Thermal Performance of the Mars Science Laboratory Rover During Mars Surface Operations

Abstract

On November 26, 2011, NASA launched a large (900 kg) rover as part of the Mars Science Laboratory (MSL) mission to Mars. Eight months later, on August 5, 2012, the MSL rover (Curiosity) successfully touched down on the surface of Mars. As of the writing of this paper, the rover had completed over 200 Sols of Mars surface operations in the Gale Crater landing site (4.5°S latitude). This paper describes the thermal performance of the MSL Rover during the early part of its two Earth-0.year (670 Sols) prime surface mission. Curiosity landed in Gale Crater during early Spring (Ls=151) in the Southern Hemisphere of Mars. This paper discusses the thermal performance of the rover from landing day (Sol 0) through Summer Solstice (Sol 197) and out to Sol 204. The rover surface thermal design performance was very close to pre-landing predictions. The very successful thermal design allowed a high level of operational power dissipation immediately after landing without overheating and required a minimal amount of survival heating. Early morning operations of cameras and actuators were aided by successful heating activities. MSL rover surface operations thermal experiences are discussed in this paper. Conclusions about the rover surface operations thermal performance are also presented.

Progresses on cryo-tribology: lubrication mechanisms, detection methods and applications

“…For example, the bearings in the mobility actuators of the Perseverance Mars rover were initially drylubricated as cold as 138 K without heating. However, the insufficient life of dry lubricated gears has led to the replacement of solid lubrication by grease lubrication and heating control above 203 K [177][178][179][180][181]. In future, deep-space exploration such as the satellites of Titan and Ganymede requires lubrication at cryogenic temperatures down to 73 K, and the best choice should be solid lubrication.…”

Design and verification of the thermal control system for the Zhurong rover

“…探索是文明发展和社会进步的推动力，在人类 探索历程中，太空活动最能直接扩拓展人类认识知 的疆界，极其富有挑战性 [1] 。火星作为地球近邻，已 成为继月球之后人类探索的最大热点。自 1960 年开 始火星探测以来，人类先后开展 47 次火星探测，已 有 6 辆火星车成功着陆火星并开展巡视探测，包括 美国的"索杰纳号"、 "勇气号"、 "机遇号"、 "好 奇号"、"毅力号"及中国的"祝融号"，这些火星 车经受住火面低温、低气压、弱光照及沙尘等火面严 酷环境考验，实现了火面长期生存，并开展了大量 的巡视勘察活动，获取了丰富的科学数据 [2][3] 。其中 "索杰纳号"、"勇气号"及"机遇号"火星车作为 美国第一代火星车，使用太阳电池供电加多个小功 率同位素核热源的联合供热方式实现火星车保温用 能源供给，使用纳米气凝胶隔热材料进行火星大气 环境的热隔离，成功实现了火面环境下的火星车的 热控制 [4][5][6] 。 "好奇号"和"毅力号"火星车作为美国 第二代火星车的代表，则取消了太阳电池阵，使用 同位素核电源实现热电联供，使用泵驱单相流体回 路实现热量收集、利用与排散，使用纳米气凝胶隔热 材料及滞止气体夹层隔热的方式实现大气环境的热 隔离，成功实现了火面环境下火星车的热控制 [7] 。 "祝融号"火星车作为我国第一辆火星车，在国际…”

Thermal analysis of space systems in Martian conditions

“…This analysis was based on the Lumped Parameter Method to support the SEIS TCS design development using the THERMICA package to guarantee the high measurement of the SEIS instrument. As for the Caching Assembly arm of the Perseverance rover [24], which is used for the collection of regolith (sample return), the thermal analysis was oriented to the thermal design of the instrument, which uses temperature sensors to maintain the instrument temperature with the limit range temperature during its operations. In addition, the analysis included thermal performance predictions for Martian surface operation.…”