| Operator | ESA & Roscosmos |
|---|---|
| Manufacturer | Antwerp Space N.V.[1] |
| Instrument type | Radio science/Transponder |
| Function | Monitor the rotation and orientation of Mars |
| Mission duration | Planned: ≥ 1 Earth year[2] |
| Website | lara |
| Properties | |
| Mass | less than 2.2 kg[3] |
| Dimensions | Length: 23 cm for the transponder (7-9 cm for the antennas)[3] |
| Power consumption | ≈ 40 W[3] |
| Spectral band | X band (uplink: 7.174 GHz, downlink: 8.428 GHz) |
| Host spacecraft | |
| Spacecraft | Kazachok |
| Operator | ESA & Roscosmos |
| Launch date | August–October 2022[4] |
| Rocket | Proton-M/Briz-M |
| Launch site | Baikonur |
LaRa (Lander Radioscience) is a Belgian radio science experiment that will be placed onboard Kazachok, planned to be launched in 2022.[2][4] LaRa will monitor the Doppler frequency shift of a radio signal traveling between the Martian lander and the Earth. These Doppler measurements will be used to precisely observe the orientation and rotation of Mars, leading to a better knowledge of the internal structure of the planet.[5][6]
- ^ "LaRa". Antwerp Space. Archived from the original on 11 May 2020. Retrieved 13 March 2020.
- ^ a b "Exomars 2020 surface platform". European Space Agency. Retrieved 21 December 2018.
- ^ a b c "LaRa instrument characteristics". Royal Observatory of Belgium. Retrieved 21 December 2018.
- ^ a b "N° 6–2020: ExoMars to take off for the Red Planet in 2022" (Press release). ESA. 12 March 2020. Retrieved 12 March 2020.
- ^ Dehant, Veronique; Folkner, William; Renotte, Etienne; Orban, Daniel; Asmar, Sami; Balmino, Georges; Barriot, Jean-Pierre; Benoist, Jeremy; Biancale, Richard; Biele, Jens; Budnik, Frank; Burger, Stefaan; De Viron, Olivier; Häusler, Bernd; Karatekin, Özgur; Le Maistre, Sébastien; Lognonné, Philippe; Menvielle, Michel; Mitrovic, Michel; Pätzold, Martin; Rivoldini, Attilio; Rosenblatt, Pascal; Schubert, Gerald; Spohn, Tilman; Tortora, Paolo; Van Hoolst, Tim; Witasse, Olivier; Yseboodt, Marie (2009). "Lander radioscience for obtaining the rotation and orientation of Mars". Planetary and Space Science. 57 (8–9). Planetary and Space Science, Volume 57, Issues 8–9, July 2009, Pages 1050-1067.: 1050–1067. Bibcode:2009P&SS...57.1050D. doi:10.1016/j.pss.2008.08.009.
- ^ "LaRa Homepage". Royal Observatory of Belgium. Retrieved 21 December 2018.