Mars Science Laboratory

Mars Science Laboratory mission

2011 concept artwork
Operator NASA
Major contractors Boeing
Lockheed Martin
Mission type Rover
Launch date November 26, 2011 15:02:00.211 UTC (10:02 EST)[1][2][3]
Launch vehicle Atlas V 541 (AV-028)
Launch site Cape Canaveral LC-41[4]
Mission duration 668 Martian sols (686 Earth days)
COSPAR ID MARSCILAB
Homepage Mars Science Laboratory
Mass 900 kg (2,000 lb)[5]
Power Radioisotope Thermoelectric Generator (RTG)
Mars landing
Date August 5*, 2012 (planned)[2][6] *note: landing is evening of August 5 PDT,[7] which is morning of August 6 UT.
Coordinates Gale Crater, 4° 36′ 0″ S, 137° 12′ 0″ E (planned landing site)
References: [2][8][9][10]

The Mars Science Laboratory (MSL) is a National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) mission with the aim to land and operate a rover named Curiosity on the surface of Mars.[11][12] Currently in transit to Mars, it was launched November 26, 2011, at 10:02 EST[1][3] and is scheduled to land on Mars at Gale Crater on August 6, 2012[8][9][10] (about 10pm in the evening of August 5 PDT, the time used by the mission controllers in Pasadena, California).[6] If MSL arrives at Mars, it will attempt a more precise landing than attempted previously and then help assess Mars's habitability. A primary mission objective is to determine whether Mars is or has ever been an environment able to support life, though it will not look for any specific type of life. Rather, it is intended to chemically analyze samples in various ways, including scooping up soil, drill rocks, and with a laser and sensor system.[13]

Curiosity rover is five times larger than Spirit or Opportunity Mars Exploration Rovers[14] and carries more than ten times the mass of scientific instruments of that design. MSL was launched by an Atlas V 541 rocket and after its journey to Mars and then landing, is designed to explore for at least 687 Earth days (1 Martian year) over a range of 5-20 km (3-12 miles).[13]

Mars Science Laboratory mission is part of NASA's Mars Exploration Program, a long-term effort of robotic exploration of Mars, and the project is managed by the Jet Propulsion Laboratory of California Institute of Technology for NASA. Doug McCuistion of NASA's Planetary Science Division is the Director of the Mars Exploration Program.[15] The total cost of the MSL project is about US$2.5 billion.[16]

Contents

Goals and objectives

The MSL mission has four scientific goals:

  1. Determine whether Mars could ever have supported life
  2. Study the climate of Mars
  3. Study the geology of Mars
  4. Plan for a human mission to Mars

To contribute to these goals, MSL has six main scientific objectives:[17][18]

  1. Determine the mineralogical composition of the Martian surface and near-surface geological materials.
  2. Attempt to detect chemical building blocks of life (biosignatures).
  3. Interpret the processes that have formed and modified rocks and soils.
  4. Assess long-timescale (i.e., 4-billion-year) Martian atmospheric evolution processes.
  5. Determine present state, distribution, and cycling of water and carbon dioxide.
  6. Characterize the broad spectrum of surface radiation, including galactic radiation, cosmic radiation, solar proton events and secondary neutrons.

History

In April 2008, it was reported that the project was $235 million, or 24%, over budget and that the money to compensate this overrun might have to come from other NASA Mars missions.[14] By October 2008 MSL was getting closer to a 30% cost overrun.[19][20] As of November 2008 development was essentially finished, with much of the MSL hardware and software complete and testing ongoing.[21] On December 3, 2008, NASA announced that the MSL launch would be delayed until the fall of 2011 because of inadequate test time.[22] The technical and budgetary reasons behind the delay were explained to the Planetary Science Community in a January 2009 meeting at NASA Headquarters.[23][24]

Between March 23–29, 2009, the general public had an opportunity to rank nine finalist names through a public poll on the NASA website as additional input for judges to consider when choosing the name of the MSL rover.[11] On May 27, 2009 the winning name, Curiosity was selected. It was submitted by a sixth-grader, Clara Ma, from Kansas, in an essay contest.[11][12][25][26]

Specifications

Radioisotope power systems (RPSs) are generators that produce electricity from the natural decay of plutonium-238, which is a non-fissile isotope of plutonium. Heat given off by the natural decay of this isotope is converted into electricity, providing constant power during all seasons and through the day and night, and waste heat can be used via pipes to warm systems, freeing electrical power for the operation of the vehicle and instruments.[31][32] Curiosity's RTG contains 10.6 pounds (4.8 kilograms) of plutonium-238 dioxide supplied by the U.S. Department of Energy.[33]
Curiosity's power generator is the latest RTG generation built by Boeing, called the "Multi-Mission Radioisotope Thermoelectric Generator" or MMRTG.[34] Based on classical RTG technology, it represents a more flexible and compact development step,[34] and is designed to produce 125 watts of electrical power from about 2000 watts of thermal power at the start of the mission.[31][32] The MMRTG produces less power over time as its plutonium fuel decays: at its minimum lifetime of 14 years, electrical power output is down to 100 watts.[35][36] The MSL will generate 2.5 kilowatt hours per day compared to the Mars Exploration Rovers which can generate about 0.6 kilowatt hours per day. The MMRTG aboard Curiosity is fueled by 32 pellets each about the size of a marshmallow.[14]
The RCE computers use the RAD750 CPU which is a successor to the RAD6000 CPU used in the Mars Exploration Rovers.[41][42] The RAD750 CPU is capable of up to 400 MIPS while the RAD6000 CPU is capable of up to 35 MIPS.[43][44]
The rover has an Inertial Measurement Unit (IMU) that provides 3-axis information on its position which is used in rover navigation.[39] The rover's computers are constantly self-monitoring to keep the rover operational, such as by regulating the rover's temperature.[39] Activities such as taking pictures, driving, and operating the instruments are performed in a command sequence that is sent from the flight team to the rover.[39] In the event of problems with the main computer, the backup computer will take over.[39]
See also: Comparison of embedded computer systems on board the Mars rovers

Payload

The following instruments were selected for the MSL rover Curiosity.

