Characterization Procedure Of The Flight Laser Modules For The Exomars Raman Laser Spectrometer

Several space missions have been sent to the surface of Mars carrying scientific instruments to study the environment. However, only one of these missions included a laser: the ChemCam instrument on-board NASA's Curiosity mission. In 2020, two missions will be launched to study the Martian surface and search for signs of life: NASA's Mars mission carrying SuperCam instrument that will perform Raman spectroscopy and LIBS technique; and ESA's mission, ExoMars, with a Raman Laser Spectrometer (RLS) as part of the rover's payload that will study the Martian surface. One of the critical points of the RLS instrument is the laser, due to the strict technological requirements that must be met to satisfy scientific and environmental requirements. This paper summarizes the electro-optical characterization campaigns that passed the Flight Model (FM) and the Flight model Spare (FS).