Highlights of the Mars 2020 Environmental Test Program

Abstract

Environmental requirements for Mars 2020 (M2020) were established early in the program (due to inheritance from Mars Science Laboratory [MSL]), and a comprehensive test implementation program was developed as the spacecraft design matured. Several design scope changes happened during development (for example, addition of a helicopter), and the test program expanded accordingly. The environmental test program included hundreds of assembly-level mission-qualifying tests, which fed into the system-level environmental test program. This paper describes the highlights of selected portions of the assembly and system level test program.