FEEDBACK FROM MARS-EXPRESS FLIGHT RESULTS ON THE VENUSEXPRESS TEST CAMPAIGN

摘要

Mars Express was the first example of ESA “Flexible Missions”. It represented a new concept of spacecraft engineering based on maximum reuse of the existing technology that is either “off-the-shelf” or it has already been developed for other programs. The objective of being assembled, fully tested and prepared for launch in a record time, 30% faster than other comparable missions and with reduced financial funding, could be achieved only with a thorough re-thinking of the model philosophy and environmental test design. The approach to the structural qualification of Mars Express has been dramatically revised to make possible to build the Structural Model of the Spacecraft by using the flight Structure and Central Propulsion System, in order to achieve the hardware qualification together with the validation of the design. The encouraging results obtained with Mars Express are the basis of the Verification and Testing program of the second ESA’s Flexible Mission, Venus Express. Highly recurrent of Mars Express, even if with important peculiarities due to the different mission and planetary environment, this Project inherited the qualifications achieved on its predecessor, allowing a single module approach where the Integration and Testing campaign started directly on the PFM. This paper presents the innovative concepts implemented in the definition of the “Express” Model Philosophy and Environmental Test campaigns, showing the influence of the adopted solutions on the in-flight performances. An overview of Venus Express Test Campaign is also given, focusing on the effects of the previous experience and the lessons learned acquainted both from ground testing and first flight results.