Mars Atmosphere Sounding Balloon: Operational Concept and System Design

Kurzfassung

Measurements of the state and the variability of the Martian atmosphere significantly contribute to the scientific goal to understand the atmospheric processes on Mars. Balloon-borne instruments could bridge the gap in both temporal and spatial resolution in mesoscale distances between local, stationary landers and global orbiter observations. The concept outlined here favors a launch off the payload deck of a lander from the Martian surface. Key element is a balloon hull packing technique and inflation control system, which enables an automatic balloon-launch. The hull inflation was tested with a subscale model in a low speed wind tunnel to determine the hull’s aerodynamic properties in ground proximity and inflation characteristics under wind load. The analysis is complemented by the assessment of the wind limits and risks involved in automatically launching such balloon-system off the Martian surface.