  1. MastCam: This system will provide multiple spectra and true color imaging with two cameras.[50] The cameras can take true color images at 1600×1200 pixels and up to 10 frames per second hardware-compressed, high-definition video at 720p (1280×720).[50] One camera will be the Medium Angle Camera (MAC) which has a 34 mm focal length, a 15-degree field of view, and can yield 22 cm/pixel scale at 1 km.[50] The other camera will be the Narrow Angle Camera (NAC) which has a 100 mm focal length, a 5.1-degree field of view, and can yield 7.4 cm/pixel scale at 1 km.[50] Malin is also developing a pair of Mastcams with zoom lens, which NASA may choose to fly instead of the fixed focal length cameras.[60] Each camera will have 8 GB of flash memory, which is capable of storing over 5,500 raw images, and can apply real time lossless or JPEG compression.[50] The cameras have an autofocus capability which allows them to focus on objects from 2.1 m (6 ft 11 in) to infinity.[53] Each camera will also have a RGB Bayer pattern filter with 8 filter positions.[50] In comparison to the 1024×1024 black and white panoramic cameras used on the Mars Exploration Rover (MER), the MAC MastCam will have 1.25× higher spatial resolution and the NAC MastCam will have 3.67× higher spatial resolution.[53]
  2. Mars Hand Lens Imager (MAHLI): This system will consist of a camera mounted to a robotic arm on the rover.[51] It will be used to acquire microscopic images of rock and soil. MAHLI can take true color images at 1600×1200 pixels with a resolution as high as 14.5 micrometers per pixel.[51] MAHLI has a 18.3 mm to 21.3 mm focal length and a 33.8- to 38.5-degree field of view.[51] MAHLI will have both white and ultraviolet LED illumination for imaging in darkness or imaging fluorescence.[51] MAHLI will also have mechanical focusing in a range from infinite to millimetre distances.[51] This system can make some images with focus stacking processing[61]. MAHLI can store either the raw images or do realtime lossless predictive or JPEG compression.[51] See also Camera, hand lens, and microscope probe
  3. MSL Mars Descent Imager (MARDI): During the descent to the Martian surface, MARDI will take color images at 1600×1200 pixels with a 1.3-millisecond exposure time starting at distances of about 3.7 km to near 5 meters from the ground and will take images at a rate of 5 frames per second for about 2 minutes.[52][62] MARDI has a pixel scale of 1.5 meters at 2 km to 1.5 millimeters at 2 meters and has a 90-degree circular field of view.[52] MARDI will have 8 GB of internal buffer memory which is capable of storing over 4,000 raw images.[52] MARDI imaging will allow the mapping of surrounding terrain and the location of landing.[52] JunoCam, for another spacecraft, is based on MARDI.[63]
NASA's cost for ChemCam is approximately $10M, including an overrun of about $1.5M,[69] which is less than 1/200th of the total mission costs.[70] The flight model of the Mast Unit was delivered from the French CNES to Los Alamos National Laboratory and was able to deliver the engineering model to JPL in February 2008.[71]
Main article: APXS
  1. The Quadrupole Mass Spectrometer (QMS) will detect gases sampled from the atmosphere or those released from solid samples by heating.[76]
  2. The Gas Chromatograph (GC) will be used to separate out individual gases from a complex mixture into molecular components with a mass range of 2–235 u.[76]
  3. The Tunable Laser Spectrometer (TLS) will perform precision measurements of oxygen and carbon isotope ratios in carbon dioxide (CO2) and methane (CH4) in the atmosphere of Mars in order to distinguish between a geochemical and a biological origin.[76][79][80][81]
The SAM also has three subsystems: The chemical separation and processing laboratory (CSPL), for enrichment and derivatization of the organic molecules of the sample; the sample manipulation system (SMS) for transporting powder delivered from the MSL drill to a SAM inlet and into one of 74 sample cups.[76] The SMS then moves the sample to the SAM oven to release gases by heating to up to 1000 oC;[76][82] and the wide range pumps (WRP) subsystem to purge the QMS, TLS, and the CPSL.

Launch vehicle

The MSL was launched from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station Space Launch Complex 41 on November 26, 2011 using the Atlas V 541 provided by United Launch Alliance. This two stage rocket includes a 3.8 m (12 ft) common core booster (CCB) powered by a single RD-180 engine, four solid rocket boosters (SRB), and one Centaur III with a 5.4 m (18 ft) diameter payload fairing. This vehicle is capable of launching up to 17,597 lb (7,982 kg) to geostationary transfer orbit. The Atlas V has also been used to launch the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter and the New Horizons probe.[4][93]

The first and second stage along with the solid rocket motors were stacked on October 9, 2011 near the launch pad.[94] The fairing containing MSL was transported to the launch pad on November 3, 2011.[95]

Landing system

Landing a large mass on Mars is a difficult challenge. The atmosphere is thick enough to prevent rockets being used to provide significant deceleration, as flying into the plume at supersonic speed is notoriously unstable.[96] Also, the atmosphere is too thin for parachutes and aerobraking alone to be effective.[96] Although some previous missions have used airbags to cushion the shock of landing, the MSL is too large for this to be an option.

