MarcoPolo-R NEWS LETTERS
The News Letters sent to the community are reproduced here from the last to the first released ones.
NEWS LETTER#9
(sent on 30 August, 2013)
Dear MarcoPolo-R Supporters,
We recall that the "MarcoPolo-R workshop: The unique value of target 2008 EV5 " will take place during the European Planetary Science Congress (EPSC) 2013 in London at University College London on 9 September 2013, from 16:00 to 17:30 in the Haldane Press Conference room (see http://meetingorganizer.copernicus.org/EPSC2013/session/14699).
The preliminary programme is:
- The status of the mission study (D. Koschny, ESA-ESTEC, The Netherlands)
- The target characterization: composition (M. A. Barucci, LESIA-Paris Obs., France)
- The target characterization: physical properties (P. Michel, OCA – Nice, France)
- MarcoPolo-R: An Overview of the Cosmochemistry Science (I. Franchi, Open University, UK)
- Curation Facility (C. Smith, Natural History Museum, London, UK)
- General discussion (all)
We also indicate that ESA will announce the organization of the final open public presentations of the five M3 class missions at the UNESCO Hq (Paris, France) on 29 January 2014, after which the selection committees will select one of those missions for launch in 2022-2023.
Regarding outreach activities, we have concluded the story of the MarcoPolo-R cartoon. The complete adventure is posted on the MP-R website. If you would like to receive a printed version, please contact Mme Bollard Françoise francoise.bollard at obspm.fr.
The translations in French, Italian, Spanish, German, Greek, Portuguese and Russian are now available while the Japanese one is in progress.
The industrial phase A studies are completed and the resulting design is very satisfactory to the ESA study team. It now has to go through a review in October/November, which outcomes will feed in the M3 mission selection process as for all other missions.
We are working hard to finalize the Yellow Book, and all the instrumentation documents.
We thank you again for your support
Best Regards
The MP-R Science Team
NEWS LETTER#8
(sent on 9 July, 2013)
Dear MarcoPolo-R Supporters,
Please find below a few lines giving an update of the ongoing activities related to the study of MarcoPolo-R (MP-R) mission before the summer time.
Payload studies are running nominally and the science operations are being defined more precisely across instrument PIs, ESTEC, ESAC and ESOC. The two Phase A industrial studies have come to an end. The Mission Design Review was successful and the final presentations (internal to ESA) of industrial studies will take place at the end of July. The latest progress and detailed analysis on the key sample return concepts have largely increased the confidence into their maturity and feasibility, e.g. GNC for descent and touchdown, sampling and transfer mechanism, re-entry capsule. The Preliminary Requirements Review foreseen in October/November prior to M3 mission selection is being prepared. The dedicated technology activities are making progress. A mature design for two sampling tool options (by the companies AVS and Selex Galileo) is approaching, which should lead to the breadboarding and testing under 1-g condition this year and in 0-g possibly next year. The « touch and go testing activity ITT » is out and the GNC development by the company GMV is running nominally. All other developments related to "re-entry" are well underway (ablative material characterization, capsule stability, etc.).
The development of sample return technology represents a crucial element for Europe’s science community and space industries to match the technology level of other main agencies. MarcoPolo-R will ensure that the space industry as well as European space research laboratories involved in the mission and sample analysis are positioned at the forefront in this new era of sample return. It is important to emphasize the great interest by space entrepreneurs and the private space sector to better understand the asteroid population, to prospect future resources and for human exploration endeavors. Enhanced understanding of the diversity of the asteroid population, in particular their surface properties, is required to achieve these objectives, and MarcoPolo-R appears as best suitable precursor for any future capture/control mission to NEAs.
The International Symposium "The science of MarcoPolo-R" that took place at ESA/ESTEC on June 3rd - 4th, 2013, hosted a great number of participants and generated very interesting discussions about the sample science and the mission in general; all the presentations are available on the website:
http://www.sciops.esa.int/The_science_of_MarcoPolo-R
We also recall that a small workshop will be organized during EPSC in London during the week of September 9-13, 2013 (exact time and date will be announced when defined).
