Key flight components of Beagle 2 Mars Lander mission

Citation

(2000), "Key flight components of Beagle 2 Mars Lander mission", Aircraft Engineering and Aerospace Technology, Vol. 72 No. 5. https://doi.org/10.1108/aeat.2000.12772eab.036

Key flight components of Beagle 2 Mars Lander mission

Key flight components of Beagle 2 Mars Lander mission

Keywords SEA

West-country based Systems Engineering & Assessment Ltd (also known as SEA) has ordered the key flight components of the Beagle 2 Mars Lander mission as the project moves towards its assembly and testing stage.

SEA has placed an order for the specialist on-board processor and memory which will take up to six months to build and test prior to delivery to the company. Some of these components will be those which will actually land on the surface of Mars in 2003.

SEA is playing a major role in the Beagle 2 Mars mission, which is due for launch in June 2003 and scheduled to land on Mars on Boxing Day 2003. One of its primary functions is the development of the on-board computer which will be responsible for the overall control of the lander experiments and the on-board systems.

During the descent through the Martian atmosphere, the computer will control the release of the parachutes and the airbags that cushion the impact on landing. Once on the surface of Mars, the computer will control the operation of the robotic arm, cameras and solar panels.

SEA is also involved in the development of the mission's power management modelling; and the electrical ground support system to be used for testing and verification of the lander systems from initial development through to integration and complete lander check-out prior to integration with the European Mars Express spacecraft. SEA has also simulated Beagle's robotic manipulator arm, and expects to expand this work using its virtual prototyping engineering facility.

Details available from SEA. Tel: +44 (0) 1373 831800.