Working for the Mars Program: 2009 Mars Science Laboratory (MSL)

2009 Mars Science Laboratory (MSL)

Launch: December, 2009
Arrival: October, 2010

A fascinating project I've been involved with since 2000 is the Mars Science Laboratory mission which will deliver a large science rover to the surface of Mar. MSL was expected to remain active for one Mars year, equal to two Earth years, after landing. This used to be a very ambitious goal but now that both Spirit and Opportunity have survived for quite a lot longer than a single Martian year the team must be wondering: how long could the nuclear-power MSL rover survive? No one really knows, of course, but it's mind-boggling to consider.

Mars Science Laboratory on Mars

The search for evidence of past or present life on Mars will begin with a search for evidence of conditions supportive of life (such as evidence of the activity of water), rather than a search for life itself. The discovery of particular types of rocks and minerals can help scientists determine past or present water activity. Mineralogical analysis also can provide insights into pressure and temperature conditions, past climate, activity of biologically significant gases, even the presence of chemical sources of energy useful for life

The MSL rover will be far more advanced than the current MER rovers because of the large number of highly advanced science instruments MSL will carry. Besides the eight instruments selected by NASA it will also carry DAN, a pulsed neutron source and detector for measuring hydrogen (including water), provided by the Russian Space Agency. In addition MSL will include a meteorological package and an ultraviolet sensor provided by Spain.

MSL's ChemCam laser analysing a large rock.

MSL's SAM and CheMin instruments will be located inside the rover.

MSL Assembly and Testing Phase begins in 2008

I got to see this full-size MSL test rover at the JPL Open House in May, 2007.

The MSL team has started the rover assembly and testing at JPL. As far as I can all of the science instruments are being developed outside of JPL, by teams of the best scientists and engineers in the world. Each instrument team has members at JPL, to ensure the succesful integration and science mission planning. It's an astoundingly complex task to put all this together, so the MSL project has a highly organized, systematic approach. Fortunately the Spirit and Opportunity rover team members are, for the most part, now on the MSL team and they know how to do this kind of long-distance science rover mission from first-hand experience.

New Marsyard Opening at JPL featured MSL "Scarecow"

Click on the images for larger version.

Getting MSL to Mars

MSL will be launched from Florida on an Atlas V rocket like the one in this image. The very large parachute for MSL undergoing tests in the world's largest wind tunnel at NASA Ames Research Center. More info here.