20-EPN-069: Exomars Dust Sensor 22 Characterisation

Visit by Andrés Russu Berlanga, Carlos III University of Madrid (Spain) to TA2.4 Planetary Environment Facilities (PEF), AU (Denmark)
Dates of visit: 29 November 21 – 3 December

The Dust Sensor (DS’22) is designed to measure the parameters that determine in situ the size distribution of suspended dust on the surface of Mars. The sensor module is composed of an IR source and two IR detectors based on Lead Sulphide (PbS) and Lead Selenide (PbSe) active elements. These materials are defined by the integration of two spectral filters, band 1 operates in the range 1-3 µm (PbS), and Band 2 operates in the range 3-5 µm (PbSe). The Dust Sensor is part of the Radiation and Dust Monitor (RDM), one of the atmospheric devices of the METEO instrument that will be launched on the Exomars’22 mission led by ESA,

The use of the DENMARK – AU Planetary Environmental Facility is a unique opportunity to obtain experimental measurements in a reproduced condition found at the surface of Mars. The tests campaign has been developed for wind speeds of 2, 7, and 13 m/s; DS’22 has been tested in a temperature range between 5 and -55 °C, and three different positions in relation to the wind direction have been tested. The test campaign has approximately 100 independent campaigns where 5 different types of dust have been used, with various particle distributions.

Thanks to all this information, it has been done a characterization of DS’22 and will help to determine the dust distributions that will be observed during the mission.

Read the full scientific report, with kind permission from Andrés Russu Berlanga.

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