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
ODU RT
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
Tritax 300x250
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
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.

BIAS 2026 to focus on AAM, sustainability and innovation

Aerospace Defence Space Events

BIAS 2026 to focus on AAM, sustainability and innovation

11 November 2025

The biennial Bahrain International Airshow (BIAS) - taking place next year, 18th-20th November 2026 - is to feature a dedicated focus on Advanced Air Mobility (AAM), consider efforts to build a more sustainable aviation infrastructure and explore defence and space business innovation.

UK completes tenure as CEOS Chair

Space

UK completes tenure as CEOS Chair

11 November 2025

The UK has concluded its tenure as Chair of the Committee on Earth Observation Satellites (CEOS), marking a transformative year for the global Earth observation (EO) community.

Advertisement
Security & Policing Rectangle
Airbus ships ESM-4 for Artemis IV

Space

Airbus ships ESM-4 for Artemis IV

10 November 2025

The fourth European Service Module (ESM-4) is on its way from Airbus’ facilities in Bremen, Germany to NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida, USA, where it will be tested and integrated with the Orion Crew Module ready for the next stage of NASA’s Artemis programme.

BA to roll out free Starlink Wi-Fi connectivity

Aerospace Space

BA to roll out free Starlink Wi-Fi connectivity

6 November 2025

British Airways has signed a major deal with Starlink to provide every customer in every cabin with free Wi-Fi connectivity from next year, signifying a significant investment for the airline as part of its £7 billion transformation journey.

Advertisement
Tritax 300x250