Mars Sample Return Architecture Development
Abstract
The most recent planetary science decadal survey places high scientific priority on the eventual return of samples from Mars, for investigation in terrestrial laboratories, enabling a breadth and depth of scientific analysis far beyond what can be achieved with in situ investigations, and allowing possible breakthrough discoveries regarding the geological, climatological, and astrobiological history of the planet. The Mars 2020 mission will take an important first step towards this goal, acquiring and caching a scientifically selected set of samples for potential return to Earth. NASA and ESA are currently exploring options for follow-on missions that could complete the return of these samples to Earth. A Sample Retrieval Lander mission would deliver a landed platform to the same landing site as Mars 2020, carrying a Sample Fetch Rover (SFR) and a Mars Ascent Vehicle (MAV). The SFR would retrieve the Mars 2020 samples and transfer them to an Orbiting Sample (OS) canister, which would be placed in the MAV for launch into low Mars orbit. There, a second mission, the Earth Return Orbiter, would rendezvous with the OS, with a payload to capture, orient, and robustly contain the OS, transferring it to an Earth Entry Vehicle (EEV). After a return flight from Mars to Earth, the Earth Return Orbiter would release the EEV on a trajectory for landing at a selected Earth site.This pair of mission concepts presents a rich architectural design trade space, with key interfaces between missions, demanding a rigorous, campaign-level systems engineering approach. We provide an overview of the current baseline MSR architecture, highlighting these cross-project interfaces, key design trades, and enabling technology developments.(The information provided about possible Mars sample return architectures is for planning and discussion purposes only. NASA has made no official decision to implement Mars sample return.)
- Publication:
-
42nd COSPAR Scientific Assembly
- Pub Date:
- July 2018
- Bibcode:
- 2018cosp...42E.950E