Small Station Page at IKI in Russia

Main Scientific Objectives

Studies of the vertical structure of the atmosphere; the atmosphere and climate of Mars, the internal structure of Mars, the elemental surface composition, magnetic field, and seismic condition; TV imaging.

Scientific Payload

The Small Stations payload includes:

• MIS - Meteorology Instrument System, including temperature sensors, an absolute pressure sensor, a relative humidity sensor, an optical.depth sensor and an ion anemometer

• DPI - Descent Phase Instrument System including an accelerometer, absolute pressure and temperature sensors

• APX - Alpha-particle, Proton and X-ray Spectrometer

• OPTIMIZM - Seismometer, Magnetometer, and Inclinometer

• PanCam - Panoramic Camera

• DesCam - Descent Camera

  The Small Station housekeeping system includes:

  The Station Data Processing Unit (SDPU), which control station operations and data acquisition procedures

  A telecommunication unit with a transmitter and a receiver for receiving commands and transmitting data

  A power-supply unit which comprises two radio-isotope thermogenerators, a battery, electronics for controlling battery charge, and a secondary power source.

  
  
  Drawings of Cruise and Landed Configuration of Small Stations

  Main Characteristics

  	Diameter of aerobraking screen		100 cm
  	Total mass				33.5 kg
  	Payload mass				8 kg
  	Mass of instruments			4.6 kg
  	Active lifetime on the surface		700 days
  	Data transmission rate			2 kbit/s; 8 kbit/s
  

  Entry and Landing

  The Mars 96 spacecraft carries two small stations. Five days prior to arrival, the two small stations will be separated from the Orbiter, and the Orbiter will perform a deflection maneuver of about 35 m/s to place it on a trajectory to enter Mars orbit. The two stations will approach Mars independently. Their atmospheric entry velocity will be < 5.75 km/s, their entry angles between 10.5 and 20.5 degree, and their entry azimuth between 115 and 145 degrees. Their landing site dispersion ellipses are ± 10° (600 km) along track and ± 2° (120 km) cross-track. All candidate landing sites are situated on the day-side of Mars, in Arcadia Planitia.

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  to Mars 96 Index

  to Mars 96 Science Objectives

  to Mars 96 Mission Description

  to Mars 96 Orbiter

  to Mars 96 Orbiter Surface and Atmosphere Payload

  to Mars 96 Orbiter Space Physics/Plasma Payload

  to Mars 96 Orbiter Astrophysics/Cruise Payload

  to Mars 96 Small Stations

  to Mars 96 Small Station Payload

  to Mars 96 Penetrators

  to Mars 96 Penetrator Payload

  Return to Mars Page

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