The final public presentations (before selection) of the five M3 class missions have been schedule by ESA at UNESCO (Paris) on 29 January 2014.
Regarding outreach activities, we have concluded the story of our cartoon, which reached episode #36 and the complete adventure is posted on the MP-R website: https://www.oca.eu/MarcoPolo-R/Cartoon/MarcoPolo-R_Cartoon.html
We now started the translation in French, Italian, Spanish, German, Greek, Portuguese, Japanese and Russian, and we strongly thank the MP-R supporters who helped in doing this.
While we are working to finalize the Yellow Book, we thank you again for your support, in particular regarding the working group activities and we wish you a nice summer
Best Regards
The MP-R Science Team
NEWS LETTER#7
(sent on 30 April, 2013)
Dear MarcoPolo-R Supporters,
Please find below a few lines giving an update of the ongoing Phase A study of MarcoPolo-R (MP-R).
ESA postponed the selection of the M3 class mission to February 2014, and consequently the delivery of the Yellow Book to ESA is now planned for mid-November 2013.
Payload study kickoffs have recently taken place. All relevant technical data from the selected payload were sent to industry as an update to the previous placeholders. Quite a number of clarifications are being discussed between PIs and industry but the overall payload set seems to be feasible and fits with the mission resources.
The two Phase A industrial studies are coming to an end in 3 months. The latest progress meetings held at the end of April demonstrated good progress regarding the consolidation of the overall design and satisfying maturity in view of the upcoming Preliminary Requirements Review foreseen in November prior to M3 mission selection. The asteroid descent GNC simulations show that the descent towards the asteroid can be done with a simpler approach while keeping the asteroid descent safe and robust. The Earth re-entry capsule design is now more mature and the overall Earth re-entry strategy is well detailed. The sampling tools have been better defined as well as the touch and go mechanism, which is the critical item of this mission. The maturity of these critical systems is being further improved via dedicated technology activities.
The overall mass budget is well consolidated and 5% launch mass margins are now available across all launch opportunities and designs.
We also recall that the next International Symposium "The science of MarcoPolo-R" will take place at ESA/ESTEC (The Netherlands) on June 3rd - 4th, 2013 and the program will soon be posted on the website:
http://www.sciops.esa.int/The_science_of_MarcoPolo-R
Regarding outreach activities, we have now reached episode #14 of our cartoon. The cartoon will be published as soon as it reaches episode #24. Volunteers are needed to translate it in other languages. You can find the different episodes on the MP-R website: https://www.oca.eu/MarcoPolo-R/Cartoon/MarcoPolo-R_Cartoon.html
We thank you again for your support,
Best Regards
The MP-R Science Team
NEWS LETTER#6
(sent on 27 Ferbuary, 2013)
Dear MarcoPolo-R Supporters,
Please find below a few lines giving an update of the ongoing assessment study of MarcoPolo-R (MP-R).
The ESA Science Program Committee has approved on 21 Feb. 2013, the selection of the following scientific payload complement:
- CUC : Close-Up Camera
- MaNAC : Narrow Angle Camera
- MaRIS: MarcoPolo-R imaging spectrometer (visible and near-infrared)
- RSE : Radio Science Experiment
- THERMAP: a mid-infrared spectro-imager
- VESPA-VISTA2 : thermogravimetric analysis
The two industrial studies continue to run the system study in a very constructive way with the Preliminary Requirements Review foreseen in November 2013, marking the end of the Phase A. The Mission Consolidation Review has just taken place, confirming the feasibility of the mission design. More effort will be put in phase 2 of the study that will be completed in July 2013 on the key sample return technologies, i.e. more descent and touchdown analysis, sampling tool design maturation, etc.
We recall that the preliminary reports of the Scientific Working Group activities, in support of the preparation of the Yellow Book, are due by end of February, and must be sent directly to the MP-R Science Study Team contact points. The delivery of the Yellow Book to ESA is planned for September/October 2013.
We also take this opportunity to recall that the next International Symposium "The science of MarcoPolo-R" will take place at ESA/ESTEC (The Netherlands) on June 3rd - 4th, 2013; see:
http://www.sciops.esa.int/The_science_of_MarcoPolo-R
The workshop is now open for registration on the web site. The goal of this workshop is to involve the broad science community in presentations and discussions of the science of MarcoPolo-R. The meeting is open to interested colleagues from both the science community and industry. Please register as soon as possible to ensure your participation, as the number of places is limited.
