Revisiting MEDLI with Improved Modeling and Simulation Tools

The thermal protection system (TPS) of the Mars 2020 capsule will carry a suite of sensors called MEDLI2 (Mars Entry, Descent, and Landing Instrument 2). This suite consists of pressure sensors/transducers and thermocouple plugs meant to measure atmospheric properties, vehicle attitude, TPS performance, etc. While the suite is similar to that carried on the successful MSL (Mars Science Laboratory) mission in 2012, it now includes pressure sensors, thermocouple plugs, and radiometers on the backshell as well. An analysis plan is therefore necessary to help with the interpretation of flight measurements.