Advancing UK Aerospace, Defence, Security & Space Solutions Worldwide
  • Home
  • /
  • Space
  • /
  • Validair supplies airborne particle counter for studying Mars soil

Space

Validair supplies airborne particle counter for studying Mars soil

Was there life on Mars? Amongst the excitement of space missions to the Red Planet, successful landings and the deployment of the Mars Rover, it’s easy to forget that the vital analysis of samples retrieved from the surface will take place here, on our Blue Planet.



Image courtesy Validair

In preparation for the return of soil samples, the University of Leicester has designed a new doublewalled  isolator to provide a super‐sterile research and analysis environment, protecting the  invaluable Martian material from earthly contaminants. That protection will be constantly  monitored by a TSI AeroTrak 9110‐01 Airborne Particle Counter supplied by Validair Monitoring  Solutions Ltd.

The entire Mars project looks to the future, in more ways than one. With these extra‐terrestrial 

Advertisement
Tritax 300x250
exploration projects spanning many years, planning is crucial. Even though soil samples from the  surface of Mars are not expected back on Earth for 10 years, the new isolator, its instruments  including the Validair APC, and the research facilities will be ready and validated. Some of the  students at the University’s Space Park working on project preparations today will be fully qualified 
Advertisement
ODU RT
research scientists by the time the analysis process begins. At that point, we can expect to be closer  to answering the question: was there life on Mars?

 

 

Advertisement
Babcock LB
SaxaVord strengthens ops with new appointments

Space

SaxaVord strengthens ops with new appointments

18 November 2025

SaxaVord Spaceport has bolstered its growing team with two new senior appointments in operations as it prepares for first launch, with Ian Palmer joining as Director of Operations and Nadine Armiger-Drake as Spaceport Operations Manager.

Airbus-built Sentinel-6B climate satellite launched

Space

Airbus-built Sentinel-6B climate satellite launched

17 November 2025

The Airbus-built Sentinel-6B satellite has successfully launched from Vandenberg Space Force Base in California.

KT-UK and RADX partner on solutions for UK and Europe

Aerospace Defence Security Space

KT-UK and RADX partner on solutions for UK and Europe

17 November 2025

Konrad-Technologies UK Ltd (KT-UK) and RADX Technologies, Inc. (RADX) have entered a new partnership under which KT-UK will integrate solutions across the UK and EU.

New satellite to monitor sea-level rise from space

Space

New satellite to monitor sea-level rise from space

17 November 2025

Preparations are underway in California for the launch of the Sentinel-6B satellite, which will monitor global sea levels from space, with a UK propulsion system on board

Advertisement
ODU RT
Bright Ascension to reveal Helix Groundkit at Space Tech Expo Europe

Space Events

Bright Ascension to reveal Helix Groundkit at Space Tech Expo Europe

14 November 2025

Provider of modular space software solutions, Bright Ascension, will officially launch its modular and reusable ground software development product, Helix Groundkit, at Space Tech Expo Europe 2025 in Bremen (18th–20th November), showing the new software in action.

Space-Comm Expo Scotland countdown begins

Space Events

Space-Comm Expo Scotland countdown begins

12 November 2025

The countdown is on for the biggest ever space industry event to be held in Scotland, now just three weeks away.

Advertisement
Tritax 300x250