THALES
On 18 February, the Perseverance rover — a key component of the Mars 2020 mission — will touch down on the Red Planet after a long seven-month voyage. SuperCam , one of seven strategic onboard instruments, is a powerful combination of technologies designed to analyse, characterise and select Martian rock samples. SuperCam is the result of close collaboration between Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL) in the United States and the astrophysics and planetology research institute in France (IRAP, CNRS / CNES / Université Toulouse III - Paul Sabatier), with contributions from the University of Hawaii and the University of Valladolid in Spain. The Mast Unit , the French part of SuperCam located at the top of the rover’s mast, was designed and built by a consortium of French laboratories1 from CNRS, universities and entities under the scientific lead of the IRAP team and under the responsibility of CNES, the French space agency. The laser supplied by Thales is a key part of the Mast Unit .
This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210215005423/en/
In 2012, Curiosity landed on Mars equipped with the first high-power laser to operate on the surface of another planet, a laser designed and developed by Thales for the ChemCam instrument. The ChemCam laser has been operating faultlessly for over eight years and has fired close to 855,000 shots to date as Curiosity has made its 24-kilometre trek across the surface of the Red Planet. Data from ChemCam has already helped to prove that conditions on Mars were once suitable for microbial life.
The SuperCam instrument, a new and more powerful version of ChemCam, is designed to take Mars exploration to a new level. Like ChemCam, the SuperCam laser will use an infrared beam to heat material to a temperature of around 10,000°C and vaporise it — a method called laser induced breakdown spectroscopy. Coupled with a special camera, this makes it possible to determine the chemical composition of Martian rock samples by measuring the colours of light in the plasma created.
Unlike ChemCam, however, the SuperCam laser can also emit a green laser beam, which will help determine the molecular composition of surface materials. This green beam excites the chemical bonds in samples and produces a different signal according to their various linked components. This analysis technique, known as Raman spectroscopy, will be tested for the first time on Mars and will enable scientists to detect any markers of life. The green laser will also be used to induce fluorescence in mineral and organic compounds, allowing scientists to determine their constituent components with greater accuracy.
“We’re proud to have provided NASA with the first two lasers to operate on Mars. The Mars 2020 mission is a decisive step forward in the study of the Red Planet and preparations for future expeditions. SuperCam, the ‘eyes’ of Perseverance, is the result of close collaboration between partners across the international scientific community. Thales's SuperCam laser delivers unrivalled performance and will enable Perseverance to perform its exploration mission throughout its time on the surface of Mars.” Christophe Salomon, Executive Vice President, Land and Air Systems
About Mars 2020
The goal of the Mars 2020 mission is to study the Red Planet’s surface, search for signs of past life, take rock and dust samples at selected sites and store them for retrieval by the future Mars Sample Return (MSR) mission, which will be conducted jointly with the European Space Agency. Thales Alenia Space is closely involved in the MSR mission.
The Mars 2020 mission is designed to gather the necessary knowledge and test the technologies that will be vital for future human expeditions to the Red Planet.
How to produce oxygen from the Martian atmosphere? What resources are available? Is there water beneath the surface, for example? How to improve landing techniques and characterise weather conditions, dust levels and other environmental conditions that could affect the life and work of future astronauts on Mars? These are just some of the questions the Perseverance mission will seek to answer.
About Thales lasers
For more than 35 years, Thales has been a world leader in design, development and manufacturing of high energy nanosecond lasers for industrial applications and the most powerful ultra-short Ti:Sa femtosecond laser systems for leading scientific applications with peak power up to 10 petawatts.
Thales provides the most reliable and easy-to-use products, a unique combination of technological expertise and robustness for implementation into industrial applications that require highest availability such as laser annealing, laser lift-off, laser shock peening and cutting of composites for various industries such as aerospace, microelectronics, flat panel displays and many others. Thales provides also a full range of services, which are optimized to support each customer.
About Thales Thales (Euronext Paris: HO) is a global technology leader shaping the world of tomorrow today. The Group provides solutions, services and products to customers in the aeronautics, space, transport, digital identity and security, and defence markets. With 83,000 employees in 68 countries, Thales generated sales of €19 billion in 2019 (on a pro forma basis including Gemalto over 12 months). Thales is investing in particular in digital innovations — connectivity, Big Data, artificial intelligence and cybersecurity — technologies that support businesses, organisations and governments in their decisive moments. |
PLEASE VISIT
[1] The Irap ; the Laboratoire d’études spatiales et d’instrumentation en astrophysique (LESIA, Observatoire de Paris-PSL/CNRS/SU/Université de Paris) ; the Laboratoire d’astrophysique de Bordeaux (LAB, CNRS/Université de Bordeaux) ; the Laboratoire « atmosphères et observations spatiales » (LATMOS, CNRS/SU/UVSQ) ; l’Observatoire Midi-Pyrénées (OMP, CNRS/IRD/Météo-France/Université de Toulouse III – Paul Sabatier) ; the Institut d’astrophysique spatiale (IAS, CNRS/Université Paris-Saclay).
View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210215005423/en/
Link:
About Business Wire
Subscribe to releases from Business Wire
Subscribe to all the latest releases from Business Wire by registering your e-mail address below. You can unsubscribe at any time.
