ExoMars Rover and Surface Platform Mission: LHPs Acceptance and Qualification Campaign

The design of the ExoMars Rover Module (RM) required the application of innovating thermal control technologies to sustain the extreme temperatures of the Mars surface. Loop Heat Pipes (LHPs) are the cornerstone of the RM thermal control system, being used for heat transport during peaks of dissipations and as thermal switches to insulate the Rover internal payloads during the cold Martian night, by means of pressure regulating valves. A qualification campaign was carried out to confirm the robustness of the system thermal design and the capability of these devices to sustain the environmental loads. This paper is focused on the thermal development and qualification campaign of the ExoMars 2018 RM LHPs and on the relevant lessons learnt.