Regarding the outreach activities, we have now the cover for the MP-R cartoon booklet that we intend to publish (to be translated in different languages). You can find the different episodes on the MP-R website:
https://www.oca.eu/MarcoPolo-R/Cartoon/MarcoPolo-R_Cartoon.html
We thank you again for your support,
Best Regards
The MP-R Science Team
NEWS LETTER#5
(sent on 11 January, 2013)
Dear MarcoPolo-R Supporters,
We take the opportunity of this newsletter to wish you a successful and happy new year 2013. This year is very important for the MarcoPolo-R mission with the final selection of the M3 mission to be launched, at the end of the year.
Please find below a few lines giving an update of the ongoing assessment study of MarcoPolo-R (MP-R).
The payload M3 AO call for scientific payloads was closed on November 30th, 2012. The evaluation of the submitted proposals is taking place currently, and the announcement for the selected instruments will occur at the end of February 2013.
The two industrial studies are running in a very constructive way with the Preliminary Requirements Review in September 2013.
The preliminary report of the Scientific Working Group activities, in support of the preparation of the Yellow Book is due for the end of February, to be sent directly to the MP-R Science Study Team contact points. The delivery of the Yellow Book to ESA is still planned for September 2013.
The workshop held in Paris-CNES on December 2012: « Cosmochemistry of primitive bodies: the need for MarcoPolo-R - a European sample return space mission» had an extraordinary success with more than 120 participants from USA, JAPAN and Europe, and extremely interesting presentations and fruitful discussions. The presentations will be soon posted on the website:
https://www.oca.eu/Cosmochemistry_MP-R/index.html
We would also like to recall the next two meetings:
1) "International Symposium: "Astrobiological and cosmochemical implications of Marco Polo-R sampling of a primitive asteroid", to be held in Barcelona (Spain) on January 16th -17th, 2013. The scientific program is now posted on the web:
http://www.ice.csic.es/research/Marco_Polo-R_2013/ins_en.html
2) "The science of MarcoPolo-R" to be held at ESA/ESTEC on Jun 3rd - 4th, 2013:
http://www.sciops.esa.int/The_science_of_MarcoPolo-R
Regarding the outreach activities, we have now reached the episode # 11 of our cartoon. You can find the different episodes on the MP-R website:
https://www.oca.eu/MarcoPolo-R/Cartoon/MarcoPolo-R_Cartoon.html
We thank you again for your support,
Best Regards
The MP-R Science Team
NEWS LETTER#4
(sent on 5 December, 2012)
Dear MarcoPolo-R Supporters,
Here is an update about the ongoing assessment study of MarcoPolo-R (MP-R).
The mission design has been through an important change meanwhile. The single asteroid 2008 EV5 is now the baseline target following the recommendations from the Science Study Team and confirmation by ESA and the industry that this target leads to a simpler, shorter and thus cheaper mission, while keeping the high required level of science return.
In fact, a mission analysis studied by ESA and industries showed that opportunities to the initial backup target 2008 EV5 exist which should allow a cost reduction of the current mission and a shorter mission duration (round-trip time 4.5 years). The Science Study Team (SST) has considered new observational data for this target, which had not been available at the time of writing of the proposal and the first study phases. Its physical and compositional properties allows establishing a comparison of its science case with that of the initial baseline target 1996 FG3. The conclusion drawn from this comparison by the SST, and overwhelmingly supported by their relevant communities and working groups, is that 2008 EV5 has an outstanding interest for the key science related to surface sampling from a primitive asteroid and sample return to Earth.
The target shows a spectrum indicating a primitive asteroid. It shows spectral signature at 0.48 um and an albedo of 10 - 12 %, which is higher than that of other mission target asteroids. Radar observations of the object are available, giving a size of about 0.4 km. The spectral feature indicates probable alteration by water, and therefore it is likely that this body is particularly primitive in nature, having accreted in a volatile-rich region. The spectrum compares well with CI meteorites, also known as very primitive objects. The reduced mission duration will bring the time of the sample analysis closer to the expected return times of other sample return missions, allowing Europe to contribute in a timely manner to the international sample return activities.