Curiosity will be set down on the Martian surface using a new high-precision entry, descent, and landing (EDL) system that will place it within a 20 km (12 mi) landing ellipse, in contrast to the 150 by 20 km (93 by 12 mi) landing ellipse of the landing systems used by the Mars Exploration Rovers.[97]

For this, the MSL will employ a combination of several systems in a precise order, where the entry, descent and landing sequence will break down into four parts.[98][99]

  1. Guided entry: The rover is folded up within an aeroshell which protects it during the travel through space and during the atmospheric entry at Mars. Atmospheric entry is accomplished using a Phenolic Impregnated Carbon Ablator (PICA) heat shield. The 4.5 m (15 ft) diameter heat shield, which will be the largest heat shield ever flown in space,[100] reduces the velocity of the spacecraft by ablation against the Martian atmosphere, from the interplanetary transit velocity of 5.3 to 6 km/s (3.3 to 3.7 mi/s) down to approximately Mach-2, where parachute deployment is possible. Much of the reduction of the landing precision error is accomplished by an entry guidance algorithm, similar to that used by the astronauts returning to Earth in the Apollo space program. This guidance uses the lifting force experienced by the aeroshell to "fly out" any detected error in range and thereby arrive at the targeted landing site. In order for the aeroshell to have lift, its center of mass is offset from the axial centerline which results in an off-center trim angle in atmospheric flight, again similar to the Apollo Command Module. This is accomplished by a series of ejectable ballast masses. The lift vector is controlled by four sets of two Reaction Control System (RCS) thrusters that produce approximately 500 N of thrust per pair. This ability to change the pointing of the direction of lift allows the spacecraft to react to the ambient environment, and steer toward the landing zone. Prior to parachute deployment the entry vehicle must first eject the ballast mass such that the center of gravity offset is removed. Parachute will deploy at about 10 km (6.2 mi) altitude at about 470 m/s (1,500 ft/s).[97]
  2. Parachute descent: When the entry phase is complete and the capsule has slowed to Mach 2 and at about 10 km altitude, the heat shield will separate and fall away. The Mars Science Laboratory will then deploy a supersonic parachute,[97] as was done by previous landers such as Viking, Mars Pathfinder and the Mars Exploration Rovers. In March and April 2009, the parachute for the MSL was tested in the world's largest wind tunnel and passed flight-qualification testing.[101] The parachute has 80 suspension lines, is over 165 feet (50 meters) long, and is about 51 feet (16 meters) in diameter.[101] The parachute is capable of being deployed at Mach 2.2 and can generate up to 289 kN (65,000 pounds) of drag force in the Martian atmosphere.[101] A camera on the bottom of the rover will acquire about 5 frames per second (with resolution of 1600×1200 pixels) below 3.7 km during a period of about 2 minutes until the rover software confirms successful landing.[102]
  3. Powered descent: Following the parachute braking, at about 1.8 km altitude, still travelling at about 100 m/s, the rover and descent stage drop out of the aeroshell.[97] The descent stage is a platform above the rover with 8 variable thrust mono propellant hydrazine rocket thrusters on arms extending around this platform to slow the descent. Each rocket thruster, called a Mars Lander Engine (MLE),[103] produces 400 N (90 pounds) to 3100 N (700 pounds) of thrust and were derived from those used on the Viking landers.[104] Meanwhile, the rover will transform from its stowed flight configuration to a landing configuration while being lowered beneath the descent stage by the "sky crane" system.
  4. Sky crane: The sky crane system will lower the rover to a soft landing –wheels down– on the surface of Mars.[97] This consists of 3 bridles lowering the rover and an umbilical cable carrying electrical signals between the descent stage and rover. At roughly 7.5 m (25 ft) below the descent stage the sky crane system slows to a halt and the rover touches down. After the rover touches down it waits 2 seconds to confirm that it is on solid ground and fires several pyros (small explosive devices) activating cable cutters on the bridle and umbilical cords to free itself from the descent stage. The descent stage promptly flies away to a crash landing, and the rover gets ready to roam Mars. The planned sky crane powered descent landing system has never been used in actual missions before.[105]

Landing site

Selection criteria

An essential issue when selecting an optimum landing site is to identify a particular geologic environment, or set of environments, that would support microbial life. To mitigate the risk of disappointment and ensure the greatest chance for science success, interest is placed at the greatest number of possible science objectives at a chosen landing site. Thus, a landing site with morphologic and mineralogic evidence for past water, is better than a site with just one of these criteria. Furthermore, a site with spectra indicating multiple hydrated minerals is preferred; clay minerals and sulfate salts would constitute a rich site. Hematite, other iron oxides, sulfate minerals, silicate minerals, silica, and possibly chloride minerals have all been suggested as possible substrates for fossil preservation. Indeed, all are known to facilitate the preservation of fossil morphologies and molecules on Earth.[106] Difficult terrain is the best candidate for finding evidence of livable conditions, and engineers must be sure the rover can safely reach the site and drive within it.[107]

Engineering constraints called for a landing site less than 45° from the Martian equator, and less than 1 km above the reference datum.[108] At the first MSL Landing Site workshop, 33 potential landing sites were identified.[109] By the second workshop in late 2007, the list had grown to include almost 50 sites,[110] and by the end of the workshop, the list was reduced to six;[111][112][113] in November 2008, project leaders at a third workshop reduced the list to these four landing sites:[114][115][116][117]

Name Location Elevation Notes
Eberswalde Crater Delta −1,450 metres (−4,757.2 ft) Ancient river delta.[118]
Holden Crater Fan −1,940 metres (−6,364.8 ft) Dry lake bed.[119]
Gale Crater −4,451 metres (−2.7657 mi) Features 5 km (3.1 mile) tall mountain
of layered material near center.[120] Selected.[10]
Mawrth Vallis Site 2 −2,246 metres (−7,368.8 ft) Channel carved by catastrophic floods.[121]

A fourth landing site workshop was held in late September 2010,[122] and the fifth and final workshop May 16–18, 2011.[123]

On July 22, 2011, it was announced that Gale Crater had been selected as the landing site of the Mars Science Laboratory mission.[2][8][9][10]

Location and characteristics

Based on rankings of the proposed sites by investigators working on the project, the Gale Crater was selected by NASA administrators as the landing site.[8][9][10] Within Gale Crater is a mountain of layered rocks, rising about 5 km (3.1 mi) above the crater floor, that Curiosity will investigate. The landing site (marked by the yellow ellipse in the image) is a smooth region inside the crater in front of the mountain. The landing site is elliptical, 20 by 25 km (12 by 16 mi). Gale Crater diameter is 154 km (96 mi).

