A short circuit aboard a Japanese satellite means an uncertain destiny for a U of C-led research probe headed for Mars.

The probe, called the Thermal Plasma Analyzer (TPA), is Canada’s first mission to another planet and was designed by the U of C’s Institute for Space Research. The TPA is one of 14 research projects aboard a Japanese satellite called NOZOMI.

The TPA’s mission is to gather new data on the origin and composition of the Red Planet’s atmosphere.

However a defective circuit caused by a solar storm has put the entire mission in jeopardy, says Andrew Yau, U of C physics and astronomy professor and principal investigator of the TPA.

“Pushing the boundaries of science is risky – especially when it comes to space research,” says Yau (left). “With any research project of this magnitude, there are several unknowns that we have to accept and learn from.”

If the circuit problem aboard NOZOMI is fixed between Dec. 2-9, JAXA, the Japanese Space Agency, will initiate an orbit maneuver to send NOZOMI into Mars orbit and close enough to the Martian atmosphere to deploy the TPA.
If the problem isn’t fixed in time, project leaders will reroute NOZOMI so it doesn’t hit Mars, an action required by an international planetary protection policy. This rerouting would take NOZOMI into eternal orbit around the Sun.

“This maneuver can be done without firing the main engine,” explains Yau. “NOZOMI has altitude control and small orbital control thrusters and these are not affected by the circuit malfunction.”

Even if the short circuit problem can’t be fixed, says Yau, the project has been a success in terms of boosting Canada and the U of C’s international profile as a leader in designing and building space research instruments.

For example, the project has led to further collaborations with Japan, such as a mission to Venus later this decade. As well, the TPA project has demonstrated the U of C and Canada’s expertise to other partners, such as NASA and the European Space Agency.

Yau, the NSERC Senior Industrial Research Chair in Experimental Space Science, started working on the TPA project in 1993 with former U of C researcher Greg Garbe, who is now working at NASA.

The project is funded by the Canadian Space Agency and includes partners at several other Canadian universities.