The Phootprint mission is a candidate for the Mars Robotic Exploration Preparation Programme 2 at ESA. During 2014, ESA funded a pre-phase A feasibility study and industrial system studies of 8-month duration. Currently, it is in phase A, meaning 'mission definition study.' The mission is proposed to be launched on an Ariane 5 in 2024 with early 2026 as backup date. An Earth swingby would provide greater launcher margin. The spacecraft would orbit Mars for the characterisation phase, and when ready, it would maneuver into a quasi-satellite orbit to facilitate landing. Because of the low gravity, the lander would be anchored to the surface during sample collection and launch of the Earth Re-entry Capsule. The mission would last about 3.5 years, including cruise, mapping orbit, 7 days on the surface, and sample return cruise time. The spacecraft would be powered by solar arrays. In August 2015, the ESA-Roscosmos working group on post-ExoMars cooperation, completed a joint study for a possible future Phobos Sample Return mission, and preliminary discussions were held.
Return 100 grams of loose material from the surface of Phobos.
Access at least 50% of the Phobos surface for the sampling operations.
Landing site selected by Science Team during mission post extensive global and local mapping campaign
Strict requirements on surface contamination
Goal of 800 g load on sample
Static landing with landing accuracy
Mission engineers remark that "no rebound" after landing is a critical condition given the low-gravity environment of landing. Currently, engineers at ESA are leaning toward four cantilever-type landing legs with crushable aluminium honeycomb shock absorber and secondary load limiters.
Spacecraft
The concept of the Phootprint spacecraft is still preliminary and composed by three modules:
The Landing Module carrying the ERV & ERC, performing the transfer to Mars, the Mars orbit insertion and phasing manoeuvres to reach Phobos vicinity, the operations around and on Phobos, including landing and sampling. The landing Module would be equipped with a sampling robotic arm.
The Earth Return Vehicle performing the Mars escape, the transfer back to Earth and the ERC release few hours before re-entry.
The Earth Re-entry Capsule — fully passive concept: ballistic re-entry, no parachute, hard landing on ground with maximum impact deceleration of 1700 g to the sample. Modeling of the thermal design indicates the sample container temperature during reentry would be less than. A location beacon would be included within sample container.