The landing site contains material washed down from the wall of the crater, which will provide scientists with the opportunity to investigate the rocks that form the bedrock in this area. The landing ellipse also contains a rock type that is very dense and very bright colored; it is unlike any rock type previously investigated on Mars. It may be an ancient playa lake deposit, and it will likely be the mission's first target in checking for the presence of organic molecules.[124]

However, the area of top scientific interest for Curiosity lies at the base of the mound, just at the edge of the landing ellipse and beyond a dark dune field. Here, orbiting instruments have detected signatures of both clay minerals and sulfate salts.[125] Scientists studying Mars have several hypotheses about how these minerals reflect changes in the Martian environment, particularly changes in the amount of water on the surface of Mars. The rover will use its full instrument suite to study these minerals and how they formed. These rocks are also a prime target in checking for organic molecules, since these environments may have been able to support microbial life.

Two canyons were cut in the mound through the layers containing clay minerals and sulfate salts after deposition of the layers. These canyons expose layers of rock representing tens or hundreds of millions of years of environmental change. Curiosity may be able to investigate these layers in the canyon closest to the landing ellipse, gaining access to a long history of environmental change on the planet. The canyons also contain sediment that was transported by the water that cut the canyons;[126] this sediment interacted with the water, and the environment at that time may have been habitable. Thus, the rocks deposited at the mouth of the canyon closest to the landing ellipse form the third target in the search for organic molecules.

