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Atmosphere assessment for mars science laboratory entry, descent and landing operations
| Content Provider | NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS) |
|---|---|
| Author | Cantor, Bruce Tyler Jr., Daniel Rafkin, Scot Barnes, Jeff Kass, David Vasavada, Ashwin R. Mischna, Michael Chen, Allen Cianciolo, Alicia D. |
| Copyright Year | 2013 |
| Description | On August 6, 2012, the Mars Science Laboratory rover, Curiosity, successfully landed on the surface of Mars. The Entry, Descent and Landing (EDL) sequence was designed using atmospheric conditions estimated from mesoscale numerical models. The models, developed by two independent organizations (Oregon State University and the Southwest Research Institute), were validated against observations at Mars from three prior years. In the weeks and days before entry, the MSL "Council of Atmospheres" (CoA), a group of atmospheric scientists and modelers, instrument experts and EDL simulation engineers, evaluated the latest Mars data from orbiting assets including the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter's Mars Color Imager (MARCI) and Mars Climate Sounder (MCS), as well as Mars Odyssey's Thermal Emission Imaging System (THEMIS). The observations were compared to the mesoscale models developed for EDL performance simulation to determine if a spacecraft parameter update was necessary prior to entry. This paper summarizes the daily atmosphere observations and comparison to the performance simulation atmosphere models. Options to modify the atmosphere model in the simulation to compensate for atmosphere effects are also presented. Finally, a summary of the CoA decisions and recommendations to the MSL project in the days leading up to EDL is provided. |
| File Size | 1731577 |
| Page Count | 12 |
| File Format | |
| Alternate Webpage(s) | http://archive.org/details/NASA_NTRS_Archive_20140001381 |
| Archival Resource Key | ark:/13960/t7mq01n2f |
| Language | English |
| Publisher Date | 2013-08-11 |
| Access Restriction | Open |
| Subject Keyword | Spacecraft Design, Testing And Performance Atmospheric Effects Landing Simulation Mars Science Laboratory Performance Prediction Mars Surface Mathematical Models Descent Meteorology Curiosity Rover Ntrs Nasa Technical Reports Server (ntrs) Nasa Technical Reports Server Aerodynamics Aircraft Aerospace Engineering Aerospace Aeronautic Space Science |
| Content Type | Text |
| Resource Type | Article |
