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

Abstract

the Curiosity rover successfully touched down on the Martian surface setting off the most ambitious surface exploration of this planetary body. Preceding this significant step were years of design, development, and testing of the Curiosity Entry, Descent, and Landing system to prepare for the most complex landing endeavor ever attempted at Mars. To address the numerous challenges, the approach and implementation of the overall Entry, Descent, and Landing verification and validation program relied on its decomposition into three distinct domains: flight dynamics, flight system and subsystem verification and validation. The test and analysis scope, the venues, and the processes utilized were tailored to each of these domains, and are discussed in greater detail. The overall lessons learned and conclusions described herein can serve as a pathfinder for the Entry, Descent, and Landing system testing approach and implementation of future Mars landed missions.

A 6DOF mathematical model of parachute in Mars EDL

“…Up to now, all Mars landers have been targeted to landing on the Martian surface successfully, which included Mars Viking, Mars Pathfinder (MPF), Mars Exploration Rover (MER), Phoenix and Curiosity [1]. Before the Curiosity landed successfully, all rovers only depended on the accuracy of the approach navigation during atmospheric entry, resulting in large dispersion ellipses with major axis lengths on the order of 100km interest in recent years.…”

Consider unobservable uncertain parameters using radio beacon navigation during Mars entry

“…Many new technologies, such as a lifting-guided entry during a hypersonic entry phase, high-precision EDL navigation technology, and an innovative Sky Crane maneuver during the descent stage, were used to ensure that the Curiosity rover landed at a high scientific value preselected site (Kornfeld et al, 2014;. Future Mars exploration missions may require pinpoint landing technology to land on a higher scientific value landing site.…”

“…The Mars Science Laboratory (MSL) mission rover named "Curiosity" successfully landed on Mars at a position approximately 2 km from it's intended target inside the Gale Crater, on 5 August 2012 (Mendeck and McGrew, 2013;Kornfeld et al, 2014). Many new technologies, such as a lifting-guided entry during a hypersonic entry phase, high-precision EDL navigation technology, and an innovative Sky Crane maneuver during the descent stage, were used to ensure that the Curiosity rover landed at a high scientific value preselected site (Kornfeld et al, 2014;.…”

Mission Profile and Design Challenges for Mars Landing Exploration

“…The thruster valve assembly is qualified separately and underwent functional tests between environmental testing. In addition to the development program, the model is constructed in the flight dynamic simulations to support the system test (Kornfeld et al, 2014).…”

“…The UHF and X-band functional and compatibility tests ensure that the communication system works and communicates properly with the orbiter and the ground station, respectively (Kornfeld et al, 2014).…”