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NASA NTRS · 20150004646

Mars Science Laboratory Propulsive Maneuver Design and Execution

Wong, Mau C.·Kangas, Julie A.·Ballard, Christopher G.·Gustafson, Eric D.·Martin-Mur, Tomas J.
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Abstract

The NASA Mars Science Laboratory (MSL) rover, Curiosity, was launched on November 26, 2011 and successfully landed at the Gale Crater on Mars. For the 8-month interplanetary trajectory from Earth to Mars, five nominal and two contingency trajectory correction maneuvers (TCM) were planned. The goal of these TCMs was to accurately deliver the spacecraft to the desired atmospheric entry aimpoint in Martian atmosphere so as to ensure a high probability of successful landing on the Mars surface. The primary mission requirements on maneuver performance were the total mission propellant usage and the entry flight path angle (EFPA) delivery accuracy. They were comfortably met in this mission. In this paper we will describe the spacecraft propulsion system, TCM constraints and requirements, TCM design processes, and their implementation and verification.

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Wong, Mau C., Kangas, Julie A., Ballard, Christopher G., Gustafson, Eric D., Martin-Mur, Tomas J.. 2012-10-29. Mars Science Laboratory Propulsive Maneuver Design and Execution. https://ntrs.nasa.gov/citations/20150004646

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