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2011 Mars Science Laboratory Mission Design OverviewScheduled to launch in the fall of 2011 with arrival at Mars occurring in the summer of 2012, NASA's Mars Science Laboratory will explore and assess whether Mars ever had conditions capable of supporting microbial life. In order to achieve its science objectives, the Mars Science Laboratory will be equipped with the most advanced suite of instruments ever sent to the surface of the Red Planet. Delivering the next mobile science laboratory safely to the surface of Mars has various key challenges derived from a strict set of requirements which include launch vehicle performance, spacecraft mass, communications coverage during Entry, Descent, and Landing, atmosphere-relative entry speeds, latitude accessibility, and dust storm season avoidance among others. The Mars Science Laboratory launch/arrival strategy selected after careful review satisfies all these mission requirements.
Document ID
20100031720
Acquisition Source
Jet Propulsion Laboratory
Document Type
Conference Paper
External Source(s)
Authors
Abilleira, Fernando
(Jet Propulsion Lab., California Inst. of Tech. Pasadena, CA, United States)
Date Acquired
August 25, 2013
Publication Date
March 14, 2010
Subject Category
Space Sciences (General)
Meeting Information
Meeting: Earth and Space 2010 Conference
Location: Honolulu, HI
Country: United States
Start Date: March 14, 2010
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Other
Keywords
Mars
Mars Science (MSL) Laboratory
Mission Design

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