'MicroMED' Optical Particle Counter: From Design to Flight Model

Autor: Diego Scaccabarozzi, Bortolino Saggin, Riccardo Somaschini, Marianna Magni, Pietro Valnegri, Francesca Esposito, Cesare Molfese, Fabio Cozzolino, Giuseppe Mongelluzzo
Jazyk: angličtina
Rok vydání: 2020
Předmět:
Zdroj: Sensors, Vol 20, Iss 3, p 611 (2020)
Druh dokumentu: article
ISSN: 1424-8220
DOI: 10.3390/s20030611
Popis: MicroMED (Micro Martian Environmental Dust Systematic Analyzer (MEDUSA)) instrument was selected for the ExoMars 2020 mission to study the airborne dust on the red planet through in situ measurements of the size distribution and concentration. This characterization has never been done before and would have a strong impact on the understanding of Martian climate and Aeolian processes on Mars. The MicroMED is an optical particle counter that exploits the measured intensity of light scattered by dust particles when crossing a collimated laser beam. The measurement technique is well established for laboratory and ground applications but in order to be mounted on the Dust Suite payload within the framework of ExoMars 2020 mission, the instrument must be compatible with harsh mechanical and thermal environments and the tight mass budget of the mission payload. This work summarizes the thermo-mechanical design of the instrument, the manufacturing of the flight model and its successful qualification in expected thermal and mechanical environments.
Databáze: Directory of Open Access Journals
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