The ExoMarsKazachok is a planned robotic Mars lander led by Roscosmos, part of the ExoMars 2022 joint mission with the European Space Agency. Kazachok translates as "Little Cossack", and is also the name of a Russian folk dance. The plan calls for a Russian Proton-M rocket to launch the Russian-built lander that will deliver the Rosalind Franklin rover to the surface of Mars. Once safely landed, Kazachok will deploy the rover and will start a one Earth-year mission to investigate the surface environment at the landing site. The spacecraft was scheduled to launch in 2020 and land on Mars in mid 2021, but due to delays in European and Russian industrial activities and deliveries of the scientific payload, it was moved to the launch window in August–October 2022.
Scientific instruments
The Kazachok lander project is led by the Roscosmos, but will also include two ESA instruments and four components in Russian instruments. The science payload mass is about 45 kg and consists of:
The Lander Radioscience experiment will study the internal structure of Mars, will help to understand the sublimation/condensation cycle of atmospheric CO2, and will make precise measurements of the rotation and orientation of the planet by monitoring two-way Doppler frequency shifts between the lander and Earth. It will also detect variations in angular momentum due to the redistribution of masses, such as the migration of ice from the polar caps to the atmosphere. Developed by Belgium.
The HABIT |Habitability, Brine, Irradiation and Temperature package will investigate the amount of water vapour in the atmosphere, daily and seasonal variations in ground and air temperatures, and the UV radiation environment. Developed by Sweden.
Meteorological package. Developed by Russia. The instrument will incorporate the following sensor packages:
* Pressure and humidity sensors. Developed by Finland. The instrument has extensive heritage from those in the Curiosity rover, Schiaparelli lander and Phoenix lander.
* Radiation and dust sensors. Developed by Spain.
* Anisotropic magneto-resistance sensor to measure magnetic fields. Developed by Spain.
A magnetometer named MAIGRET, developed by Russia. The instrument will incorporate the Wave Analyser Module, developed by the Czech Republic.
A set of cameras to characterise the landing site environment. Developed by Russia.
Instrument interface and memory unit. Developed by Russia.
After a review by an ESA-appointed panel, a short list of four sites was formally recommended in October 2014 for further detailed analysis:
Mawrth Vallis
Oxia Planum
Hypanis Vallis
Aram Dorsum
On 21 October 2015, Oxia Planum was chosen as the preferred landing site for the ExoMars rover assuming a 2018 launch. Since the launch was postponed to 2020, Aram Dorsum and Mawrth Vallis are also being considered. ESA convened further workshops to re-evaluate the three remaining options and in March 2017 selected two sites to study in detail:
Mawrth Vallis
Oxia Planum
After deliberation, ESA selected Oxia Planum to be the landing site in November 2018.
