient to assign specific terrestrial environments to each of these periods. Through the study of Mars terrestrial analogues, we have assessed and constrained the habitability conditions for each of these stages, the geochemistry of the surface, and the likelihood for the preservation of organic and inorganic biosignatures. The study of these analog environments provides important information to better understand past and current mission results as well as to support the design and selection of instruments and the planning for future exploratory missions to Mars.     

Desperately seeking life on Mars

Humans appear to be obsessed with the idea of finding life on Mars and have latched on to any evidence—however improbable—that might support its existence. Charting the history of the often deceptive scientific (not to mention literary) findings made about Mars, this viewpoint suggests that our desire to find extraterrestrial life says more about the human need for companionship and communication than about the true past of the planet. Nevertheless, ESA's Mars Express should give us a better understanding of the true likelihood of life ever having existed there after its launch in 2003.     

A concept for NASA's Mars 2016 astrobiology field laboratory

The Mars Program Plan includes an integrated and coordinated set of future candidate missions and investigations that meet fundamental science objectives of NASA and the Mars Exploration Program (MEP). At the time this paper was written, these possible future missions are planned in a manner consistent with a projected budget profile for the Mars Program in the next decade (2007-2016). As with all future missions, the funding profile depends on a number of factors that include the exact cost of each mission as well as potential changes to the overall NASA budget. In the current version of the Mars Program Plan, the Astrobiology Field Laboratory (AFL) exists as a candidate project to determine whether there were (or are) habitable zones and life, and how the development of these zones may be related to the overall evolution of the planet. The AFL concept is a surface exploration mission equipped with a major in situ laboratory capable of making significant advancements toward the Mars Program's life-related scientific goals and the overarching Vision for Space Exploration. We have developed several concepts for the AFL that fit within known budget and engineering constraints projected for the 2016 and 2018 Mars mission launch opportunities. The AFL mission architecture proposed here assumes maximum heritage from the 2009 Mars Science Laboratory (MSL). Candidate payload elements for this concept were identified from a set of recommendations put forth by the Astrobiology Field Laboratory Science Steering Group (AFL SSG) in 2004, for the express purpose of identifying overall rover mass and power requirements for such a mission. The conceptual payload includes a Precision Sample Handling and Processing System that would replace and augment the functionality and capabilities provided by the Sample Acquisition Sample Processing and Handling system that is currently part of the 2009 MSL platform.