See also

Mars portal
Spaceflight portal
Robotics portal

References

  1. ^ a b NASA – Mars Science Laboratory, the Next Mars Rover
  2. ^ a b c d Guy Webster. "Geometry Drives Selection Date for 2011 Mars Launch". NASA/JPL-Caltech. http://www.jpl.nasa.gov/news/news.cfm?release=2010-171. Retrieved September 22, 2011. 
  3. ^ a b Allard Beutel (November 19, 2011). "NASA's Mars Science Laboratory Launch Rescheduled for Nov. 26". NASA. http://mars.jpl.nasa.gov/news/whatsnew/index.cfm?FuseAction=ShowNews&NewsID=1185. Retrieved November 21, 2011. 
  4. ^ a b Martin, Paul K.. "NASA’S MANAGEMENT OF THE MARS SCIENCE LABORATORY PROJECT (IG-11-019)". NASA OFFICE OF INSPECTOR GENERAL. http://oig.nasa.gov/audits/reports/FY11/IG-11-019.pdf. 
  5. ^ Rover Fast Facts
  6. ^ a b MSL Update (accessed December 8 2011)
  7. ^ MSL Science Corner: Landing Site Selection
  8. ^ a b c d Webster, Guy; Brown, Dwayne (July 22, 2011). "NASA's Next Mars Rover To Land At Gale Crater". NASA JPL. http://www.jpl.nasa.gov/news/news.cfm?release=2011-222#1. Retrieved 2011-07-22. 
  9. ^ a b c d Chow, Dennis (July 22, 2011). "NASA's Next Mars Rover to Land at Huge Gale Crater". Space.com. http://www.space.com/12394-nasa-mars-rover-landing-site-unveiled.html. Retrieved 2011-07-22. 
  10. ^ a b c d e f Amos, Jonathan (July 22, 2011). "Mars rover aims for deep crater". BBC News. http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-14249524. Retrieved 2011-07-22. 
  11. ^ a b c "Name NASA's Next Mars Rover". NASA/JPL. May 27, 2009. http://marsrovername.jpl.nasa.gov/. Retrieved 2009-05-27. 
  12. ^ a b "NASA Selects Student's Entry as New Mars Rover Name". NASA/JPL. May 27, 2009. http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/msl/msl-20090527.html. Retrieved 2009-05-27. 
  13. ^ a b "Mars Science Laboratory: Mission". NASA/JPL. http://marsprogram.jpl.nasa.gov/msl/mission/. Retrieved 2010-03-12. 
  14. ^ a b c d e Watson, Traci (April 14, 2008). "Troubles parallel ambitions in NASA Mars project". USA Today. http://www.usatoday.com/tech/science/space/2008-04-13-mars_N.htm. Retrieved 2009-05-27. 
  15. ^ "Doug McCuistion". NASA. http://sse.jpl.nasa.gov/people/profile.cfm?Code=McCuistionD. Retrieved 2011-12-16. 
  16. ^ Leone, Dan (July 8, 2011). "Mars Science Lab Needs $44M More To Fly, NASA Audit Finds". Space News International. http://www.spacenews.com/civil/110608-msl-needs-more-nasa-audit.html. Retrieved 2011-11-26. 
  17. ^ "Overview". JPL. NASA. http://mars.jpl.nasa.gov/msl/mission/overview/. Retrieved 2011-11-27. 
  18. ^ Mars Science Laboratory Mission Profile
  19. ^ Frank Morring; Jefferson Morris (October 3, 2008). "Mars Science Lab In Doubt". Aviation Week. http://www.aviationweek.com/aw/generic/story.jsp?id=news/Balloon100308.xml&headline=Mars%20Science%20Lab%20In%20Doubt&channel=space. Retrieved 2009-05-27. 
  20. ^ Mars Science Laboratory: Still Alive, For Now. October 10, 2008. Universe Today.
  21. ^ MSL Technical and Replan Status. Richard Cook. (January 9, 2009)
  22. ^ "Next NASA Mars Mission Rescheduled For 2011". NASA/JPL. December 4, 2008. http://marsprogram.jpl.nasa.gov/msl/newsroom/pressreleases/20081204a.html. Retrieved 2008-12-04. 
  23. ^ "Mars Science Laboratory: the budgetary reasons behind its delay". The Space Review. March 2, 2009. http://www.thespacereview.com/article/1318/1. Retrieved 2010-01-26. 
  24. ^ "Mars Science Laboratory: the technical reasons behind its delay". The Space Review. March 2, 2009. http://www.thespacereview.com/article/1319/1. Retrieved 2010-01-26. 
  25. ^ "NASA Invites Students to Name New Mars Rover". NASA/JPL. November 18, 2008. http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/mars/news/msl-20081118.html. Retrieved 2009-05-27. 
  26. ^ NASA – Curiosity
  27. ^ Amos, Jonathan (October 11, 2008). "Nasa committed to Mars rover plan". BBC News. http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/sci/tech/7664965.stm. Retrieved 2010-05-12. 
  28. ^ Mars Rovers: Pathfinder, MER (Spirit and Opportunity), and MSL (video). Pasadena, California. April 12, 2008. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D7kBTZAGhbs. Retrieved September 22, 2011. 
  29. ^ MER Launch Press Kit
  30. ^ "Mars Science Laboratory — Homepage". NASA. http://marsprogram.jpl.nasa.gov/msl/overview/. Retrieved September 22, 2011. 
  31. ^ a b c "Multi-Mission Radioisotope Thermoelectric Generator". NASA/JPL. January 1, 2008. http://www.ne.doe.gov/pdfFiles/MMRTG_Jan2008.pdf. Retrieved 2009-09-07. 
  32. ^ a b c "Mars Exploration: Radioisotope Power and Heating for Mars Surface Exploration". NASA/JPL. April 18, 2006. http://www.jpl.nasa.gov/news/fact_sheets/mars-power-heating.pdf. Retrieved 2009-09-07. 
  33. ^ "Mars Science Laboratory Launch Nuclear Safety". NASA/JPL/DoE. March 2, 2011. http://www.nasa.gov/pdf/604332main_APP%20MSL%20Launch%20Nuclear%20Safety%20FS%203-2-11.pdf. Retrieved 2011-11-28. 
  34. ^ a b "Technologies of Broad Benefit: Power". Archived from the original on June 14, 2008. http://web.archive.org/web/20080614071650/http://marsprogram.jpl.nasa.gov/msl/technology/tech_power.html. Retrieved 2008-09-20. 
  35. ^ "Mars Science Laboratory – Technologies of Broad Benefit: Power". NASA/JPL. http://mars.jpl.nasa.gov/msl/mission/technology/technologiesofbroadbenefit/power/. Retrieved April 23, 2011. 
