ExoMars dosing station prototype
Date: 06 June 2011
Depicts: Carousels used for testing the ExoMars dosing station prototype
Copyright: ESA - A. Pacros
The ExoMars dosing station, a part of the Sample Preparation and Distribution System (SPDS) which is designed to transport Martian soil samples collected by the drill to the instruments inside the ExoMars rover, was tested in conditions simulating Martian gravity during a parabolic flight campaign that ran from 7 to 9 June 2011.
This photograph shows the carousels used for testing the ExoMars dosing station prototype.
The experiment comprises a carousel system and the ExoMars dosing station prototype. The feeding system (top carousel), shown on the right, includes 30 sample carrier tubes and the bottom carousel, shown on the left, includes 60 sample receiving tubes (with each tube carrying 5ml) so that two tubes could be used in each parabola; one for receiving the test sample and one for collecting the remaining powder from the dosing station cleaning process before the following parabola.
