Portuguese companies develop cork probe to explore Mars

This project for ESA - European Space Agency, is coordinated by Corticeira Amorim and integrates the ISQ - Institute of Welding and Quality, PIEP - Innovation Pole in Polymer Engineering and Critical Materials.

A group of Portuguese companies is developing a project for the European Space Agency (ESA) to explore Mars.

The project is coordinated by Corticeira Amorim and integrates the ISQ – Institute of Welding and Quality, PIEP – Innovation Pole in Polymer Engineering and Critical Materials.

ESA is developing two missions involving the shipment of probes to Mars, the Mars Sample Return (in association with NASA) and the Phootprint – Phobos Sample Return, which involves the sending of probes to Mars with the aim of collecting samples of martian soil, transporting them to the planet Earth. 

"The project developed by this group of Portuguese entities had as its goal the development of a technical protection shield system and damping of shocks at the landing,” highlights a statement from ISQ.

Corticeira Amorim, leader of the project, had built the demonstrator, while Critical Materials proceeded to the development of the engineering. 

The ISQ and PIEP were in charge of the development tests and ISQ was also responsible for the final validation tests of the demonstrator, carried out at its facilities located in Castelo Branco.

"During the technological development phase of the system, there were carried out mechanical tests, thermal conductivity experiments, of specific heat, of impact and material characterization,” explains the ISQ statement.

According to this document, "this system will be placed in a vehicle which will bring Mars samples to the Earth”, with the aim of "making these samples from Mars arrive to the Earth intact”.

ISQ also adds that in the final validation phase, an impact test was made, where the probe landing was simulated. 

"The project had achieved the planned objectives, although it is a long-term project. This is a Portuguese engineering solution, which involved more than two years of work and an investment of 400 thousand euros, with the advantage of being a lighter solution, simpler, 25% below the maximum required weight”, concludes the same note.