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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


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


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

Pre-decisional: for Planning and Discussion Purposes Only 3


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


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



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



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


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





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


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



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



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.


15% of Mars’ surface is potentially accessible (latitude, elevation, dust cover restrictions)


Current Candidate Landing Sites


“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

Pre-decisional: for Planning and Discussion Purposes Only 12

Jet Propulsion Laboratory California Institute of Technology Mars 2020 Project


• 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


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