Techniques to verify the sampling system and flow characteristics of the sensor MicroMED for the ExoMars 2022 Mission

• Published in: Measurement : journal of the International Measurement Confederation Vol. 185; p. 110075
• Main Authors: Cozzolino, Fabio, Franzese, Gabriele, Mongelluzzo, Giuseppe, Molfese, Cesare, Esposito, Francesca, Ruggeri, Alan Cosimo, Porto, Carmen, Silvestro, Simone, Popa, Ciprian Ionut, Mennella, Vito, Scaccabarozzi, Diego, Saggin, Bortolino, Rico, Alberto Martin Ortega, Arruego, Ignacio, De Mingo, José Ramon, Santiuste, Nuria, Brienza, Daniele, Cortecchia, Fausto
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: London Elsevier Ltd 01-11-2021; Elsevier Science Ltd
• Subjects: Chemical composition; Climate; Climatology; Dust; Dust storms; Eddies; ExoMars; Flow characteristics; Grain size; Grains; Luminous intensity; Mars; Mars atmosphere; Mars dust; Mars missions; Measurement; MicroMED; Optical thickness; Particle size distribution; Prototype; Radiation counters; Russian Space Program; Sampling; Satellite-borne instruments; Sensors; Spectrometry; Suction; Troposphere; Mars; Dust; MicroMED; Prototype; Eddies; ExoMars
• ISSN: 0263-2241; 1873-412X
• DOI: 10.1016/j.measurement.2021.110075

•Developed of an optical particle counter able to work in atmospheric Martian condition.•Developed a particular solutions in order to verify the properties of aspiration flow.•Measurement of the maximum displacement of flow outgoing from inlet as function of aspired particles.•Verify of the fluid dynamic properties after to change external Inlet of sensor.
Suspended dust has a prominent role in Martian climatology. Several significant dust related phenomena can be observed at various scales, starting from global dust storms to local dust devils, which have important effects such as the increase of troposphere temperature, the modification of the wind regime and the localized motion of sand at the surface. These phenomena depend on dust grain characteristics such as the size distribution or the chemical and bulk composition. Currently, we do not have direct measurement of the dust properties; the only available information in this regard are derived from spectrometric measurements, optical depth, and albedo coming from instruments aboard satellites and in-situ. Herein, we describe the tests performed on the optical particle counter named MicroMED, designed and built to perform the first ever direct in-situ measurement of suspended dust grains in the Martian atmosphere close to the surface. MicroMED is a dust particle size analyzer which was selected to join the Dust Complex payload aboard the ESA/Roscosmos ExoMars 2022 mission. It has the capability to suck in dust that is suspended in atmosphere and to measure the sizes of single grain. The sensor sucks in the dust grains using a sampling system, guides the grains through ducts and concentrates them in an area illuminated by laser. Detecting the intensity of the light scattered by the grains during the crossing through the illuminated area, it is possible to determinate the size of grain. Here we present the innovative techniques in order to verify the performances in terms of dust suction efficiency of the MicroMED Flight Model, using a prototype called MM1.