Optimization of the Fluid Dynamic Design of the Dust Suite-MicroMED Sensor for the ExoMars 2020 Mission

Airborne dust characterization is a critical aspect in space missions to Mars. Dust is always present in the Martian atmosphere, with different concentration depending on the season, and its characterization is a key element in understanding Mars global climate. MicroMED is an optical particle counter that has been selected to be part of the ExoMars 2020 mission as one of the sensors of the Russian “Dust Complex” suite and it has been designed to characterize dust in Martian atmosphere, measuring size distribution and concentration of airborne mineral grains. CFD simulations were performed in order to optimize the instrument sampling efficiency and its ability to correctly characterize dust grains in the 0.4-20 μm diameter range. The analysis allowed to derive the optimum environmental conditions for tests and operations on Mars and provided key information on how to optimize MicroMED's fluid dynamic design, improving the performances of the instrument.