  36. ^ Ajay K. Misra (June 26, 2006). "Overview of NASA Program on Development of Radioisotope Power Systems with High Specific Power". NASA/JPL. http://pdf.aiaa.org/preview/CDReadyMIECEC06_1309/PV2006_4187.pdf. Retrieved 2009-05-12. 
  37. ^ a b Susan Watanabe (August 9, 2009). "Keeping it Cool (...or Warm!)". NASA/JPL. http://www1.nasa.gov/mission_pages/mars/images/20081209_msl.html. Retrieved January 19, 2011. 
  38. ^ "Mars Science Laboratory Mission Page – Rover "Brains"". Jet Propulsion Laboratory. http://marsprogram.jpl.nasa.gov/msl/mission/rover/brains/. 
  39. ^ a b c d e "Mars Science Laboratory: Mission: Rover: Brains". NASA/JPL. http://marsprogram.jpl.nasa.gov/msl/mission/rover/brains/. Retrieved 2009-03-27. 
  40. ^ Bajracharya, Max; Mark W. Maimone; Daniel Helmick (December 2008). "Autonomy for Mars rovers: past, present, and future". Computer 41 (12): 45. doi:10.1109/MC.2008.9. ISSN 0018-9162. 
  41. ^ "BAE Systems Computers to Manage Data Processing and Command For Upcoming Satellite Missions" (Press release). BAE Systems. June 17, 2008. http://www.baesystems.com/Newsroom/NewsReleases/autoGen_108517143749.html. Retrieved 2008-11-17. 
  42. ^ "E&ISNow — Media gets closer look at Manassas". BAE Systems. August 1, 2008. http://www.baesystems.com/BAEProd/groups/public/documents/bae_publication/bae_pdf_eis_2008-08-1.pdf. Retrieved 2008-11-17. 
  43. ^ "RAD750 radiation-hardened PowerPC microprocessor" (PDF). BAE Systems. July 1, 2008. http://www.baesystems.com/BAEProd/groups/public/@businesses/@eandis/documents/bae_publication/bae_pdf_eis_rad750_pwr_pc_mp.pdf. Retrieved 2009-09-07. 
  44. ^ "RAD6000 Space Computers" (PDF). BAE Systems. June 23, 2008. http://www.baesystems.com/BAEProd/groups/public/documents/bae_publication/bae_pdf_eis_sfrwre.pdf. Retrieved 2009-09-07. 
  45. ^ Andre Makovsky, Peter Ilott, Jim Taylor (2009). "Mars Science Laboratory Telecommunications System Design". JPL. http://descanso.jpl.nasa.gov/DPSummary/Descanso14_MSL_Telecom.pdf. 
  46. ^ Mars Earth distance in light minutes, Wolfram Alpha
  47. ^ "Next Mars Rover Sports a Set of New Wheels". NASA/JPL. http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/msl/msl20100701.html. 
  48. ^ "New Mars Rover to Feature Morse Code". National Association for Amateur Radio. http://www.arrl.org/news/new-mars-rover-to-feature-morse-code. 
  49. ^ Malin, M. C.; Bell, J. F.; Cameron, J.; Dietrich, W. E.; Edgett, K. S.; Hallet, B.; Herkenhoff, K. E.; Lemmon, M. T. et al. (2005). "The Mast Cameras and Mars Descent Imager (MARDI) for the 2009 Mars Science Laboratory". 36th Annual Lunar and Planetary Science Conference 36: 1214. Bibcode 2005LPI....36.1214M. http://www.lpi.usra.edu/meetings/lpsc2005/pdf/1214.pdf. 
  50. ^ a b c d e f g "Mast Camera (Mastcam)". NASA/JPL. http://msl-scicorner.jpl.nasa.gov/Instruments/Mastcam/. Retrieved 2009-03-18. 
  51. ^ a b c d e f g "Mars Hand Lens Imager (MAHLI)". NASA/JPL. http://msl-scicorner.jpl.nasa.gov/Instruments/MAHLI/. Retrieved 2009-03-23. 
  52. ^ a b c d e "Mars Descent Imager (MARDI)". NASA/JPL. http://msl-scicorner.jpl.nasa.gov/Instruments/MARDI/. Retrieved 2009-04-03. 
  53. ^ a b c "Mars Science Laboratory (MSL): Mast Camera (Mastcam): Instrument Description". Malin Space Science Systems. http://www.msss.com/msl/mastcam/MastCam_description.html. Retrieved 2009-04-19. 
  54. ^ "Mars Science Laboratory Instrumentation Announcement from Alan Stern and Jim Green, NASA Headquarters". SpaceRef Interactive. http://www.marstoday.com/news/viewsr.html?pid=25991. 
  55. ^ States12642386 United States 12642386 
  56. ^ States12409316 United States 12409316 
  57. ^ StatesUS12264876 United States US12264876 
  58. ^ McCarthy, Erin (August 30, 2010). "James Cameron Designs 3D Camera for Mars Rover". Popular Mechanics. http://www.popularmechanics.com/science/space/moon-mars/james-cameron-designs-3d-camera-for-mars-rover-2062150. 
  59. ^ David, Leonard (March 28, 2011). "NASA Nixes 3-D Camera for Next Mars Rover". Space.com. http://www.space.com/11241-nasa-mars-rover-3d-camera-james-cameron.html. 
  60. ^ "Mars Science Laboratory (MSL) Mast Camera (Mastcam)". http://www.msss.com/all_projects/msl-mastcam.php. 
  61. ^ http://msl-scicorner.jpl.nasa.gov/Instruments/MAHLI/
  62. ^ "Mars Descent Imager (MARDI) Update". Malin Space Science Systems. November 12, 2007. http://www.msss.com/msl/mardi/news/12Nov07/index.html. 
  63. ^ Malin Space Science Systems – Junocam, Juno Jupiter Orbiter
  64. ^ a b c d e f g "MSL Science Corner: Chemistry & Camera (ChemCam)". NASA/JPL. http://msl-scicorner.jpl.nasa.gov/Instruments/ChemCam/. Retrieved 2009-09-09. 
  65. ^ Spacecraft: Surface Operations Configuration: Science Instruments: ChemCam
  66. ^ Salle B., Lacour J. L., Mauchien P., Fichet P., Maurice S., Manhes G. (2006). "Comparative study of different methodologies for quantitative rock analysis by Laser-Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy in a simulated Martian atmosphere" (PDF). Spectrochimica Acta Part B-Atomic Spectroscopy 61 (3): 301–313. Bibcode 2006AcSpe..61..301S. doi:10.1016/j.sab.2006.02.003. http://www.lpi.usra.edu/meetings/lpsc2005/pdf/1580.pdf. 
  67. ^ CESR presentation on the LIBS
  68. ^ ChemCam fact sheet
