Mars-Grunt
A proposed Russian robotic mission to return Mars soil samples to Earth.
Mars-Grunt (also called Expedition-M) is a planned robotic mission to bring Martian soil back to Earth. The Russian Space Research Institute put forward the proposal to Roscosmos. As of September 2023, the mission is scheduled to launch after the success of Boomerang (Fobos-Grunt-2), which is expected sometime after 2030.
If funded by Roscosmos, the Russian Space Research Institute and NPO Lavochkin would develop it, building on technology from the Fobos-Grunt mission. The lander would be dome-shaped, separating from the orbiter and entering the Martian atmosphere inside an inflatable rubber braking cone, then firing retrorockets for a soft landing. A robotic arm would collect about 0.2 kg of samples, and a small rocket on top of the lander would launch the ascent vehicle to rendezvous and dock with the orbiter, transferring the soil sample to the return vehicle.
The cruise stage, called PM (Pereletny Modul) and sometimes referred to as Flagman, closely resembles the Fregat-M stage. It was originally developed for Fobos-Grunt, and its basic design is intended to serve as a platform for a whole generation of future planetary missions, including Luna-Glob, Luna-Resurs, and Luna-Grunt to the Moon; Venera-D to Venus; Mars-NET and Mars-Grunt to Mars; and possibly Sokol-Laplas to Jupiter. NPO Lavochkin has stated that, in different configurations, the same bus could be adapted as an orbiter or a lander.
The mission will proceed only if the technology being developed for Luna-Glob (to the Moon) and Fobos-Grunt-2 (to Mars’ moon Phobos) proves successful. Tasks set by NPO Lavochkin and Roscosmos include: delivering substance samples from Mars to Earth; refining engineering and technical models of the Martian atmosphere and surface; performing detailed geochemical analysis of Martian soil; and studying the interaction processes between the atmosphere, solar radiation, and the Martian surface.
Quick Facts
- Names List
- Expedition-M
- Mission Type
- Single launch: orbiter, lander, ascent vehicle, sample-return
- Operator
- Russian Federal Space Agency
- Spacecraft Bus
- Pereletny Modul or Flagman
- Manufacturer
- NPO Lavochkin / Russian Space Research Institute
- Launch Mass
- 4,100 kg
- Landing Mass
- 2,750 kg, including Mars Ascent Vehicle (450 kg)
- Dry Mass
- Orbiter: 450 kg
- Power
- solar array
- Launch Date
- 2030s (proposed)
- Launch Rocket
- Angara A5 / KTVK
- Launch Site
- Vostochny Site 1A
Facts from the source article.
Lore & Background
As of September 2023, Mars-Grunt is expected to be sent to Mars following the success of Boomerang (Fobos-Grunt-2), which in turn is expected sometime after 2030. If funded by Roscosmos, it would be developed by the Russian Space Research Institute and NPO Lavochkin, based on Fobos-Grunt technology. Designs show a dome-shaped lander would separate from the orbiter and would enter the Martian atmosphere protected within an inflatable rubber braking cone and fire retrorockets for a soft landing. Once a robotic arm selects and retrieves the samples (mass about 0.2 kg), a small rocket in the top of the lander would blast the ascent vehicle for rendezvous and docking with the orbiter for the soil sample transfer into the return vehicle. The cruise stage PM (from Pereletny Modul) is sometimes referred to as Flagman (not to be confused with a proposal combining the Blok D and Fregat stages, known by the same name), and closely resembles the Fregat-M stage. It was developed for the Fobos-Grunt mission, but its basic architecture is promised to be the base for a whole generation of future planetary missions, including Luna-Glob, Luna-Resurs and Luna-Grunt to the Moon; Venera-D to Venus; Mars-NET and Mars-Grunt to Mars and, possibly, Sokol-Laplas to Jupiter. The platform's developer - NPO Lavochkin - stressed that in different configuration, the same bus could be adapted as an orbiter or as a lander. If the technology being developed for Luna Glob to the Moon, and Fobos-Grunt-2 to Mars' moon Phobos, is proved successful, it will then be used on Mars-Grunt. Tasks set by NPO Lavochkin and Roscosmos: Delivery of substance samples from Mars to Earth; Refinement of engineering and technical models of the atmosphere and surface of Mars; Detailed geochemical analysis of soil substance on Mars; Study of the interaction processes between the atmosphere, solar radiation, and the surface of Mars.
Reader's Guide
Mars-Grunt is a proposed sample-return mission to Mars, contingent on the success of Boomerang (Fobos-Grunt-2) and technology from Luna Glob and Fobos-Grunt-2. It would use a dome-shaped lander with an inflatable braking cone and a robotic arm to collect 0.2 kg of samples. The cruise stage Flagman resembles the Fregat-M stage and was developed for Fobos-Grunt.
Did You Know?
- Mars-Grunt is also known as Expedition-M.
- The lander would use an inflatable rubber braking cone for atmospheric entry.
- The cruise stage Flagman closely resembles the Fregat-M stage.
- The mission's tasks include delivery of Mars soil samples to Earth.
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