Martian Atmosphere Simulation FacilityProvided by; Department of Physics & Astronomy, The Open University, UK Homepage: |
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Scientific Contact:Dr Simon GreenPlanetary & Space Sciences Research Institute The Open University Walton Hall, Milton Keynes MK 7 6AA, UK Email: Phone 00 44 1908 659601 |
Local administrative contact (once a TNA visit is awarded):Ms B J BishopDepartment of Physics and Astronomy, Phone 00 44 1908 655253 Fax 00 44 1908 654192 |
Facility Description
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The OU Mars simulation chamber is capable of reproducing the pressure, temperatures and gas compositionprevalent in the Martian atmosphere and on its surface. The chamber is used to both probe the chemical and physical properties of the Martian atmosphere and surface and to test instrumentation designed to probe Martian conditions prior to its deployment in planetary space missions (as in B1). It is a large chamber(horizontal cylinder internal volume ~2 m3) with control of temperature, pressure and gas composition for thesimulation of Mars surface environment. It can accommodate trays of Martian surface analogues (approx. 1 ×0.5 × 0.1 m). The chamber is supported by 2 technical staff comprising one dedicated technician (80% of their allocated working schedule) and a laboratory manager (20% of their allocated working schedule) and is overseen by a senior member of the academic staff, Dr S Green. The facility is being used extensively in both national and international collaborations and is supported by provision of national research programme funding for up to 80% of its use. |
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Facility Applications
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The Mars atmosphere analogue chamber has been driven in part by the need to test instrumentation for thre ExoMars-MarsNEXT programme. |
Facility References
Selected relevant publications
For information on the Europlanet TNA programme contact:
Professor N J Mason, Department of Physics and Astronomy, The Open University, Walton Hall. Milton Keynes, MK7 6AA
Email (preferred method of contact)
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