content 22-May-2013 18:59:45

Spacecraft

Phobos-Soil (Phobos-Grunt) is the first mission dedicated to the study of the Martian moon Phobos. It will deploy a spacecraft in an orbit around Mars that is quasi synchronous with Phobos. The spacecraft will also carry a lander to perform in situ investigations of the Phobos regolith and a return capsule that will bring pristine samples back to Earth.

The mission builds on Russia's long heritage in space science and robotic exploration.

In its launch configuration, the spacecraft will be made up of four key parts:

  • Orbiter and lander system
  • A Phobos descent module
  • A return module
  • A return capsule

A Chinese orbiter, Yinghuo-1 (YH-1), will piggyback with the mission to be delivered in orbit around Mars.

(Above, top) Phobos-Soil (Phobos-Grunt) spacecraft design; (Above, bottom) Design of orbiter and lander system; (Right) The Phobos-Soil and Yinghuo-1 spacecraft in the cleanroom of Lavochkin.
Credit: Lavochkin Association

Spacecraft key facts



Main characteristics of the spacecraft
Spacecraft mass budget Mass in
kilograms
Jet propulsion system 11,990
Fuel 9,965
Transfer spacecraft (with fuel) 1,290
Returned spacecraft (with fuel) 248
Landing module 11
Chinese spacecraft plus adapter 287
Payload 50
Returned samples 0.2

A Russian Federal Space Agency mission, Phobos-Soil (Phobos Grunt) was originally proposed by the Council on Space of the Russian Academy of Science. The Space Research Institute of the Russian Academy of Sciences (IKI RAS) leads science investigations. The Lavochkin Association is the prime contractor for the space segment. ESA is providing ground station support.

 

Last Update: 29 August 2011

For further information please contact: SciTech.editorial@esa.int

Images and Videos

  • Phobos-Soil (Phobos-Grunt) spacecraft design (http://sci.esa.int/jump.cfm?oid=49091)
  • The Phobos-Soil (Phobos-Grunt) orbiter and lander system (http://sci.esa.int/jump.cfm?oid=49092)
  • The Phobos-Soil and Yinghuo-1 spacecraft (http://sci.esa.int/jump.cfm?oid=49095)
  • The Phobos-Soil and Yinghuo-1 spacecraft (http://sci.esa.int/jump.cfm?oid=49094)
  • The Phobos-Soil and Yinghuo-1 spacecraft (http://sci.esa.int/jump.cfm?oid=49093)

Related Links

  • Phobos-Soil Presentation by A. Zhakharov (http://www.congrex.nl/09m01/papers/08_zhakarov.pdf)
  • Phobos-Soil at RussianSpaceWeb (http://www.russianspaceweb.com/phobos_grunt.html)
  • CNES Phobos-Soil Website (http://smsc.cnes.fr/PHOBOS/)