NETwork studies of MARS climate and interior A.V.Rodin, V.M.Linkin, A.N.Lipatov, V.N.Zharkov, T.V.Gudkova, R.O.Kuzmin

Scientific priorities of Mars exploration: what’s done? Climate dynamics (atmospheric temperature, water, dust, clouds) Surface and subsurface volatiles inventory Paleoclimate records in surface composition and morphology Extra rare constituents (methane)

Future plans NASA: Mars Science Laboratory (rover), MAVEN (atmosphere sample analysis). Soil sample return mission in a foreseeable perspective. ESA: ExoMars – rover with drilling capabilities.

What’s to be done by orbiters Wide-field hyperspectral monitoring (analog of VEX/VIRTIS) High resolution spectroscopy in IR and/or microwave ranges for isotopic analysis and Doppler measurements (present in NASA and ESA programs)

What’s to be done by landers Mars internal structure and composition - a network of seismometers Meteo network Surface thermal & electric conductivity – penetrating probes (depth cm )

How many stations do we need in a network? According to Kotelnikov theorem, 4 seismic and 6 meteo stations should be placed in each latitude zone Wave 3 feature in water vapor (model) 00 180 

Minimalistic concept: 2 “light” stations in the polar regions 2 “heavy” stations in tropics or midlatitudes

MEX/OMEGA 1.5  m index MGCM SHNH

Technical heritage: Netlander (ESA) MET-NET (IKI & FMI) microlanders

Lavochkin’s view on mission scenario

Wind Sensor Thermocouples 100 cm Soil Probe Temperature, Humidity Imager & opt. sens. Model science payload MET- Boom Descent phase instr. package P, T, Acc Surface phase instruments: Seismic sensor Pancam Wind speed sensor Pressure Atm. temperature Atm. humidity Soil temperature Soil humidity Lidar

Thermal & electric conductivity probe (Phoenix experience)

seismic measurements: high demands on sensitivity

First IBU Inflatable heat shield

Main IBU

Mass Budget

Thermal protection system tests

MetNet Flight Test Испытания ТЗП

2007 Inflatable heat shield tested using Volna launcher for suborbital flight

Resume A network mission to Mars with small stations bearing meteo package, seismic sensors and optional instruments may get a high priority for the Russian national space program. Rich technical heritage and connection with European and US groups involved in similar network missions leaves a hope that it will be implemented shortly