Settore: Planetary Exploration

Number of satellites: 1

Form factor: 16U (12U + 4U)

TASTE (Terrain Analyzer and Sample Tester Explorer) is an interplanetary CubeSat mission composed of a 12U orbiter and a 4U lander, with the objective of exploring the Martian moon Deimos. Deimos and Phobos are primary targets of investigation for understanding the origin and evolution of Mars and, more generally, the terrestrial planets of the Solar System. While there is no clear consensus on a definitive scenario for the moons' formation, two major hypotheses are considered by the scientific community: a giant impact origin or asteroid capture. To unveil the origin and evolution of Phobos and Deimos, in the context of international exploration of the Mars system, detailed knowledge of both moons is necessary. TASTE has the objective of studying Deimos. The mission will combine global observations from a close orbit with direct analysis of the surface obtained by a lander. The orbiter will be equipped with a camera and an X-γ spectrometer. The lander, on the other hand, will be equipped with a camera and a surface sample analysis system, which will allow it to determine the surface composition of the Martian moon by comparing the data with the global data collected by the orbiter's spectrometers.

Development team: INAF – Osservatorio Astrofisico di Arcetri (Prime); Politecnico di Milano; INAF – Osservatorio Astronomico di Trieste.

Development status: Phase B (preliminary design) ongoing.