Design of small impact‐resistant RTGs for Mars environmental survey (MESUR) mission

Ongoing studies by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) for the robotic exploration of Mars contemplate a network of about twenty small and relatively inexpensive landers distributed over both low and high latitudes of the Martian globe. They are intended to explore the structural, mineralogical, and chemical characteristics of the Martian soil, search for possible subsurface trapped ice, and collect long‐term seismological and meteorological data over a period of ten years. They can also serve as precursors for later unmanned and manned Mars missions. The collected data will be transmitted periodically, either directly to Earth or indirectly via an orbiting relay. The choice of transmission will determine the required power, which is currently expected to be between 2 and 12 watts(e) per lander. This could be supplied either by solar arrays or by Radioisotope Thermoelectric Generators (RTGs). Solar‐powered landers could only be used for low Martian latitudes, but RTG‐powered landers c...