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ChemCam is one of the 10 instrument suites on the Mars Science Laboratory, a martian rover being built by Jet Propulsion Laboratory, for the next NASA mission to Mars (MSL 2009). ChemCam is an instrument package consisting of two remote sensing instruments: a Laser-Induced Breakdown Spectrometer (LIBS) and a Remote Micro-Imager (RMI). LIBS provides elemental compositions of rocks and soils, while the RMI places the LIBS analyses in their geomorphologic context. Both instruments rely on an autofocus capability to precisely focus on the chosen target, located at distances from the rover comprised between 1 and 9 m for LIBS, and 2 m and infinity for RMI. ChemCam will help determine which samples, within the vicinity of the MSL rover, are of sufficient interest to use the contact and in-situ instruments for further characterization.

SAFT in cooperation with ESA (European Space Agency) and CNES (French Space Agency) has developed a 3.5 inches diameter NiH2 cell ranging from 36 to 100 Ah. This development program led to the qualification of the product performed according to ESA specifications on a batch of 15 cells of 90 Ah featuring an energy density of 58.2 Wh/Kg. The qualification program comprised a pre-vibration sequence with capacity measurement in standard conditions, leak rate measurement at maximum operating pressure, self-discharge and internal resistance determination, a sinusoidal and random vibration sequence followed by a post-vibration sequence to assess the stability of the performances after mechanical solicitations. The qualification sequence also comprises a capacity determination at -20, -5 and 25-C and a characterization of the cells behaviour under realistic GEO conditions.