Mars 2020 Surface Mission Performance Modeling: Part 3. Mission Performance Modeling Approach and Results

We have developed a comprehensive model of the Mars 2020 rover surface mission used
to identify and evaluate mission productivity and operability challenges and opportunities.
The surface mission performance model combines many aspects of rover design, operations
approach, system behaviors, and mission constraints into an integrated model of surface
mission performance. The surface mission model applies monte-carlo methodologies in order
to investigate the key sources of mission performance variability and their effects with
respect to overall mission performance. Our modeling efforts aims to investigate and inform
engineering design and development efforts, as well as the landing site selection process led
by the Mars science community. We believe that an integrated mission performance model
such as this is important to aligning engineering and science efforts across the project.