Temperature and Pressure Sensors of the Meteorological Complex for the Study of the Mars’s Atmosphere

• Published in: Solar system research 2023-08, Vol.57 (4), p.336-348
• Main Authors: Lipatov, A. N., Ekonomov, A. P., Makarov, V. S., Lesnykh, V. A., Goretov, V. A., Zakharkin, G. V., Zaitsev, M. A., Khlyustova, L. I., Antonenko, S. A.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Astronomy; Astrophysics and Astroparticles; Astrophysics and Cosmology; Observations and Techniques; Physics; Physics and Astronomy; Planetology
• ISSN: 0038-0946; 1608-3423
• DOI: 10.1134/S003809462304007X

Temperature and pressure sensors, which are part of the ExoMars-2022 landing platform (LP) meteorological complex, are designed to measure the main parameters of the Martian atmosphere: temperature, pressure, and vertical component of wind speed. Temperature and pressure measurements begin during the descent, after the separation of the lower hemisphere, when the height above the surface will be from 2.1 to 8.5 km, depending on the descent trajectory. Above, before opening the parachute, the vertical profile of the atmosphere can be obtained using the accelerometer block, which is also part of the meteorological complex. After landing, a long-term monitoring of the near-surface layer of the atmosphere is carried out. Measurements are taken at different heights from the surface. Taking into account the measurement of the vertical component of the wind after landing, the local surface-to-atmosphere heat flux is calculated. The measurements make it possible to obtain the dynamics of the interaction between the atmosphere and the surface. In the paper we considered the scientific problems solved by the sensors, briefly described the measurement program and described in detail the sensors and their characteristics.