RX-March
Let's go further, heading for Mars
Artistic view of the RX-March rover
RX-March: Surviving the Dust
The RX-March is the second platform in our “SPECIALIZE” phase. It will demonstrate the incredible modularity of our architecture: starting from the same base as the RX-Moon (< 30 kg, < 30W), we will adapt it to survive a set of completely different challenges, those of the red planet.
On Mars, the greatest enemy is not the cold of the night... it is dust.
1. The Critical Objective: Dust Management
Martian dust storms are infamous for ending missions. A thin layer of dust on the solar panels stifles the power supply and condemns the rover.
Our Solution: The RX-March's 2-year lifespan (1 full Martian year) is guaranteed by a priority engineering solution: an active solar panel cleaning mechanism. This energy resilience is our key advantage, ensuring we can operate even after seasonal storms.
2. The Daily Challenge: The Thermal Cycle
Unlike the long lunar night, Mars imposes a daily thermal stress cycle. Every night (or “Sol”), the temperature drops to -130°C. Surviving more than 700 of these cycles in two years is a huge challenge for seals and welds.
Our Solution: The RX-March inherits the survival architecture of the R-Moon: a “Warm Electronic Box” (WEB) maintained at > -40°C by a combination of RHUs and auxiliary electric heaters. This design ensures the reliability of the avionics, night after night.
3. Designed for the Red Planet
The RX-March completes its specialization with adapted subsystems:
Radiation Tolerance: The avionics are radiation-hardened (Rad-Hard) for the same 100 kRad (Si) tolerance as the RX-Moon, necessary for the long journey and low atmospheric protection.
Long-Distance Communications: The RX-March is equipped with a UHF communication system designed for direct relay via Martian orbiters (e.g., MRO, TGO), using the standard Proximity-1 protocol.
Scientific Interface: It retains the standard RoverXplorer interface (1.5U, 2kg, 5W), ready to accommodate our customers' instruments for geological prospecting.
The RX-March proves that our architecture is not a one-size-fits-all solution, but an adaptable platform designed for resilience, whatever the environment.