Support for COMPASS (M-MATISSE ESA M7) Phase A

Mars–Magnetosphere ATmosphere Ionosphere and Space-weather SciencE (M-MATISSE) is a candidate for the ESA M7 mission opportunity. It is selected for a competitive Phase-A study along with two other missions.

Through leading the Combined Magnetic and Plasma Sensor Suite (COMPASS) instrument consortium, Sweden is a major contributor to the mission. Here, we specify the costs associated with our participation in this Phase A study.

As part of the pre-Phase A (Phase 0) study, ESA conducted a technical feasibility study at their Consolidated Design Facility at ESTEC, along with evaluations of the mission and instrumental scientific cases. Outcomes of this process were positive, and led to M-MATISSE’s recommendation to SPC for continued study in Phase A.

Hence, we do not further address the M-MATISSE or COMPASS science goals in this proposal.Sweden’s only contribution to M-MATISSE is via the COMPASS consortium, where IRF Uppsala is the PI institute, and Uppsala and Kiruna are providing key hardware.

COMPASS is a key instrument on the mission, and COMPASS measurements will be central to virtually all scientific goals for M-MATISSE.

We recognize that the projected costs of the whole project are high for Sweden, and we therefore commit to reduce them where feasible.

This may need a design-to-cost approach for 3DVI, in particular, where its status as a new development obviously includes a (controlled) degree of uncertainty.

Design refinements alongside refinement of the mission requirements flowdown can serve as a way to reduce costs where feasible within the mission envelope.

However, 3DVI is a direct follow-on from the internal development of a Faraday Cup sensor at IRF, which is progressing well.