Mission profiles have been defined every year between 2022 and 2024. They all use only one Earth fly-by and the fully recurring electric propulsion engines of Smart-1, direct escape and a Soyuz Fregat launch vehicle. A touch and go sampling operation has been selected, making the touchdown and GNC system design relatively simple. In addition, a fully passive re-entry capsule is considered with no parachutes and no beacons.
Overall, the new target leads to a large simplification of the mission design (shorter mission, lower cost propulsion system directly re-used from Smart-1, very simple communication system, lower power need, much less challenging thermal design, less risk due to the absence of a secondary body, lower re-entry velocity, etc.). Because of its observed characteristics, this target offers both unique science and minimum cost mission design.
The payload M3 AO call was closed on November 30th. The evaluation of the received proposals is starting, and will result in a selection of the payload complement in February of 2013.
The two industrial studies (led by Astrium Ltd and TAS-I) are running nominally with the Preliminary Requirements Review in September 2013 and final ESA M3 mission selection in December 2013.
We would also like to recall the next two MarcoPolo-R meetings:
1) A workshop in Paris: « Cosmochemistry of primitive bodies: the need for MarcoPolo-R - a European sample return space mission» at CNES-Paris, December 17th and 18th, 2012. The program is now on line : https://www.oca.eu/Cosmochemistry_MP-R/index.html
2) Another meeting: "International Symposium: "Astrobiological and cosmochemical implications of Marco Polo-R sampling of a primitive asteroid", will be held in Barcellone in Jan. 16th -17th, 2013: http://www.ice.csic.es/research/Marco_Polo-R_2013/ins_en.html
The Scientific Working Group activities are going on fruitfully with the aim to support the Science Team. The delivery of the Yellow Book is still due for September 2013. The outreach activity is going on with the development of several ideas, and in particular a cartoon. We are at the episode # 9. You can find the different episodes on the MP-R website: https://www.oca.eu/MarcoPolo-R/Cartoon/MarcoPolo-R_Cartoon.html
Best Regards
The MP-R Science Team
NEWS LETTER#3
(sent on 25 September, 2012)
Dear MarcoPolo-R Supporters,
We are sending this message to give you an update about the ongoing assessment study of MarcoPolo-R (MP-R) and on the ESA AO for payload released on Sept. 24th, 2012.
The two industrial studies (led by Astrium Ltd and TAS-I) are running nominally. The contract has been extended up to the end of the Phase A, i.e. September 2013 culminating in the Preliminary Requirements Review, due to the new M-class mission selection process. The payload selection will be done by the SPC in February 2013. The full M3 mission selection process is planned to be completed by the end of 2013.
The detailed mission design is moving on. The binary asteroid 1996 FG3 is the baseline target. Mission profiles have been defined every year between 2022 and 2025. All missions are between 7 and 8 years, using fully recurring electric propulsion engines, direct escape and a Soyuz Fregat launch vehicle. A touch and go sampling operation has been selected, making the touchdown and GNC system design relatively simple. In addition, a fully passive re-entry capsule is considered with no parachutes and no beacons. Overall, the selected design is lowering the cost to the minimum required for this mission concept.
Moreover we found a new object 2008 EV5 (with recent spectral and radar observations) that is also very attractive from the cosmochemical point of view and ESA is looking at possible very short mission options (the complete mission is expected to be inside 4 years for launch opportunities 2022-2024).
In the meantime ESA has released the call for the instruments. The AO has been posted today on the website
http://sci.esa.int/science-e/www/object/index.cfm?fobjectid=50836
The Letter of Intent must be submitted by October 5th, 2012, 12:00 CEST (noon). The deadline for submission of the proposal is November 30th, 2012. On this subject, we encourage you to not hesitate in proposing appealing new ideas. The call is open to all possible instruments and this selection will be the final selection for instruments to fly, once the mission is selected (if this is the case) at the end of 2013.