  69. ^ Wiens R.C., Maurice S. (2008). "Corrections and Clarifications, News of the Week". Science 322 (5907): 1466. doi:10.1126/science.322.5907.1466a. PMID 19056960. http://www.sciencemag.org. 
  70. ^ Wiens R.C., Maurice S. (2008). "ChemCam's Cost a Drop in the Mars Bucket". Science 322 (5907): 1464. doi:10.1126/science.322.5907.1464a. PMID 19056957. http://www.sciencemag.org. 
  71. ^ ChemCam Status April, 2008
  72. ^ a b c "MSL Science Corner: Alpha Particle X-ray Spectrometer (APXS)". NASA/JPL. http://msl-scicorner.jpl.nasa.gov/Instruments/APXS/. Retrieved 2009-09-09. 
  73. ^ R. Rieder, R. Gellert, J. Brückner, G. Klingelhöfer, G. Dreibus, A. Yen, S. W. Squyres (2003). "The new Athena alpha particle X-ray spectrometer for the Mars Exploration Rovers". J. Geophysical Research 108: 8066. Bibcode 2003JGRE..108.8066R. doi:10.1029/2003JE002150. 
  74. ^ a b c "MSL Chemistry & Mineralogy X-ray diffraction(CheMin)". NASA/JPL. http://mars.jpl.nasa.gov/msl/mission/instruments/spectrometers/chemin/. Retrieved 2011-11-25. 
  75. ^ Sarrazin P., Blake D., Feldman S., Chipera S., Vaniman D., Bish D. (2005). "Field deployment of a portable X-ray diffraction/X-ray fluorescence instrument on Mars analog terrain". Powder Diffraction 20 (2): 128–133. Bibcode 2005PDiff..20..128S. doi:10.1154/1.1913719. 
  76. ^ a b c d e f g "MSL Science Corner: Sample Analysis at Mars (SAM)". NASA/JPL. http://msl-scicorner.jpl.nasa.gov/Instruments/SAM/. Retrieved 2009-09-09. 
  77. ^ Overview of the SAM instrument suite
  78. ^ Cabane M., Coll P., Szopa C., Israel G., Raulin F., Sternberg R., Mahaffy P., Person A., Rodier C., Navarro-Gonzalez R., Niemann H., Harpold D., Brinckerhoff W. (2004). "Did life exist on Mars? Search for organic and inorganic signatures, one of the goals for "SAM" (sample analysis at Mars)". Source: Mercury, Mars and Saturn Advances in Space Research 33 (12): 2240–2245. 
  79. ^ a b "Sample Analysis at Mars (SAM) Instrument Suite". NASA. October 2008. http://ael.gsfc.nasa.gov/marsSAM.shtml. Retrieved 2008-10-09. 
  80. ^ Tenenbaum, David (June 9, 2008). "Making Sense of Mars Methane". Astrobiology Magazine. http://www.astrobio.net/news/modules.php?op=modload&name=News&file=article&sid=2765&mode=thread&order=0&thold=0. Retrieved 2008-10-08. 
  81. ^ Tarsitano, C.G. and Webster, C.R. (2007). "Multilaser Herriott cell for planetary tunable laser spectrometers". Applied Optics 46 (28): 6923–6935. Bibcode 2007ApOpt..46.6923T. doi:10.1364/AO.46.006923. PMID 17906720. 
  82. ^ Tom Kennedy; Erik Mumm; Tom Myrick; Seth Frader-Thompson. "Optimization of a mars sample manipulation system through concentrated functionality" (PDF). http://pdf.aiaa.org/preview/CDReadyMSPACE06_1393/PV2006_7402.pdf. 
  83. ^ a b "SwRI Radiation Assessment Detector (RAD) Homepage". Southwest Research Institute. http://www.boulder.swri.edu/~hassler/rad/. Retrieved 2011-01-19. 
  84. ^ "MSL Science Corner: Dynamic Albedo of Neutrons (DAN)". NASA/JPL. http://msl-scicorner.jpl.nasa.gov/Instruments/DAN/. Retrieved 2009-09-09. 
  85. ^ Litvak, M.L.; Mitrofanov, I.G.; Barmakov, Yu.N.; Behar, A.; Bitulev, A.; Bobrovnitsky, Yu.; Bogolubov, E.P.; Boynton, W.V. et al. (2008). "The Dynamic Albedo of Neutrons (DAN) Experiment for NASA's 2009 Mars Science Laboratory". Astrobiology 8 (3): 605–12. doi:10.1089/ast.2007.0157. PMID 18598140. 
  86. ^ a b "MSL Science Corner: Rover Environmental Monitoring Station (REMS)". NASA/JPL. http://msl-scicorner.jpl.nasa.gov/Instruments/REMS/. Retrieved 2009-09-09. 
  87. ^ "Mars Science Laboratory Fact Sheet". NASA/JPL. http://mars.jpl.nasa.gov/msl/news/pdfs/MSL_Fact_Sheet-20100916.pdf. Retrieved 2011-06-20. 
  88. ^ a b c d Michael Wright (May 1, 2007). "Science Overview System Design Review (SDR)". NASA/JPL. http://www.mrc.uidaho.edu/~atkinson/SeniorDesign/ThermEx/MEDLI/MEDLI_SDR_Project_Overview.pdf. Retrieved 2009-09-09. 
  89. ^ a b c d Michael Wright (May 1, 2007). "Science Overview System Design Review (SDR)". NASA/JPL. http://www.mrc.uidaho.edu/~atkinson/SeniorDesign/ThermEx/MEDLI/MEDLI_SDR_Science_Overview.pdf. Retrieved 2009-09-09. 
  90. ^ a b c d e "Mars Science Laboratory: Mission: Rover: Eyes and Other Senses: Four Engineering Hazcams (Hazard Avoidance Cameras)". NASA/JPL. http://marsprogram.jpl.nasa.gov/msl/mission/rover/eyesandother/. Retrieved 2009-04-04. 
  91. ^ a b "Mars Science Laboratory Rover in the JPL Mars Yard". NASA/JPL. http://marsprogram.jpl.nasa.gov/msl/multimedia/interactives/photosynth/. Retrieved 2009-05-10. 
  92. ^ a b c "Mars Science Laboratory: Mission: Rover: Eyes and Other Senses: Two Engineering Navcams (Navigation Cameras)". NASA/JPL. http://marsprogram.jpl.nasa.gov/msl/mission/rover/eyesandother/. Retrieved 2009-04-04. 
  93. ^ "Mars Science Laboratory: Mission: Launch Vehicle". NASA/JPL. http://marsprogram.jpl.nasa.gov/msl/mission/launchvehicle/. Retrieved 2009-04-01. 
  94. ^ Assembling Curiosity’s Rocket to Mars
  95. ^ Sutton, Jane (November 3, 2011). "NASA's new Mars rover reaches Florida launch pad". Reuters. http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/11/03/us-space-mars-idUSTRE7A26VA20111103. 
  96. ^ a b "The Mars Landing Approach: Getting Large Payloads to the Surface of the Red Planet". Universe Today. http://www.universetoday.com/2007/07/17/the-mars-landing-approach-getting-large-payloads-to-the-surface-of-the-red-planet/. Retrieved 2008-10-21. 