Latest releases from Business Wire
Echoworx Secures FSQS-Netherlands Certification, Strengthening Trust in Financial Data Protection16.12.2025 07:00:00 CET | Press release
Leading encryption provider deepens commitment to European financial sector with rigorous new supplier qualification, building on existing UK & Ireland certification. Echoworx, a global leader in email and data encryption, proudly announces it has achieved Financial Services Qualification System (FSQS) registered supplier status for the Netherlands. This certification powerfully demonstrates Echoworx’s commitment to the highest standards of security and compliance. This achievement expands on the company’s existing FSQS certification for the UK and Ireland, secured in 2020. By successfully completing the rigorous qualification for the Netherlands, Echoworx reinforces its alignment with the stringent demands of the European financial market. The FSQS system, managed by Hellios, provides a single, reliable standard for vetting third-party suppliers, streamlining procurement for major banks and financial institutions. Think of FSQS as a high-security passport for technology partners. It p
Nippon Electric Glass to Start World’s First Mass Production of Low-Carbon Pharmaceutical Glass Tubing Using an All-Electric Furnace16.12.2025 03:00:00 CET | Press release
Nippon Electric Glass Co., Ltd. (NEG)(TOKYO:5214), a global leader in specialty glass headquartered in Otsu, Japan, announced it will begin the world’s first mass production of pharmaceutical-grade glass tubing using an all-electric melting furnace. Commercial production is scheduled to start in December 2025 at its subsidiary in Selangor, Malaysia. This breakthrough introduces a new manufacturing model for pharmaceutical packaging. By combining NEG’s proprietary all-electric melting technology with renewable energy, CO2 emissions from glass tubing production can be reduced by up to 90%*1 compared with conventional fossil-fuel combustion furnaces. This positions NEG as a major supplier capable of delivering both high-performance borosilicate glass and a significantly lower carbon footprint, directly addressing global sustainability demands from pharmaceutical companies and regulators. NEG is a leading global supplier of arsenic-free, environmentally friendly borosilicate glass tubing f
Esco Aster Signs Exosome Clinical cGMP Manufacturing Contract With Shine-On Biomedical For A Novel First-In-Class HLA-G Targeting Exosome Drug Delivery Platform16.12.2025 02:00:00 CET | Press release
Esco Aster, a vertically integrated cell and derivatives CRDMO based at JTC LaunchPad Singapore, announced CMC manufacturing support for Shine-On Biomedical’s HLA-G targeted exosome program. Shine-On Biomedical sponsored Esco Aster in 2023 for cGMP services, starting with high-yield exosome development using Esco Aster’s cell line platform. The technical reports of process, analytical, and formulation development, exosome drug loading, GMP engineering runs, and stability studies supported Shine-On’s IND submission. The IND was cleared by the U.S. FDA in Q1 2025. Furthermore, Esco Aster is providing technical services for exploratory exosome loading feasibility studies per Shine-On’s instruction. Shine-On Biomedical is an emerging innovator in exosome-based drug delivery. ShineOn’s proprietary product, SOB100, a HLA-G targeted exosome drug delivery carrier, has passed the U.S. FDA IND review and ongoing Phase I study, making it as a first-in-class–potential HLA-G targeted exosome platfo
Civil Air Patrol Expands Fleet With 15 New Cessna Aircraft to Support Lifesaving and Community Missions15.12.2025 17:00:00 CET | Press release
Latest deliveries bring CAP’s Cessna fleet to more than 500 aircraft nationwide Textron Aviation Inc., a Textron Inc. (NYSE: TXT) company, announced today that Civil Air Patrol (CAP), the world’s largest operator of Cessna aircraft, is strengthening its national mission capabilities with an order for 15 additional piston-engine aircraft, including seven Cessna Skyhawk 172 and eight Cessna Skylane 182 models scheduled for delivery throughout 2026. The order follows recent deliveries of an additional two Cessna Skylane and one Cessna Turbo Stationair HD aircraft, expanding CAP’s fleet to more than 500 Cessna aircraft nationwide. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20251215613573/en/ Delivery of an additional two Cessna Skylane and one Cessna Turbo Stationair HD aircraft joins CAP’s fleet of more than 500 Cessna aircraft nationwide. Cessna aircraft are designed and produced by Textron Aviation. “Civil Air Patrol’s miss
Winston & Strawn and Taylor Wessing UK to Combine, Creating a Premier Transatlantic Law Firm15.12.2025 16:52:00 CET | Press release
Winston Taylor to build on shared vision and culture in establishing a transatlantic powerhouse for major litigation, critical transactions, strategic IP, and private wealth Winston & Strawn and Taylor Wessing’s UK-led business announced today their intention to combine, creating a premier transatlantic law firm that would operate under a new shared name, Winston Taylor. The combination responds to increasing client demand for seamlessly integrated US–UK–EU counsel for the businesses, people, and markets driving capital and innovation. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20251215914957/en/ The combination once final will unite two international firms with more than 400 years of combined history, complementary strengths, and a common vision to meet clients’ evolving global needs. The combined firm will include more than 1,400 lawyers, establishing one of the largest transatlantic firms whose footprint is primarily in
In our pressroom you can read all our latest releases, find our press contacts, images, documents and other relevant information about us.
Visit our pressroom