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Thermal Performance of the Mars Science Laboratory Rover During Mars Surface OperationsOn November 26, 2011, NASA launched a large (900 kg) rover as part of the Mars Science Laboratory (MSL) mission to Mars. Eight months later, on August 5, 2012, the MSL rover (Curiosity) successfully touched down on the surface of Mars. As of the writing of this paper, the rover had completed over 200 Sols of Mars surface operations in the Gale Crater landing site (4.5 degrees South latitude). This paper describes the thermal performance of the MSL Rover during the early part of its two Earth-0.year (670 Sols) prime surface mission. Curiosity landed in Gale Crater during early Spring (Solar longitude=151) in the Southern Hemisphere of Mars. This paper discusses the thermal performance of the rover from landing day (Sol 0) through Summer Solstice (Sol 197) and out to Sol 204. The rover surface thermal design performance was very close to pre-landing predictions. The very successful thermal design allowed a high level of operational power dissipation immediately after landing without overheating and required a minimal amount of survival heating. Early morning operations of cameras and actuators were aided by successful heating activities. MSL rover surface operations thermal experiences are discussed in this paper. Conclusions about the rover surface operations thermal performance are also presented.
Document ID
20150007428
Acquisition Source
Jet Propulsion Laboratory
Document Type
Conference Paper
External Source(s)
Authors
Novak, Keith S.
(Jet Propulsion Lab., California Inst. of Tech. Pasadena, CA, United States)
Kempenaar, Joshua E.
(Jet Propulsion Lab., California Inst. of Tech. Pasadena, CA, United States)
Liu, Yuanming
(Jet Propulsion Lab., California Inst. of Tech. Pasadena, CA, United States)
Bhandari, Pradeep
(Jet Propulsion Lab., California Inst. of Tech. Pasadena, CA, United States)
Lee, Chern-Jiin
(Applied Sciences Laboratory, Inc. Baldwin Park, CA, United States)
Date Acquired
May 6, 2015
Publication Date
July 14, 2013
Subject Category
Lunar And Planetary Science And Exploration
Instrumentation And Photography
Ground Support Systems And Facilities (Space)
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Other
Keywords
thermal performance
surface operations
Mars Science Laboratory (MSL)
Mars surface

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