A Microseismometer for Penetrometer Deployment
Lead Research Organisation:
Imperial College London
Department Name: Electrical and Electronic Engineering
Abstract
Seismology is unique in its ability to resolve the deep internal structure of the bodies in the solar system, producing powerful insights into both their current state and past evolution. The success of seismology in looking deep into the interior of the Earth, and later the Moon, has motivated the inclusion of seismometers in the payload on several previous missions. However, since Apollo the resources required to land, deploy and operate seismometers based on conventional seismic technology have so far prevented the successful operation of a seismic network. We propose to develop a subsystem of the cancelled ExoMars seismic system, a micromachined silicon sensor, as a potential instrument which should enable penetrometer-delivered seismic stations and networks. A penetrometer would land at very high velocity, burying itself below the surface of the planet or moon we wish to study. This has the advantage of producing an excellent mechanical connection between to the instrument and good protection from temperature swings and any wind on the surface. Compared to a lander, a penetrometer is a much simpler way of getting such an instrument deployed allowing many more instruments to be deployed for the same budget. The overiding challenge for such an instrument is to have the sensitivity to detect the weak quakes expected while being extremely robust to withstand the very high shock levels expected during the impact of the penetrometer. The microseismometer is based on a set of silicon beams thinner than a human hair that provide a set of near perfect springs for detection of any quakes. Preliminary impact testing has suggested one potential technology route for such an instrument based on packing the springs with a sublimant, protecting them during the initial impact but later disappearing to free up the springs. We will pursue this in parallel with alternative shock-mitigation approaches for both the sensor and electronics. Fabrication of the silicon suspension of the microseismometer will be combined with testing at Imperial and Oxford, with Oxford also developing the electronics needed to pick up the seismic signal.
People |
ORCID iD |
William Pike (Principal Investigator) |
Publications
Banerdt W
(2020)
Initial results from the InSight mission on Mars
in Nature Geoscience
Carpenter J
(2010)
Life Sciences Investigations for ESA's First Lunar Lander
in Earth, Moon, and Planets
Fayon L
(2018)
A Numerical Model of the SEIS Leveling System Transfer Matrix and Resonances: Application to SEIS Rotational Seismology and Dynamic Ground Interaction
in Space Science Reviews
Golombek M
(2018)
Geology and Physical Properties Investigations by the InSight Lander
in Space Science Reviews
Gowen R
(2011)
Penetrators for in situ subsurface investigations of Europa
in Advances in Space Research
Hopf T
(2010)
Shock protection of penetrator-based instrumentation via a sublimation approach
in Advances in Space Research
Lognonné P
(2019)
SEIS: Insight's Seismic Experiment for Internal Structure of Mars.
in Space science reviews
Mellon M
(2009)
Ground ice at the Phoenix Landing Site: Stability state and origin
in Journal of Geophysical Research: Planets
Morgan P
(2018)
A Pre-Landing Assessment of Regolith Properties at the InSight Landing Site
in Space Science Reviews
Smith A
(2008)
LunarEX-a proposal to cosmic vision
in Experimental Astronomy
Smith A
(2011)
Lunar Net-a proposal in response to an ESA M3 call in 2010 for a medium sized mission
in Experimental Astronomy
Teanby N
(2016)
Seismic Coupling of Short-Period Wind Noise Through Mars' Regolith for NASA's InSight Lander
in Space Science Reviews
Vance SD
(2018)
Vital Signs: Seismology of Icy Ocean Worlds.
in Astrobiology
Description | How to protect a seismometer during a high impact deployment |
Exploitation Route | Other hard landings of delicate instruments |
Sectors | Aerospace Defence and Marine Environment |
URL | http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/sci/tech/7438270.stm |
Description | Provides an approach for future high-impact landing on other planets |
First Year Of Impact | 2010 |
Sector | Aerospace, Defence and Marine,Environment |
Impact Types | Cultural Economic |
Description | InSight Mission |
Organisation | National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) |
Department | Jet Propulsion Laboratory |
Country | United States |
Sector | Public |
PI Contribution | Provision of a microseismometer for the 2016 Insight mission to Mars |
Collaborator Contribution | NASA: provision of spacecraft CNES: integration of micro seismometer with other elements of the SEIS payload JPL: integration of SEIS with the other elements of the InSight payload |
Impact | Accommodation of a microseismometer on the 2016 InSight mission |
Start Year | 2012 |
Description | InSight Mission |
Organisation | National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) |
Country | United States |
Sector | Public |
PI Contribution | Provision of a microseismometer for the 2016 Insight mission to Mars |
Collaborator Contribution | NASA: provision of spacecraft CNES: integration of micro seismometer with other elements of the SEIS payload JPL: integration of SEIS with the other elements of the InSight payload |
Impact | Accommodation of a microseismometer on the 2016 InSight mission |
Start Year | 2012 |
Description | InSight Mission |
Organisation | National Centre for Space Studies (CNES) |
Country | France |
Sector | Public |
PI Contribution | Provision of a microseismometer for the 2016 Insight mission to Mars |
Collaborator Contribution | NASA: provision of spacecraft CNES: integration of micro seismometer with other elements of the SEIS payload JPL: integration of SEIS with the other elements of the InSight payload |
Impact | Accommodation of a microseismometer on the 2016 InSight mission |
Start Year | 2012 |
Description | BBC radio and television appearances |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A press release, press conference or response to a media enquiry/interview |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
Results and Impact | Public outreach on Mars exploration |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2008,2009,2010,2011,2012,2013,2014 |
Description | Participation in the BBC's How to put a Human on Mars |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
Results and Impact | High level of public interest in terms of response to website Appearance at the Imperial Science Festival |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2013 |
URL | http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-23349496 |