MICROCERTEC EN ROUTE FOR MARS
INSIGHT (Interior exploration using Seismic Investigations and Heat Transports) is the 12th mission of NASA Discovery program whose scientific objective is to further understand the deep internal structure of Mars planet. It was launched on 5th May 2018.
Microcertec has brought its technical contribution to the manufacturing of geophysics instrument SEIS (Seismic experiment for interior structures) that was developed by IPGP (Institut de Physique du Globe de Paris), manufactured by Sodern and overseen by CNES project on behalf of NASA.
SEIS is the key instrument of InSight mission. It is a seismometer that will measure Mars seismic activities in order to understand how the planet formed and how it became a cold and desert planet. The seismometer core elements are three oblique pendulum called VBB – very broad band – each made up of a ceramic electrode plate manufactured by Microcertec and offering metallized circuits etched on the faces to which the electronic components are bonded.
This project was a technical challenge for Microcertec’s engineers and skilled staff who were involved in working on this program. Our unique expertise in the design and production of 3D interconnect devices, high-precision ceramic machining and laser micromachining, combined with the skills and rigour of our team, have allowed us to supply electrodes that met perfectly our customer’s technical specification.
Each of the program partner’s own expertise has contributed to the completion and delivery of a flight model to JPL (NASA) which is now on route to Mars and has successfully passed the first orbital tests.
Let’s gather again when landing on Mars on next 26th November, and when SEIS starts listening to the heart of Mars beating in the coming months !
For more information about InSight and SEIS seismometer :
https://insight.cnes.fr/en/INSIGHT/index.htm
https://mars.nasa.gov/insight/
https://www.seis-insight.eu/en/public-2/seis-instrument/summary
https://www.seis-insight.eu/en/public-2/seis-instrument/interactive-vbb