The ExoMars 2020 surface platform is a planned robotic Mars lander, part of the ExoMars 2020 mission by the European Space Agency and the Roscosmos State Corporation.
The plan calls for a Russian launch vehicle to deliver the Russian-built surface platform as well as the ExoMars rover to Mars' surface. Once safely landed, the platform will deploy the rover and will start a one Earth-year mission to investigate the surface environment at the landing site.
The spacecraft was scheduled to launch in 2018 and land on Mars in early 2019, but due to delays in European and Russian industrial activities and deliveries of the scientific payload, it was moved to the launch window in July 2020.
The science payload mass is about 45 kg and consists of:
The lander radio-science experiment (LaRa) will study the internal structure of Mars, and will make precise measurements of the rotation and orientation of the planet by monitoring two-way Doppler frequency shifts between the surface platform and Earth. It will also detect variations in angular momentum due to the redistribution of masses, such as the migration of ice from the polar caps to the atmosphere. Developed by Belgium.
The Habitability, Brine, Irradiation and Temperature (HABIT) package will investigate the amount of water vapour in the atmosphere, daily and seasonal variations in ground and air temperatures, and the UV radiation environment. Developed by Sweden.
Meteorological package (METEO-M). Developed by Russia. The instrument will incorporate the following sensor packages:
Pressure and humidity sensors (METEO-P, METEO-H). Developed by Finland.
Radiation and dust sensors (RDM). Developed by Spain.
Anisotropic magneto-resistance sensor to measure magnetic fields (AMR). Developed by Spain.
A magnetometer named MAIGRET. Developed by Russia. The instrument will incorporate the Wave analyser module (WAM), developed by Czech Republic.
A set of cameras to characterise the landing site environment (TSPP). Developed by Russia.
Instrument interface and memory unit (BIP). Developed by Russia.
IR Fourier spectrometer to study the atmosphere (FAST). Developed by Russia.
Active neutron spectrometer and dosimeter (ADRON-EM). Developed by Russia.
Multi-channel Diode-Laser Spectrometer for atmospheric investigations (M-DLS). Developed by Russia.
Radio thermometer for soil temperatures (PAT-M). Developed by Russia.
Dust particle size, impact, and atmospheric charging instrument suite (Dust Suite). Developed by Russia.
A seismometer named SEM. Developed by Russia.
Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry for atmospheric analysis (MGAP). Developed by Russia.
Power
Russia is evaluating the option of using a radioisotope thermoelectric generator (RTG) to power the science instruments, and a radioisotope heater unit (RHU) to provide thermal control on the frozen Martian surface.
Landing site selection
After a review by an ESA-appointed panel, a short list of four sites was formally recommended in October 2014 for further detailed analysis:
Mawrth Vallis
Oxia Planum
Hypanis Vallis
Aram Dorsum
On 21 October 2015, Oxia Planum was chosen as the preferred landing site for the ExoMars rover assuming a 2018 launch. Since the launch was postponed to 2020, Aram Dorsum and Mawrth Vallis will also be considered.
