Instrument Host Information
IDENTIFIER urn:esa:psa:context:instrument_host:spacecraft.mtm::1.1
NAME Mercury Transfer Module
TYPE Spacecraft
DESCRIPTION The Mercury Transfer Module (MTM) provides the acceleration and braking requiredduring Cruise to reach the eventual capture by Mercury and the large amount ofpower required by the solar electric propulsion system. The MTM also constitutesthe bottom element in the overall spacecraft structure.Fig. 8shows the MTMwithout its two solar array wings totaling over 40m2, which provide the powerfor the Solar ElectricPropulsion System (SEPS) during the Cruise.The MTM isequipped with a bi-propellant propulsion system of 10N thrusters that are usedfor the attitude control activities during Cruise. The bi-propellant system isalso able to provide navigation DV manoeuvres during Cruise. By far the majorpart of the DV required during Cruise is delivered by the SEPS, using its four145mN ion thrusters that are initially operated singly and later in pairs. TheMTM solar arrays use the same high-temperature technologies as developed for theMPO and are rotated away from the sun for the purpose of temperature control.Attheir peak output the MTM Solar Array delivers 14kW, of which10.6kW is requiredby the SEPS.The MTM structure is based on a Carbon Fibre ReinforcedPlastic(CFRP) conical primary structure interfacing with theLaunch Vehicle Adapter andthe MPO. The mechanical interfaces to MPO are characterised by cup-coneseparation systems for in-flight separation 6 years after launch whilstinitially providing the primary load path through the Mercury CompositeSpacecraft(MCS) structure at launch.
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