Micro-Mars: a low cost mission to planet Mars with scientific orbiter and lander applications

The proposed Micro-Mars mission can contribute substantially to the international Mars exploration programme within the framework of a future low-cost mission. The concept consists of an orbiter integrating a total scientific payload of 30 kg including a light-weight lander of 15 kg. The spacecraft will be launched as piggyback payload by an Ariane 5 ASAP with a total launch mass of 360 kg. It will use a bipropellant propulsion system with 210 kg of fuel and four thrusters of 22 N, and four of 10 N for orbit and attitude control. Further attitude actuation shall be performed by three reaction wheels and a gyropackage, a star sensor and a sun sensor for attitude sensing. Communication will be performed in S- and X-Band to Earth and in UHF between orbiter and lander. From a highly elliptical orbit with a periapsis below 200 km, four instruments will perform high-resolution remote sensing observations and the payload consists of a camera system, a magnetometer, a dosimeter, and an ultrastable oscillator for radio science. The light-weight micro lander is a challenging technological experiment by itself. It is equipped with a suite of scientific instruments which will supplement the orbiter measurements and concentrate on the environment (temperature cycle, atmosphere, magnetosphere, and radiation).