  97. ^ a b c d e "Final Minutes of Curiosity's Arrival at Mars". NASA/JPL. http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/msl/multimedia/gallery/pia13282.html. Retrieved 2011-04-08. 
  98. ^ "Mission Timeline: Entry, Descent, and Landing". NASA and JPL. Archived from the original on June 19, 2008. http://web.archive.org/web/20080619055613/http://marsprogram.jpl.nasa.gov/msl/mission/tl_edl.html. Retrieved 2008-10-07. 
  99. ^ "Mars Science Laboratory Entry, Descent, and Landing Triggers". IEEE. http://ieeexplore.ieee.org/stamp/stamp.jsp?arnumber=04161341. Retrieved 2008-10-21. 
  100. ^ NASA, Large Heat Shield for Mars Science Laboratory, July 10, 2009 (accessed Mar 26, 2010)
  101. ^ a b c "Mars Science Laboratory Parachute Qualification Testing". NASA/JPL. http://marsprogram.jpl.nasa.gov/msl/news/index.cfm?FuseAction=ShowNews&NewsID=90. Retrieved 2009-04-15. 
  102. ^ "Mars Descent Imager (MARDI)". NASA/JPL. http://msl-scicorner.jpl.nasa.gov/Instruments/MARDI/. Retrieved 2009-12-02. 
  103. ^ "Mars Science Laboratory: Entry, Descent, and Landing System Performance". NASA. March 2006. p. 7. http://ntrs.nasa.gov/archive/nasa/casi.ntrs.nasa.gov/20090007730_2009006430.pdf. 
  104. ^ "Aerojet Ships Propulsion for Mars Science Laboratory". Aerojet. http://aerojet.com/news2.php?action=fullnews&id=135. Retrieved 2010-12-18. 
  105. ^ Sky crane concept video
  106. ^ "Landing — Discussion Points and Science Criteria" (Microsoft Word). MSL — Landing Sites Workshop. July 15. http://marsoweb.nas.nasa.gov/landingsites/msl2009/memoranda/sites_jul08/Discussion%20Points-Science%20Criteria.doc. 
  107. ^ "Survivor: Mars — Seven Possible MSL Landing Sites". Jet Propulsion Laboratory (NASA). September 18, 2008. http://mars.jpl.nasa.gov/msl/spotlight/20080918.html. Retrieved 2008-10-21. 
  108. ^ "MSL Workshop Summary" (PDF). April 27, 2007. http://marsoweb.nas.nasa.gov/landingsites/msl/workshops/1st_workshop/docs/MSL_workshop_summary.pdf. Retrieved 2007-05-29. 
  109. ^ "MSL Landing Site Selection User’s Guide to Engineering Constraints" (PDF). June 12, 2006. http://marsoweb.nas.nasa.gov/landingsites/msl/memoranda/MSL_Eng_User_Guide_v3.pdf. Retrieved 2007-05-29. 
  110. ^ "Second MSL Landing Site Workshop". http://marsoweb.nas.nasa.gov/landingsites/msl2009/workshops/2nd_workshop/2nd_announcement.html. 
  111. ^ "MSL Workshop Voting Chart" (PDF). September 18, 2008. http://marsoweb.nas.nasa.gov/landingsites/msl2009/workshops/3rd_workshop/talks/MSL_Wkshp3_vote_chart.pdf. 
  112. ^ GuyMac (January 4, 2008). "Reconnaissance of MSL Sites". HiBlog. http://hirise.lpl.arizona.edu/HiBlog/?p=131. Retrieved 2008-10-21. 
  113. ^ "Mars Exploration Science Monthly Newsletter" (PDF). August 1, 2008. http://mepag.jpl.nasa.gov/calendar/MEPAG_Newsletter(08_19C3B3.pdf. 
  114. ^ "Site List Narrows For NASA's Next Mars Landing". MarsToday. November 19, 2008. http://www.marstoday.com/news/viewpr.rss.html?pid=26970. Retrieved 2009-04-21. 
  115. ^ "Current MSL Landing Sites". NASA. http://webgis.wr.usgs.gov/msl/. Retrieved 2010-01-04. 
  116. ^ "Looking at Landing Sites for the Mars Science Laboratory". YouTube. NASA/JPL. May 27, 2009. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sfYK8r6tlrg. Retrieved 2009-05-28. 
  117. ^ "Final 7 Prospective Landing Sites". NASA. February 19, 2009. http://marsoweb.nas.nasa.gov/landingsites/index.html. Retrieved 2009-02-09. 
  118. ^ Mars Science Laboratory: Possible MSL Landing Site: Eberswalde Crater
  119. ^ Mars Science Laboratory: Possible MSL Landing Site: Holden Crater
  120. ^ Mars Science Laboratory: Possible MSL Landing Site: Gale Crater
  121. ^ Mars Science Laboratory: Possible MSL Landing Site: Mawrth Vallis
  122. ^ Presentations for the Fourth MSL Landing Site Workshop September 2010
  123. ^ Second Announcement for the Final MSL Landing Site Workshop and Call for Papers March 2011
  124. ^ "Context of Curiosity Landing Site in Gale Crater". NASA. July 22, 2011. http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/msl/multimedia/gallery/pia14294.html. Retrieved 2011-12-09. 
  125. ^ "Canyons on Mountain Inside Gale Crater". NASA. November 10, 2011. http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/msl/multimedia/pia14295b.html. Retrieved 2011-12-09. 
  126. ^ "Lower Portion of Mound Inside Gale Crater". NASA. July 22, 2011. http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/msl/multimedia/gallery/pia14296.html. Retrieved 2011-12-09. 

Further reading

M. K. Lockwood (2006). "Introduction: Mars Science Laboratory: The Next Generation of Mars Landers And The Following 13 articles" (PDF). Journal of Spacecraft and Rockets 43 (2): 257–257. Bibcode 2006JSpRo..43..257L. doi:10.2514/1.20678. http://pdf.aiaa.org/jaPreview/JSR/2006/PVJA20678.pdf. 

External links

Goal-achieving spacecraft missions to Mars
Flybys

Orbiters
Landers
Rovers
Planned
Proposed
Related
Bold italics indicate active missions
Failed and cancelled Mars missions
Failed at launch
Failed en route
Cancelled
(year cancelled)
Policy and history
Robotic programs
Past
Current
Human spaceflight
programs
Past
Current
Future/planned
Individual
featured missions
(human and robotic)
Past
Currently
operating
Future
Space Comm and Nav (SCaN)
NASA categories
and lists