Deep Space 2

The New Millennium Program mission failed Deep Space 2 ( DS2 or Mars Microprobe Project) consisted of two penetrator probes should be unrestrained drill into the surface of the planet Mars.

Mission

The two spacecraft were launched on 3 January 1999 as an additional payload along with the Mars Polar Lander Mars by a Delta 7425 rocket from Cape Canaveral. After the successful launch they were baptized in the name of the polar explorer Amundsen and Scott.

The only 2.4 kg heavy probes were passively carried by the main spacecraft Mars Polar Lander. It was not until two minutes before the entry into the Martian atmosphere, they broke away from the main probe and were each protected by its own heat shield in the atmosphere. Except for the heat shield no further action to check were used, so that they hit with about 700 km / h on the surface. The heat shield was not dropped, but shattered on impact and thus gave the penetrator free. It learned the probes accelerations of the several thousand times the acceleration due to gravity, which amounted to 30,000 g for the male part of the penetrator and 60,000 g for remaining on the surface communication unit. The lower part of the penetrator should penetrate approximately 60 cm into the ground, while remaining on the surface unit should ensure communication with Mars orbiters Mars Global Surveyor. Both components were connected via a flexible cable.

After entry into the Martian atmosphere over the south polar region on December 3, 1999, no connection could be made to the probes. The cause of the error could not be determined, but gave the Commission of Inquiry on three possible causes:

  • The radio equipment may have been too fragile to withstand the acceleration forces.
  • The probes could be based on too rocky ground.
  • The charged before starting batteries have lost their charge during the flight.

Structure of the probes

  • Lightweight heat shield
  • Surface unit lithium batteries
  • Accelerometer for the atmospheric entry
  • Sun sensor
  • Radio equipment
  • Microcontroller ( miniaturized computer )
  • Miniaturized electronic power supply
  • Sampling / water detection experiment
  • Experiment the conductivity of the soil
  • A - axis accelerometer for impact
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