Jet Propulsion Laboratory California Institute of Technology MARS 2020 Project
Mars 2020 Mission
Ken Farley1, Mitch Schulte2
1. Project Scientist, Caltech; 2. Program Scientist, NASA Headquarters
1 Pre-decisional: for Planning and Discussion Purposes Only Farley, 8th Mars Conference
Jet Propulsion Laboratory California Institute of Technology MARS 2020 Project
Mars 2020 Mission Objectives 1. Geologic History Carry out an integrated set of context, contact, and spatially-coordinated measurements to characterize the geology of the landing site 2. In Situ Astrobiology Find and characterize ancient habitable environments, identify rocks with the highest chance of preserving signs of ancient Martian life if it were present, and within those environments, seek the signs of life 3. Preparation for Returned Sample Science Place rigorously documented and selected samples in a returnable sample cache for possible future return to Earth
2 Pre-decisional: for Planning and Discussion Purposes Only Farley, 8th Mars Conference
Farley, 8th Mars Conference
Process for Detecting Past Martian Life
POTENTIAL FOR BIOSIGNATURE PRESERVATION
EXISTENCE OF POTENTIAL
BIOSIGNATURE
PRE-CONDITIONS THAT MUST HAVE BEEN MET
Past conditions suitable for the existence of life at the site.
Past conditions suitable for the preservation of past life in the geologic record.
An observable feature that might be evidence of past life.
RECOGNITION OF DEFINITIVE
BIOSIGNATURE
An observable feature that is confirmed to be evidence of past life.
POSSIBLE EVIDENCE OF ANY PAST LIFE
PAST LIFE DETECTED
Proposed Mars 2020 Rover
Labs on Earth
PAST HABITABLE
ENVIRONMENT
To search for potential biosignatures, it is necessary to (a) identify sites that very likely hosted past habitable environments, (b) identify high biosignature preservation potential materials to be analyzed for potential biosignatures, and (c) perform
measurements to identify potential biosignatures or materials that might contain them.
Mars Sample Return
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Jet Propulsion Laboratory California Institute of Technology MARS 2020 Project
Mars 2020 Mission Objectives Additional objectives: A) facilitate future human exploration (e.g., assess natural resources and/or hazards for future human explorers) B) demonstrate additional technologies required for future Mars exploration Key points: - the mission includes in-situ geology and astrobiology exploration using the rover’s instrument payload, and sample caching for possible return - the mission includes involvement of multiple NASA mission directorates
4 Pre-decisional: for Planning and Discussion Purposes Only Farley, 8th Mars Conference
Jet Propulsion Laboratory California Institute of Technology Mars 2020 Project
Mars 2020 Mission Baseline Timeline
LAUNCH • Launch vehicle to be similar class/capability as MSL
• Period: Jul/Aug 2020
CRUISE/APPROACH • 7.5 month cruise
• Arrive Feb 2021
ENTRY, DESCENT & LANDING • MSL EDL system: guided entry and
powered descent/Sky Crane
• 25x20km landing ellipse
• Access to landing sites ±30° latitude, ≤0.5 km elevation
• ~950 kg rover
SURFACE MISSION • Prime mission of one Mars year
• 20 km traverse distance capability
• Seeking signs of past life
• Returnable cache of samples
• Prepare for human exploration of Marsf Mars
5 Pre-decisional: for Planning and Discussion Purposes Only Farley, 8th Mars Conference
Jet Propulsion Laboratory California Institute of Technology MARS 2020 Project
Mast Instrument Set
Cache, drill, arm- mounted instrument set, surface prep tool
Mars 2020 Mission Implementation - “build to print” Curiosity-class rover - new/modified baseline elements: scientific instruments, sampling/caching system, and possibly rover wheels
6 Pre-decisional: for Planning and Discussion Purposes Only
Farley, 8th Mars Conference
Jet Propulsion Laboratory California Institute of Technology MARS 2020 Project
Expected Measurement Capabilities 1. Visual/textural and mineralogical observations at a range of spatial scales from outcrop to sub-mm. 2. Measurement of elemental chemistry of rocks, and detection of reduced carbon. ± others, TBD The mission “works” because scientific observations required to assess geologic history and astrobiology are the same as those required for selecting/documenting samples for a returnable cache from Mars 2020 SDT Report Instrument selection currently in progress by NASA - 58 complete proposals were received - announcement of selection likely soon
7 Pre-decisional: for Planning and Discussion Purposes Only Farley, 8th Mars Conference
Co-registered measurements at multiple scales example from Curiosity
10 cm
The ability to collect compelling samples for potential future return
Site for core
Site for fine-scale measurements
Jet Propulsion Laboratory California Institute of Technology MARS 2020 Project
8 Pre-decisional: for Planning and Discussion Purposes Only
Farley, 8th Mars Conference
Jet Propulsion Laboratory California Institute of Technology MARS 2020 Project
A returnable cache is a container of samples that meets all technical requirements and has sufficient science value to be considered for Earth return
Sampling/Caching Concept of a Returnable Cache
9 Pre-decisional: for Planning and Discussion Purposes Only
1) Rover would drill a core of pencil-like thickness, 5 cm long, directly into a clean tube
2) Tube would be hermetically sealed
3) Sealed tube would be placed in cache
Farley, 8th Mars Conference
Jet Propulsion Laboratory California Institute of Technology MARS 2020 Project
Sampling/Caching Key Scientific Questions about the Cache: 1) How many samples can be documented adequately, drilled, and cached in one Mars
year? (Probable range of 10-30 different specimens of ~15 grams each)
2) What contamination levels are acceptable in the samples - organic molecules - inorganic species - “biological” materials 3) Additional requirements for cached samples - degree of fracture, temperature, vacuum-tight sealing, magnetic fields, radiation, etc
10 Pre-decisional: for Planning and Discussion Purposes Only Farley, 8th Mars Conference
Jet Propulsion Laboratory California Institute of Technology MARS 2020 Project
Landing Site Selection Process 1) Landing site requirements similar to MSL (enhancements are possible) 2) MSL and Mars 2020 have different objectives, so need not have common high priority landing sites 3) Site selection is a multi-year community-based effort; first workshop held in May 2014.
11 Pre-decisional: for Planning and Discussion Purposes Only
15% of Mars’ surface is potentially accessible (latitude, elevation, dust cover restrictions)
Farley, 8th Mars Conference
Current Candidate Landing Sites
Farley, 8th Mars Conference
“Top 5” rating at Workshop 1 “Next” 5 rating at Workshop 1
Lots more work to be done at future workshops!
From 1st Landing Site Workshop
from John Grant and Matt Golombek
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Jet Propulsion Laboratory California Institute of Technology Mars 2020 Project
13 Pre-decisional: for Planning and Discussion Purposes Only
• Mars 2020 Project approved for Phase A in November 2013 and is making outstanding progress to date
• The heritage hardware (representing ~90% of the flight system by mass) is essentially in Phase C/D
• Parts buys and procurements for heritage items with low risk of change are proceeding at a fast pace
• The Phase A funding level allows a work plan that is balanced between 1) continued funding to heritage elements in order to buy down obsolescence risk, and 2) significant funding to the new payload elements and the sampling and caching system
• On track for Systems Requirements/Mission Definition Review October 2014 and Phase B start November/December 2014
Current Mission Status
Farley, 8th Mars Conference