Atmospheric risk assessment for the Mars Science Laboratory Entry, Descent, and Landing system

Abstract

Abstract-In 2012, the Mars Science Laboratory (MSL) mission will pioneer the next generation of robotic Entry, Descent, and Landing (EDL) systems, by delivering the largest and most capable rover to date to the surface of Mars. 12As with previous Mars landers, atmospheric conditions during entry, descent, and landing directly impact the performance of MSL's EDL system. While the vehicle's novel guided entry system allows it to "fly out" a range of atmospheric uncertainties, its trajectory through the atmosphere creates a variety of atmospheric sensitivities not present on previous Mars entry systems and landers. Given the mission's stringent landing capability requirements, understanding the atmosphere state and spacecraft sensitivities takes on heightened importance. A joint EDL engineering and Mars atmosphere science and modeling team has been created to identify the key system sensitivities, gather available atmospheric data sets, develop relevant atmosphere models, and formulate methods to integrate atmosphere information into EDL performance assessments. The team consists of EDL engineers, project science staff, and Mars atmospheric scientists from a variety of institutions.This paper provides an overview of the system performance sensitivities that have driven the atmosphere modeling approach, discusses the atmosphere data sets and models employed by the team as a result of the identified sensitivities, and introduces the tools used to translate atmospheric knowledge into quantitative EDL performance assessments.2

Verification and Validation of the Mars Science Laboratory/Curiosity Rover Entry, Descent, and Landing System

“…after the spacecraft separated from the cruise stage until the descent stage impacted the surface after delivering the rover to a safe touchdown. POST2 contained a vast array of validated subsystem and environmental models, including the parachute model, sensor and actuator models, a digital elevation [14] Aerodynamics • CFD [16] • Ballistic range testing [17] Aero/RCS Interaction • CFD [18] • Wind tunnel testing [18] Atmosphere • Mesoscale modeling [19] • MarsGRAM 2005 [19] • Observational data [19] Propulsion • RCS tests [20] • Feed system test [20] • Slosh analysis • RCS Plume Study Mechanical • Modal tests [21] • Modal analysis [21] • Static and vibe loads tests [21] Aerodeformation • CFD [15] • NASTRAN…”

Mars atmospheric entry guidance for reference trajectory tracking

“…The guidance model employed to develop the terminal sliding mode guidance algorithm is longitudinal descent model described by Eqs. (1)- (6). Let…”

“…The need for highly specific and more ambitious science requirements stimulates the development of novel guidance systems that can deliver rovers and/or landers on the Mars surface with unprecedented precision. A typical Mars descent profile is characterized by a sequence of three phases, namely Entry, Descent and Landing (EDL) [1][2][3][4][5][6][7].…”

Meteorología mesoescalar en Marte

“…Además, los modelos se están utilizando cada vez más para proporcionar detalles de las condiciones ambientales necesarios para la planificación y operación de las misiones (Rafkin et al, 2003;Togio et al, 2003;Vasavada et al, 2012;Chen et al, 2010).…”

“…Varios proyectos de exploración de Marte de la NASA, incluyendo los Mars Exploration Rovers (Spirit y Oportunity) (Rafkin et al, 2003), el aterrizador Phoenix (Tamppari et al, 2008), el rover Curiosity (MSL) (Vasavada 2012;Chen et al, 2010), el aterrizador InSight y el rover Mars2020, han utilizado MRAMS para estudiar una amplia variedad de circulaciones atmosféricas.…”