Specialists of the European Space Agency conducted another high-altitude test of the parachute system for the landing module of the ExoMars-2022 mission, which ended with the successful landing of the module layout. Nevertheless, a small gap appeared again on the fabric of the second main parachute, which did not affect the landing process, according to the ESA website.
The Russian-European ExoMars project provides for the exploration of Mars in two stages. The first stage was launched in 2016, when the Trace Gas Orbiter, which is still operating in the near-Martian orbit of the planet, and a demonstration descent module went into space The Schiaparelli that crashed on landing. The second stage will begin in 2022, when the Kazachok scientific station and the rover will go to Mars "Rosalind Franklin", which will land in June 2023 on the Oxia plateau .
In order for the landing on Mars to be successful, it is necessary to work smoothly with all the elements of the braking system, especially the parachute system, consisting of two main and two exhaust parachutes. Their tests have been conducted since 2018 with varying success — the fabric of the domes of the main parachutes was torn several times, after which the design of the parachute bags was repeatedly refined . NASA is also participating in the tests. The agency presented a ground stand, and will also supply one of the main parachutes, which is engaged in the American company Airborne Systems, which created parachutes for the Perseverance rover.
On June 24-25, 2021, the next high-altitude tests of a parachute from Airborne Systems and a previously modified parachute from the Italian company Arescosmo were held at the Swedish Space Corporation's test site in Kiruna. In each test, the model of the lander was lifted to a height of 29 kilometers using a stratospheric balloon filled with helium, after which it was dropped and landed on parachutes.
As a result, the first main parachute (diameter of 15 meters) opened normally, while the second main parachute (diameter of 35 meters) received one minor damage, most likely due to an additional localized load, which created a gap that was held back by the Kevlar reinforcing ring. Thanks to this, the tests ended successfully, as the mock-up landed gently.
Now the engineers will search for the causes of the damage, after which they will first test a new pair of parachutes on a stand at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory, and then conduct a new high — altitude test-it is scheduled for October-November 2021 and will be held in Oregon, USA.
Read about the difficulties of landing on Mars in our article [...] "9: 8 in favor of the Martians" .
Alexander Voityuk
