Relay support for the Mars Science Laboratory and the coming decade of Mars relay network evolution

Abstract

In the past decade, an evolving network of Mars relay orbiters has provided telecommunication relay services to the Mars Exploration Rovers, Spirit and Opportunity, and to the Mars Phoenix Lander, enabling high-bandwidth, energy-efficient data transfer and greatly increasing the volume of science data that can be returned from the Martian surface, compared to conventional direct-to-Earth links. The current relay network, consisting of NASA's Odyssey and Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter and augmented by ESA's Mars Express Orbiter, stands ready to support the Mars Science Laboratory, scheduled to arrive at Mars on Aug 6, 2012, with new capabilities enabled by the Electra and Electra-Lite transceivers carried by MRO and MSL, respectively. The MAVEN orbiter, planned for launch in 2013, and the ExoMars/Trace Gas Orbiter, planned for launch in 2016, will replenish the on-orbit relay network as the current orbiter approach their end of life. Currently planned support scenarios for this future relay network include an ESA EDL Demonstrator Module deployed by the 2016 ExoMars/TGO orbiter, and the 2018 NASA/ESA Joint Rover, representing the first step in a multimission Mars Sample Return campaign.

Networked Mars satellite system design and autonomous navigation analysis

“…In [4], a real-time navigation method for Mars aerocapture and pinpoint landing embedded X-ray pulsars is verified. The in-place relay support of current Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter, Mars Odyssey, and Mars Express for the Mars Science Laboratory is illustrated in order to exploit an advantage over the conventional direct-to-Earth links [5]. In these cases, the existing Mars orbiters are acting or will act a significant role in conducting a precise and accurate robotic mission over Mars let alone a manned landing.…”