Contamination control approach for Exomars RFM mission

ExoMars RFM (Rosalind Franklin Mission) represents the evolution of the ExoMars RSP (Rover and Surface Platform) mission, which was aborted just before delivery for the launch campaign due to international political reasons. In place of the Russian Descent Module, a new EDLM (Entry, Descent, and Landing Module) is being designed to enable the exploration of Mars' atmosphere and surface, utilizing the payloads onboard both the Rover Module and the Landing Platform. This document provides an overview of the contamination control strategy implemented throughout the project's development, beginning with the construction of a new, dedicated integration facility at Thales Alenia Space Italy in Turin. The facility features a GBT (Glove Box Train)—an ISO three class cleanroom specifically designed for Assembly, Integration, and Testing (AIT) of the Ultra Clean Zone (UCZ) within the ExoMars Rover Analytical Laboratory Drawer. The GBT environment is continuously monitored using a tailored method based on TD-GC/MS (Thermal Desorption-Gas Chromatography/Mass Spectrometry) to detect extremely low levels of organic contamination in both air samples and witness plates representative of the flight hardware. This document reports the results collected during previous AIT phases and the storage period. Given the new EDLM design and the presence of additional contamination-sensitive components (e.g., mirrors and cameras) on the Landing Platform, a dedicated contamination assessment and related design evaluations are presented. Specifically, the document assesses the potential impact of molecular contamination from material outgassing during the cruise phase and the redistribution of Martian dust during landing.