Schiaparelli interior

Artist’s impression of the interior of the Schiaparelli entry, descent and landing demonstrator module of the ExoMars 2016 mission. Although Schiaparelli’s main purpose is to test landing technologies, it carries a small science payload, called DREAMS (Dust Characterisation, Risk Assessment, and Environment Analyser on the Martian Surface), to study the martian environment for several days.

DREAMS consists of a suite of sensors to measure the local wind speed and direction (MetWind), humidity (DREAMS-H), pressure (DREAMS-P), atmospheric temperature close to the surface (MarsTem), the transparency of the atmosphere (Solar Irradiance Sensor, SIS) and atmospheric electric fields (Atmospheric Radiation and Electricity Sensor; MicroARES) at Mars.

Some structural components are also indicated. A compact array of laser retroreflectors will be used as a target for Mars orbiters to laser-locate the module. A UHF antenna will be used for communicating with the Trace Gas Orbiter.

Not shown here, but in addition, there is an investigation known as AMELIA, for entry and descent science data collection using the spacecraft engineering sensors. A separate instrumentation package, COMARS+, will monitor the heat flux on the back cover of Schiaparelli as it passes through the atmosphere.