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Mars-Grunt
NamesExpedition-M
Mission typeSingle launch: orbiter, lander, ascent vehicle, sample-return
OperatorRussian Federal Space Agency
Spacecraft properties
BusPereletny Modul or Flagman [1]
ManufacturerNPO Lavochkin
Russian Space Research Institute
Launch mass5,200 kg[2]
Landing mass1,700 kg,[2] includes Service Module (500 kg), Mars Ascent Vehicle (700 kg), Return Capsule (40 kg)[2]
Dry massOrbiter: 50 kg (110 lb)
Powersolar array
Start of mission
Launch date2024 (proposed)[2][3]
RocketAngara-5/DM-03 [2]
Mars orbiter
Orbital parameters
Peri altitude500 km (310 mi)
Apo altitude500 km (310 mi)
Mars lander
Sample mass≈0.2 kg (0.44 lb)[4]
 

Mars-Grunt, also known as Expedition-M (Russian: Марс-Грунт),[5] is a robotic Mars sample return mission proposed to be sent to Mars in mid-2020s.[4][6][7][8][9] It was proposed to the Russian Federal Space Agency (Roscosmos) by the Russian Space Research Institute.

Lander

If funded by the Russian space agency Roscosmos, it would be developed by the Russian Space Research Institute and NPO Lavochkin, based on Fobos-Grunt technology.[10] Designs show a dome-shaped lander would separate from the orbiter and would enter the Martian atmosphere protected within an inflatable rubber braking cone and fire retrorockets for a soft landing.[11] Once a robotic arm selects and retrieves the samples (mass about 0.2 kilograms (0.44 lb)),[4] a small rocket in the top of the lander would blast the ascent vehicle for rendezvous and docking with the orbiter for the soil sample transfer into the return vehicle.

Cruise stage

The cruise stage PM (from Pereletny Modul Russian: Перелётный Модуль) is sometimes referred to as Flagman. It was developed for the Fobos-Grunt mission, but its basic architecture is promised to be the base for a whole generation of future planetary missions, including Luna-Glob, Luna-Resurs and Luna-Grunt to the Moon; Venera-D to Venus; Mars-NET and Mars-Grunt to Mars and, possibly, Sokol-Laplas to Jupiter. The platform's developer - NPO Lavochkin - stressed that in different configuration, the same bus could be adapted as an orbiter or as a lander.[1]

Status

If the technology being developed for Luna Glob to the Moon, and Fobos-Grunt 2 to Mars' moon Phobos, is proved successful, it will then be used on Mars-Grunt.[12]

See also

References

  1. ^ a b Phobos-Grunt design
  2. ^ a b c d e Pietrobon, Steven (11 August 2018). "Russian Launch Manifest". Retrieved 11 August 2018.
  3. ^ Russia takes a two-pronged approach to space exploration April 17, 2012.
  4. ^ a b c Roscosmos - Space missions Published by The Space Review (p. 8-10, 19) on 2010
  5. ^ "Russian space program: a decade review (2010-2019)". Russianspaceweb. Retrieved 7 August 2015.
  6. ^ Ilya Kramnik (17 April 2012). "Russia takes a two-pronged approach to space exploration". Retrieved 7 March 2023.
  7. ^ "The Space Review: Red Planet blues". Retrieved 27 October 2015.
  8. ^ Russia To Study Martian Moons Once Again. Mars Daily July 15, 2008.
  9. ^ Major provisions of the Russian Federal Space Program for 2006-2015 Archived 2013-09-06 at the Wayback Machine. "1 spacecraft for Mars research and delivery of Martian soil to the Earth."
  10. ^ Phobos-Grunt prepares for launch. ATO - 16 August 2011.
  11. ^ Russian Space Probes: Scientific Discoveries and Future Missions. By Brian Harvey, Olga Zakutnyaya. (p 475)
  12. ^ Mars Sample Return - Russia. Anatoly Zak and Alain Chabot. Russian Space Web. May 4, 2017.
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