ESA Lunar Science and Exploration S. Hovland - HME, B. Foing - SCI European Space Agency [email protected] Bernard.Foing @esa.int Sorrento October 23, 2007 Session 3. Agencies Activities and Plans, 9th ILEWG, ILC 2007 1 Introduction • Ever since 2001, the long-term goal of the European Space Exploration Programme Aurora has been a significant European participation in the human exploration of Mars • To pave the way for this visionary objective, activities within the Aurora programme have been focussed on Mars exploration through ExoMars and preparation of a Mars Sample Return (MSR) • The Moon has been mainly considered as a test bed for dedicated technologies needed for Mars missions Sorrento October 23, 2007 Session 3. Agencies Activities and Plans, 9th ILEWG, ILC 2007 2 Exploration Scenario • While on the international scene a global strategy for exploration is being defined, several distinct lines of development for space exploration can be identified: – The retirement of the US Shuttle and the development of a new manned transportation system by NASA capable of serving LEO, the Moon and beyond – International interest in lunar exploration through • Several robotic missions to the Moon • Strategy and architecture definition for human exploration – A renewed interest for an international Mars Sample Return Mission in the 2020 time frame mainly for scientific purposes – In Europe we witness several national initiatives in the field of robotic missions to the Moon, development of Instrumentation and / or enabling technologies Sorrento October 23, 2007 Session 3. Agencies Activities and Plans, 9th ILEWG, ILC 2007 3 An International Architecture with European elements • International cooperative effort (14 space agencies) to produce a joint planning tool / architecture (INTERSECT) • European studies to master the overall exploration architecture and define a significant European contribution building on our established competencies and innovation priorities • A sustained international exploration programme including Moon and Mars is estimated to some 400 Billions € over 40 years High-level Requirements International Plans and ARCHITECTURE ANALYSIS Capabilities Planetary surface European Competences and Space transportation Innovation Priorities In-space Sorrento October 23, 2007 Session 3. Agencies Activities and Plans, 9th ILEWG, ILC 2007 4 ESA Human Spaceflight & Exploration Maintain an important human activity: • ISS – Continue with a robust programme of astronaut flights – Make the best use of the new infrastructures, which will become available with the launch of Columbus and ATV, capitalizing on many years of investments and exploit them also to prepare for human exploration of Moon and Mars; • Moon – Establish a plan for a substantial participation to the NASA return to the Moon initiative, identify the areas of potential European contribution, specifically to the Moon ground infrastructure. • Transportation – Study a manned transportation system as redundant capability with respect to the US system: CSTS / European Manned access to space Sorrento October 23, 2007 Session 3. Agencies Activities and Plans, 9th ILEWG, ILC 2007 5 ESA Human Spaceflight & Exploration Pave the way via robotic exploration: •ExoMars – Secure the implementation of ExoMars and capitalize on the related technology development •MSR – Continue with the study of robotic exploration missions in the frame and spirit of the Core programme, with Mars Sample Return as main goal for the coming decade • NEXT – Implement an intermediate mission (NEXT), after ExoMars and before MSR. Sorrento October 23, 2007 Session 3. Agencies Activities and Plans, 9th ILEWG, ILC 2007 6 NEXT Mission • Several mission concepts will be studied at Phase A level for the NEXT mission selection process: • A Mars mission – demonstrating rendezvous and capture in Mars orbit, – and delivering a network of three surface stations. – the highest science priority for the surface elements is network science, as extensively studied in Europe in the past – the aerobraking phase will provide opportunities for aeronomy and the mapping of crustal magnetic anomalies • A Lunar Lander mission – demonstrating high-precision landing with hazard avoidance – and focusing on in situ science – Mobility should be provided with a rover as a baseline Sorrento October 23, 2007 Session 3. Agencies Activities and Plans, 9th ILEWG, ILC 2007 7 C/Min 2008 Approach • Robotic Exploration: – ExoMars – Phase B study for NEXT mission – Focused MSR technology programme • Human / Moon: – Astronaut flights and ISS exploitation – Moon exploration technology, focusing on habitation and surface activities and related space qualification programme • Transportation capabilities – Phase A / B CSTS – Phase A European Manned Access to Space Sorrento October 23, 2007 Session 3. Agencies Activities and Plans, 9th ILEWG, ILC 2007 8 ESA SCI Contribution to International Lunar Exploration SMART-1 • Test new technologies • Launch date: 27 Sept 2003, Ariane 5 – Solar Electric Propulsion • Lunar capture: 15 Nov. 2004 – instrument miniaturisation • Impact: 3 Sept. 2006 – Faster, cheaper, smarter • First European lunar orbiter • Mission: 6 months nominal lunar orbit – Colour Micro-imager operations + 1 year extension – First X-ray global map of lunar elements – First mapping of minerals in infrared • Launch mass: 370 kg Sorrento October 23, 2007 Session 3. Agencies Activities and Plans, 9th ILEWG, ILC 2007 9 ESA SCI Contribution to International Lunar Exploration •SMART-1 – technology lessons & data exploitation – experience: planning and impact campaign – SMART-1 signal for ground segment validation (Selene, Chang’E1 and Chandrayaan-1) • Chang’E1 ground support (ESA-China Cooperation agreement) – ESA spacecraft/ground operations support – Ground station for telemetry, tracking, commanding support – Technical advice – Visitor exchanges and training • Chandrayaan-1 ESA/ISRO agreement: – ESA instruments (SIR2, C1XS, SARA) and general support – Expertise and tools for planning and data archiving Sorrento October 23, 2007 Session 3. Agencies Activities and Plans, 9th ILEWG, ILC 2007 10.