We would also like to recall the next two meetings:
1) A workshop in Paris: « Cosmochemistry of primitive bodies: the need for MarcoPolo-R - a European sample return space mission» at CNES-Paris, December 17th and 18th, 2012 specifically for cosmochemistry scientists and researchers working on sample analysis. Deadline for registration is Oct. 15, 2012, on the website
https://www.oca.eu/Cosmochemistry_MP-R/index.html
2) A meeting in Barcelona: "International Symposium: "Astrobiological and cosmochemical implications of Marco Polo-R sampling of a primitive asteroid", Jan. 16th -17th, open to scientists with all possible interests connected with the MP-R mission (payload, technology advances, ESA study report, working group reports etc…). Deadline for registration is Oct. 29, 2012, on the website
http://www.ice.csic.es/research/Marco_Polo-R_2013/ins_en.html
The Scientific Working Group activities are going on fruitfully with the aim to support the Science Team. The delivery of the Yellow Book is due for September 2013. We remind you that a MarcoPolo-R workshop will take place during the EPSC meeting in Madrid on Sept. 27th from 18:15 to 19:45 pm in the Mars Room. The current science and technical studies at ESA as well as activities of some of the Working Groups will be presented, followed by a general discussion. We encourage all interested persons being present at EPSC to attend the workshop.
http://meetingorganizer.copernicus.org/EPSC2012/session/12043
NASA financed with 300 000 $ the Applied Physics Laboratory (APL) of the John Hopkins University (Maryland, USA) to study a sample mechanism in support of MP-R, even if for the moment ESA is studying the complete mission.
The outreach activity is going on with the development of several ideas, and in particular a cartoon that describes the story of the MP-R satellite, designed as a living character. The aim is to present the mission as an adventure, readable by the general public. We are at the episode # 8. You can find the different episodes on the MP-R website:
https://www.oca.eu/MarcoPolo-R/Cartoon/MarcoPolo-R_Cartoon.html
Best Regards
The MP-R Science Team
NEWS LETTER#2
(sent on 26 june, 2012)
Dear MarcoPolo-R Supporters,
We are sending this message to give you an update about the ongoing assessment study of MarcoPolo-R (MP-R).
The two industrial studies (led by Astrium Ltd and TAS-I) started in February 2012 and the Baseline Selection Reviews (BSR) were achieved on the first half of June for both industries. The two industries analyzed many different architecture designs and mission scenarios including both chemical and electric propulsion and various launch strategies. Eventually, the best launch mass margins and mission profiles were found for a mission using a Soyuz Fregat launch vehicle and electric propulsion on a direct interplanetary escape to the binary target 1996 FG3 which is the selected baseline mission.
In the meantime ESA has changed the M3 selection approach, with the prolongation of the industrial study for an extra 6 months and the final selection for the M3 mission (the one that will fly) at the end of 2013. Consequently the delivery of the Yellow Book will be probably due for September 2013.
ESA will also likely release a call for the instruments (that will fly on board of the M3 class mission) around September 2012 with the selection taking place in the beginning of 2013 (February or later). On this subject, we encourage you to be vigilant on the ESA announcement and participate to answer to this payload call. Please do not hesitate to propose appealing new ideas. The call will be open to all possible instruments.
We would also like to announce the next two meetings:
1) A workshop in Paris: « Cosmochemistry of primitive bodies: the need for MarcoPolo-R - a European sample return space mission» at CNES-Paris, December 17th and 18th, 2012
2) A meeting in Barcelona: "International Symposium: "Astrobiological and cosmochemical implications of Marco Polo-R sampling of a primitive asteroid", Jan. 16th -17th, 2013
All of you are welcome to both meetings, taking in consideration that the first workshop will be completely dedicated to the cosmochemistry science, while the second meeting in Barcelona will address all the science connected with MP-R mission, payload, technologies advances, ESA study report, working group reports etc…).
