The Raman Laser Spectrometer (RLS) is one of the Pasteur Payload instruments within ESA’s ExoMars mission to Mars. The RLS instrument scientific goal consists of performing Raman spectroscopy over different mineral powder samples of the Mars subsoil, been able to detect organic samples if they exist. The laser unit contained in RLS is one of the most critical parts of the instrument and must meet a series of requirements and functionalities that guarantee compliance with the scientific requirements. The flight unit was thoroughly characterized, obtaining a 2D mapping of its optical properties. Since the laser modules are hermetically sealed, this characterization was performed in ambient conditions. But what if the internal pressure conditions changed? How would performances be affected? Leak rate requirement was calculated in order to guarantee high internal pressure levels up to end-of-life but a sealing failure leading to a slow degradation or a depressurization event may still be feasible. Two batch of tests were carried out in order to know how the laser unit behaves if a depressurization occurs by chance. The first test phase consisted of characterizing unsealed laser units both in ambient pressure and in vacuum, so that we could see the contrast between both cases. In the second phase of tests, the pressure profile was varied while monitoring both the power and the spectral behavior, in order to study the evolution of performances of these units. This work summarizes the outcome of these test sessions.
In the framework of the ESA’s Aurora Exploration Programme and, in particular, of the ExoMars mission, the Raman Laser Spectrometer (RLS) will be in charge of performing out planetary Raman spectroscopy for the first time. The instrument is located inside the Rover at the Analytical Drawer (ALD) and will analyze powdered samples obtained from the Martian subsurface in order to determine the geochemistry content and elemental composition of the minerals under study. After the RLS instrument successful qualification, the Flight Model (FM) development and the acceptance verification activities started. Among the different units RLS is composed on, i.e. its three main units that are interconnected by optical fibers and electrical harness, iOH (Internal Optical Head), SPU (Spectrometer Unit) and ICEU (Instrument control and Excitation Unit) which also contains the Raman excitation laser diode, iOH FM information can be found in this paper. RLS iOH unit is in charge of focusing the Raman excitation signal onto the sample, receiving the Raman signal emitted by the sample and focusing this signal in the output optical fiber that is directly connected to SPU unit. As for the rest of RLS instrument FM subunits, and before their final assembly and system level tests, RLS iOH FM exhaustive and complete characterization process was carried out, not only at room conditions but also at relevant environmental conditions: vacuum condition along the operational temperature range with acceptance margins (from -50 to 8ºC). In this paper, and after to carry out the RLS iOH FM proper integration and alignment process, the activities accomplished during the performance verification and the obtained results are reported on
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