Assessment of Environments for Mars Science Laboratory Entry, Descent, and Surface Operations

Vasavada, A. R.; Chen, Allen; Barnes, J. R.; Burkhart, P. Daniel; Cantor, B. A.; Dwyer-Cianciolo, Alicia M.; Fergason, R. L.; Hinson, D. P.; Justh, Hilary L.; Kass, D. M.; Lewis, S. R.; Mischna, M. A.; Murphy, James R.; Rafkin, Scot; Tyler, D.; Withers, Paul

doi:10.1007/s11214-012-9911-3

Cited by 64 publications

(35 citation statements)

References 44 publications

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“…The question remains, will these near surface atmosphere improvements to M-GITM (below 50 km) modify its upper atmosphere structure and dynamics? Recent comparisons of a 1-D Mars radiative-convective model [Vasavada et al, 2012;Haberle et al, 1999] and the corresponding 1-D application of M-GITM suggest that (a) the incorporation of a PBL scheme in M-GITM will not likely impact its upper atmosphere and (b) the application of eddy thermal conductivity below 50 km will not impact upper atmosphere temperatures. However, the incorporation of topography will impact upper atmosphere structure and dynamics, as indicated previously Bell et al [2007].…”

Section: Lower To Middle Atmosphere Variations For Seasonal Conditionsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Mars Global Ionosphere‐Thermosphere Model: Solar cycle, seasonal, and diurnal variations of the Mars upper atmosphere

et al. 2015

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A new Mars Global Ionosphere-Thermosphere Model (M-GITM) is presented that combines the terrestrial GITM framework with Mars fundamental physical parameters, ion-neutral chemistry, and key radiative processes in order to capture the basic observed features of the thermal, compositional, and dynamical structure of the Mars atmosphere from the ground to the exosphere (0-250 km). Lower, middle, and upper atmosphere processes are included, based in part upon formulations used in previous lower and upper atmosphere Mars GCMs. This enables the M-GITM code to be run for various seasonal, solar cycle, and dust conditions. M-GITM validation studies have focused upon simulations for a range of solar and seasonal conditions. Key upper atmosphere measurements are selected for comparison to corresponding M-GITM neutral temperatures and neutral-ion densities. In addition, simulated lower atmosphere temperatures are compared with observations in order to provide a first-order confirmation of a realistic lower atmosphere. M-GITM captures solar cycle and seasonal trends in the upper atmosphere that are consistent with observations, yielding significant periodic changes in the temperature structure, the species density distributions, and the large-scale global wind system. For instance, mid afternoon temperatures near ∼200 km are predicted to vary from ∼210 to 350 K (equinox) and ∼190 to 390 k (aphelion to perihelion) over the solar cycle. These simulations will serve as a benchmark against which to compare episodic variations (e.g., due to solar flares and dust storms) in future M-GITM studies. Additionally, M-GITM will be used to support MAVEN mission activities (2014)(2015)(2016).

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Section: Lower To Middle Atmosphere Variations For Seasonal Conditionsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Mars Global Ionosphere‐Thermosphere Model: Solar cycle, seasonal, and diurnal variations of the Mars upper atmosphere

et al. 2015

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“…65, tuned to match surface pressure measurements of 695 Pa from Curiosity, which were obtained after landing. The modeled atmosphere is an average of two such mesoscale models, namely the Mars Mesoscale Model 5 (MMM5) and the Mars Regional Atmospheric Modeling System (MRAMS).…”

Section: Atmospheric Modelsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Mars Entry Atmospheric Data System Trajectory Reconstruction Algorithms and Flight Results

Karlgaard

Kutty

Schoenenberger³

et al. 2013

51st AIAA Aerospace Sciences Meeting Including the New Horizons Forum and Aerospace Exposition

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The Mars Entry Atmospheric Data System is a part of the Mars Science Laboratory, Entry, Descent, and Landing Instrumentation project. These sensors are a system of seven pressure transducers linked to ports on the entry vehicle forebody to record the pressure distribution during atmospheric entry. These measured surface pressures are used to generate estimates of atmospheric quantities based on modeled surface pressure distributions. Specifically, angle of attack, angle of sideslip, dynamic pressure, Mach number, and freestream atmospheric properties are reconstructed from the measured pressures. Such data allows for the aerodynamics to become decoupled from the assumed atmospheric properties, allowing for enhanced trajectory reconstruction and performance analysis as well as an aerodynamic reconstruction, which has not been possible in past Mars entry reconstructions. This paper provides details of the data processing algorithms that are utilized for this purpose. The data processing algorithms include two approaches that have commonly been utilized in past planetary entry trajectory reconstruction, and a new approach for this application that makes use of the pressure measurements. The paper describes assessments of data quality and preprocessing, and results of the flight data reduction from atmospheric entry, which occurred on August 5th, 2012.

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“…Primarily, this effort was aimed at constraining the effect of the atmosphere on the Entry Descent and Landing phase of the spacecraft (Vasavada et al, 2012), but also yielded predictions (Haberle, 2012) of what would be seen by the Rover Environmental Monitoring Station (REMS) following landing and a broad description of the circulation within the crater itself (Tyler and Barnes, 2013). An interesting result that emerged from the latter study of the circulation was a predicted suppression of the thickness of the planetary boundary layer (PBL) to 1-2 km as compared to 8-10 km outside of the crater.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Observational evidence of a suppressed planetary boundary layer in northern Gale Crater, Mars as seen by the Navcam instrument onboard the Mars Science Laboratory rover

Moores

Lemmon

Kahanpää

et al. 2015

Icarus

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Assessment of Environments for Mars Science Laboratory Entry, Descent, and Surface Operations

Cited by 64 publications

References 44 publications

Mars Global Ionosphere‐Thermosphere Model: Solar cycle, seasonal, and diurnal variations of the Mars upper atmosphere

Mars Global Ionosphere‐Thermosphere Model: Solar cycle, seasonal, and diurnal variations of the Mars upper atmosphere

Mars Entry Atmospheric Data System Trajectory Reconstruction Algorithms and Flight Results

Observational evidence of a suppressed planetary boundary layer in northern Gale Crater, Mars as seen by the Navcam instrument onboard the Mars Science Laboratory rover

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