All information related to the announcements of MarcoPolo-R meetings can be found on
http://www.oca.eu/MarcoPolo-R/Workshops/WorkshopsMarcoPolo-R.html
http://sci.esa.int/science-e/www/area/index.cfm?fareaid=126
The Scientific Working Group activities are ongoing fruitfully with the aim to support the science team. If you would like to join any working group, please do not hesitate to be in touch with the coordinator; their name is in bold character in the following table:
http://www.oca.eu/MarcoPolo-R/WorkingGroups/WorkingGroupsMarcoPolo-R.htm
An outreach activity has also started with the development of several ideas, and in particular a cartoon that describes the story of the MP-R satellite, designed as a living character. The aim is to present the mission as an adventure, readable by all public kinds. We are at the episode # 6. You are welcome to write a short adventure and to contact the outreach WG. You can find the different episodes regularly posted on the MP-R website:
http://www.oca.eu/MarcoPolo-R/Cartoon/MarcoPolo-R_Cartoon.html
Best Regards
The MP-R Science Team
NEWS LETTER #1
(sent on 16 April, 2012)
Dear MarcoPolo-R Supporters,
We are sending this message to give you an update about the ongoing assessment study of MarcoPolo-R (MP-R). As many of you requested we will try to post a newsletter on a monthly basis depending on the available information.
If you do not wish to receive any more MP-R information please send a message and we will remove you from the mailing list.
A CDF (Concurrent Design Facility) study has been made for 6 weeks internally at ESA. The result of this preliminary internal study demonstrated that the mission does not show any critical points thanks to the studies done in the previous years. The main objective of the CDF was to reduce the cost of an ESA-led mission within the budget of an M-class mission. The cost reduction has clearly been achieved (thanks to several simplification of the mission) but its amplitude will be assessed during the industrial assessment phase.
NASA expressed its interest in collaborating to MP-R, in particular concerning the sampling mechanism and re-entry capsule. However, the partnership could not be formally established and ESA decided that for the assessment phase, the study should consider a mission entirely developed by ESA, even if collaboration remains an open possibility.
Two industrial studies have just started in February 2012 and will cover all the aspects of the mission. The two industries Astrium Ltd and TAS-I have each a one-year contract that will lead to the delivery of the final study report in February 2013 which will be summarized in the Yellow Book in the Spring 2013.
In parallel ESA is releasing several ITTs to advance technology studies:
- GNC (Guide, Navigation & Control) for NEO missions – Phase 2, 500 k€
- Sampling mechanism for touch and go (activity funded by MREP) - 700k€ (splitted into two phases. Phase 2 will test sampling tool in microgravity, i.e. parabolic flight);
- Re-entry capsule with in particular :
1. Heat shield material: “DEAM2: Delta-development and pre-qualification of a European lightweight ablative material for high heat flux missions”, will start in May/June 2012. 700 k€, MREP funding. Material already at TRL 4/5, will be brought to TRL6.
2. Crushable material: “Material development for a crushable TPS for ERC”, 250 K€ (material already exists, needs to be characterized and pre-qualified for space use)
3. Stability of the capsule: ITT being written, Science budget funding (CTP), “MP-R ERC dynamic stability characterization”, 450 K€
4. Radiation: a) Shock tube developed in Portugal, 1M€, TRP, planned end early 2012; b) Ablation radiation coupling is on-going; c) Characterization of radiation for high-speed entry, science budget funding (CTP), 750 K€
In total, ESA is investing close to 4.5M€ in activities directly relating to MP-R and other technologies are being developed in other programmes which are indirectly related to MP-R in addition to all national activities such as the “instrument” studies initiated in the frame of the Declaration of Interest (~ 20 nationally-funded studies are ongoing).
Scientific Working Groups have been defined and their activity is ongoing very actively to support the science team. If you would like to join a working group, please do not hesitate to be in touch with the coordinator; their name is in bold character in the following table:
http://www.oca.eu/MarcoPolo-R/WorkingGroups/WorkingGroupsMarcoPolo-R.htm
An outreach activity has also started, that already resulted in the creation of a cartoon that describes the story of MP-R satellite, designed as a living character. The aim is to present the mission as an adventure, readable by all public kinds. The different episodes will be regularly posted on the MP-R website:
http://www.oca.eu/MarcoPolo-R/Cartoon/MarcoPolo-R_Cartoon.html
Newsletters will be posted on the MarcoPolo-R webside