The European Space Agency, ESA, has shown interest in an instrument from Risø DTU, which may prove useful in the exploration of the red planet.  |
Optically Stimulated Luminescence
Inside the OSL-reader a sample of a mineral is exposed to different spectra of light. By measuring the light signal returned by the mineral, you can tell how long time has passed since it was exposed to sunlight. Because signals are indicative of the radiation energy accumulated in the material.
Collaborators
cosine Research develops the electronics and DTU Space has made a so-called planetary protection assessment to ensure that the instrument does not bring bacteria or viruses to Mars from animals on this Earth
| |
A barren stone desert covered with red dust, this is Mars today. However, it seems that there was abundant water and a much warmer climate previously - but was there life too? In the Radiation Research Division at Risø DTU, a small group of scientists are developing an instrument which may help to describe climate change on our neighboring planet, bringing us closer to an answer.
Risø DTU sells around 25 copies annually of one of the world's best tools for dating sediments. Risø’s OSL reader has currently been sold in 275 copies and is being improved and developed to meet specific purposes. The European Space Agency discovered its unique possibilities four years ago, and scientists in the Radiation Research Division were subsequently hired to investigate how to use the OSL technique on Mars, a planet of entirely different materials than the Earth.
The answer was positive, and ESA was extremely satisfied with the reports on this pilot project. Now a new project has been started. The task is to suggest what the instrument should look like in order to be ready for a Mars mission.
Engineering model
Head of Programme Bent Lauritzen, Project Manager Mayank Jain and Development Engineer Torben Lapp show a small model made of gypsum. The model was designed on a computer and printed out on the 3D printer at Risø Workshop.
"It is obviously not the right material, the model should only be used to assess how the mechanics work, says Mayank explaining that a sample collected from sediments at Mars can be poured into one of three holes in the instrument. Then a disc is turned around allowing a new sample to enter the next hole. Of course the whole sequence of operations is controlled remotely from the Earth.
"Our OSL reader weighs almost 80 kg and is the size of a milk box, but in order to qualify for a Mars mission it must fit the size of a milk carton and not weigh more than 600 grams," says Bent. "That is why the Mars instrument can only contain three samples at a time."
"They are illuminated with laser light of different wavelength. We usually change filters, but because we cannot send a technician to Mars, we have to have three different lights, one blue, one red and one green. Moreover, there must be space for a sensitive detector and an irradiation device to calibrate the test by giving it a test dose from an X-ray or beta source, "says Mayank.
Space model
Design and technology solutions are central to this project which also involves the Dutch firm cosine Research and DTU Space. The project is scheduled to end in 2010. Apart from the model another very important final product would be a technology road map, showing in detail how to move forward to the next step, to a space model.
"The instrument will be ready for an expedition in five years at the earliest. It cannot be a part of the next Mars expedition, EXOMARS, and it is not even certain that ESA decides to take our instrument with them, or for that matter that we are to make it, "says Bent. However, the three scientists from the Radiation Research Division believe there is a good chance that they will at least be asked to be consultants on a final project, and perhaps even get the task of processing the data brought back by a dating instrument.
Spin off
In any case, the project will give them significant experiences that can be used to further develop the famous OSL reader into a portable model, to complement the large laboratory model.
"The collaboration with ESA, of course, opens many doors for us; and the agreement means that we could sell our concept to NASA if ESA should not need it anyway," Bent concludes.
For further information contact:
Head of Programme Bent Lauritzen, 4677 4906, Project Manager Mayank Jain, 4677 4909, Development Engineer Torben Lapp, 4677 4903
|