Simulation of the lunar dusty plasma exosphere
interactions with the "Luna-Glob" spacecraft and
possible influence of charging processes on Dust
Suit on Mars
I . A . K U Z N E T S O V 1 , A .V. Z A K H A R O V 1 , G . G . D O L N I KO V 1 , A . N . LYA S H 1 ,
S . I . P O P E L 1 , S . I . KO P N I N 1 , E . A . L I S I N 2 , S . L . G . H E S S 3 , F. C I P R I A N I 4 , E . S E R A N 5
1 - S PA C E R E S E A R C H I N S T I T U T E O F T H E R A S
2 - J O I N T I N S T I T U T E F O R H I G H T E M P E R AT U R E S O F T H E R A S
3 - F R E N C H A E R O S P. L A B . , O N E R A , T O U L O U S E , F R A N C E
4 - ESTEC/TEC-EES, NOORDWIJK, THE NETHERLANDS
5 - L A B O R AT O I R E AT M O S P H E R E S , M I L I E U X , O B S E R VAT I O N S S PAT I A L E S , PA R I S , F R A N C E
14TH SPACECRAFT CHARGING TECHNOLOGY CONFERENCE, 04-08 April 2016, ESA-ESTEC, Noordwijk, The Netherlands
Background
One of the complicating factors of the future robotic and human lunar landing missions is the influence of the dust. The absence
of an atmosphere on the Moon's surface is leading to greater compaction and sintering. Properties of regolith and dust particles
(density, temperature, composition, etc.) as well as near-surface lunar exosphere depend on solar activity, lunar local time and
position of the Moon relative to the Earth's magnetotail. Upper layers of regolith are an insulator, which is charging as a result of
solar UV radiation and the constant bombardment of charged particles, creates a charge distribution on the surface of the
moon: positive on the illuminated side and negative on the night side. Charge distribution depends on the local lunar time,
latitude and the electrical properties of the regolith (the presence of water in the regolith can influence the local distribution of
charge).
Investigation of the effects of dusty plasma exosphere is important in terms of clarifying the interaction of the exosphere and
charged dust particles as on the separate scientific instruments (for example, Langmuir probes and dust Impact sensors) and on
the spacecraft systems in general.
The Spacecraft Plasma interaction Software (SPIS) has been improved to allow for the simulation of lunar and asteroid dust
emission, transport, deposition and interaction with a spacecraft on or close to the surface. [1]
We need to notice also an importance of influence investigation of charging surfaces on the sensors of Dust Suit (ExoMars-2018
mission). In the case of deploying field sensors we have to take into account all possible interactions of SC with the electric field.
14TH SPACECRAFT CHARGING TECHNOLOGY CONFERENCE, 04-08 April 2016, ESA-ESTEC, Noordwijk, The Netherlands
Purposes of the Dust Instrument
Instrument for measure dust particles physical behavior (impulse, velocity,
charge, dimension etc.) is it represented of three type of sensor. The goals
of it are to investigate the dust cycle in situ of dust flux at the surface.
The instrument LUNAR DUST MONITOR (PmL) intend to investigate the
temporal variations of expected sources of dust in the lunar environment:
lofted particles, eject production due to continual bombardment of
interplanetary dusts, micrometeorite and dust produce landers itself.
This instrument is included into the payload of landers of both mission to
moon: Luna-Globe and Luna-Resource.
To determine the near-surface electrostatic field is used method of
measuring current-voltage characteristics of the surface plasma using
Langmuir probes located at different distances from the surface of the
Moon. Two proposed use of the Langmuir probe mounted on the housing
of the lander on the distance of about 0.7 m from each other (vertical).
This arrangement of sensors will provide data on electrostatic field near
the surface of the Moon and the impact of the lander on the distribution
of this field.
The instrument consists of 3 blocks for Luna-Globe (LG) mission and of 7
blocks for Luna-Resource mission:
•Impact Sensor (IS) (or two IS for Luna-Resource (LR))
•Two Electrostatic Sensors (ES) for LG or four for LR
•Charge sensor (CS) combined with IS
•Small charged particle observer in the case of LR mission
ImS is a piezoceramic (PZT) sensor of square 0.15x0.15 m2 and will allow to
measure momentum of the dust grains from 10-12 kg·m/s.
ES will allow to measure potential of ambient dusty plasma at 20 cm and
90 cm from the Lunar surface.
ChS is electric induction sensor to measure charge of the moving
particles (with q > 1000 e)
14TH SPACECRAFT CHARGING TECHNOLOGY CONFERENCE, 04-08 April 2016, ESA-ESTEC, Noordwijk, The Netherlands
Accomodation of the PmL Dust Instrument
ES
IS
14TH SPACECRAFT CHARGING TECHNOLOGY CONFERENCE, 04-08 April 2016, ESA-ESTEC, Noordwijk, The Netherlands
Purposes of the Dust Suit on
ExoMars-2018
The dust complex will study dust vertical flux and granulometry
with the MicroMED sensor, while monitoring the sand saltation
mechanism (horizontal flux) (probably responsible for dust
lifting) with the Impact Sensor.
The role of Electric Field (E-field) in accounting for a major dust
lifting mechanism has been hypothesized, but has never been
addressed observationally. The Dust Complex shall fill this gap
by measuring E-fields near the surface where they are expected
to be stronger.
There is a possibility of microdischarges at the low altitudes of
atmosphere due to accumulation of electric charges at the
different layers or even particles. Electromagnetic activity sensor
(EMA) is intended to observe these discharges.
The information that can be obtained with the Dust Complex
instrument, by in situ measurements over different time spans
(days, seasons, years), represents a key input in different areas
of interest:
•
in the context of search of life on Mars
- to determine present climatic conditions at Mars surface
- to determine physical parameters impacting on life
presence on Mars
- to derive information about past history of Mars climate
- to provide ground-truth for validation of data coming
from orbiter observations
•
in Mars operations
- to evaluate hazardous conditions due to Martian
environment
- to place constraints on operative conditions at Mars
- to support definition of future Mars exploration
missions.
This instrument, if used in synergy with meteorological sensors
(in particular pressure, temperature, wind sensors) will be able
to completely characterize aeolian processes in correlation with
environmental conditions on Mars.
Dust Suit
MicroMED
Impact Sensor
Mast
2x
Electrical
Probes
Impact
Sensor 2
PZT-Sensors
Conductive
sensor
Antenna
Inductive
Charge Sensor
14TH SPACECRAFT CHARGING TECHNOLOGY CONFERENCE, 04-08 April 2016, ESA-ESTEC, Noordwijk, The Netherlands
Accomodation of the Boom
14TH SPACECRAFT CHARGING TECHNOLOGY CONFERENCE, 04-08 April 2016, ESA-ESTEC, Noordwijk, The Netherlands
Unsolved questions
Lunar landers (Luna-Glob, Luna-Resourse)
• What is the influence from the SC on the lunar dusty
plasma exosphere? On the Langmuir probes? Can we
count it?
• What is the influence of the SC on electric field?
• The influence from Solar Panels on the field and
plasma?
Martian lander (ExoMars-2018)
• The influence of charged surfaces on the electric field
sensors?
• The influence of the boom’s construction?
• The influence of Solar Panels?
Acknowledgements
This work was partially supported by the Ministry of
Education and Science (MK-7932.2015.8), the Russian
Foundation for Basic Research (the grant №15-32-211
59 and the grant №15-02-05627) and by the Presidium
of the Russian Academy of Sciences.
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14TH SPACECRAFT CHARGING TECHNOLOGY CONFERENCE, 04-08 April 2016, ESA-ESTEC, Noordwijk, The Netherlands