Visions into Voyages for Planetary Science in the Decade 2013-2022 A Midterm Review (2018) / Chapter Skim
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5 Mars Exploration Architecture
5 Mars Exploration Architecture
Pages 95-115
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From page 95... ...
This fact maps to the fourth MEPAG goal, preparing for human exploration by providing knowledge of Mars sufficient to design and implement a human mission. Mars exploration advanced rapidly from 1965 to 1976, with a regular cadence of missions including Mariners 4, 6, 7, and 9 and Vikings 1 and 2.
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From page 96... ...
Mars Science Laboratory (MSL) Curiosity, and the Mars Atmosphere and Volatile Evolution Mission (MAVEN)
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From page 97... ...
Instead, it was the Decadal Survey Committee's judgment that the more complete and detailed information possible from analysis of returned samples in terrestrial laboratories warranted making sample return the predominant thrust of Mars exploration.
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From page 98... ...
98 VISIONS INTO VOYAGES FOR PLANETARY SCIENCE IN THE DECADE 2013-2022 FIGURE 5.4 Artist's concept of InSight on the surface of Mars, probing the ground. SOURCE: Courtesy of NASA/JPL-CalTech.
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From page 99... ...
The newly discovered water resources bound in minerals and as shallow segregated ground ice represent a profound overlap in the objectives of scientific investigation of Mars and preparation for future human exploration. PRESENT STATUS OF THE MARS EXPLORATION PROGRAM NASA's MEP is a science-driven, technology-enabled study of Mars as a system meant to understand the following: • The formation and early evolution of Mars as a planet, • The history of geological and climate processes that have shaped Mars through time, • The potential for Mars to have hosted life (its "biological potential")
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From page 100... ...
Mars Exploration Program Missions in Flight and Development The history of MEP missions illustrates the benefits of an organized program and funding line for conducting hypothesis-driven science, where one mission's results inform results of the other missions. For example, Mars FIGURE 5.5 Artist's rendering of Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter.
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From page 101... ...
MARS EXPLORATION ARCHITECTURE 101 FIGURE 5.6 Artist's rendering of Mars Odyssey above Mars. SOURCE: Courtesy of NASA/JPL-CalTech.
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From page 102... ...
MAG mapping of crustal magnetization showed that early Noachian rocks formed in a magnetic field that subsequently shut down. Mars Odyssey orbiter entered orbit in 2001.
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From page 103... ...
There are no current MEP plans for follow-up investigation of these or other findings, either for hypothesis-driven science that has been the hallmark of the MEP, or for assessment of resources for future human exploration. MEPAG has been keenly aware of these shortcomings in future plans, and in 2015 developed a concept for a next Mars orbiter to replenish the Mars telecommunications infrastructure and perform follow-up investigations of new discoveries since Vision and Voyages.
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From page 104... ...
The increased gaps between missions exacerbated the challenge of managing these missions as an integrated program. The cost of continued operation of extended missions is nontrivial and in the 2010s has comprised typically ~20-40 percent of the MEP budget.
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From page 105... ...
In the focused and rapid concept, there would be no next Mars orbiter; existing assets (Odyssey, MRO, MAVEN, Trace Gas Orbiter) would continue to provide telecommunications interfaces for landed assets through Mars 2020 (also including MSL, InSight, and ExoMars)
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From page 106... ...
The SRC conceptual design meets all Vision and Voyages science requirements for sample return, by including with the cached sedimentary or hydrothermal and volcanic samples receptacles for fetch rover-collected regolith and an atmospheric gas sample. The scenario for capture of the SRC by the SRO has been designed and analyzed, and appears to be within current technological capabilities.
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From page 107... ...
SOURCE: Courtesy of NASA/JPL-CalTech. FIGURE 5.13 Test of one of the Mars Ascent Vehicle (MAV)
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From page 108... ...
Mars Exploration Architecture and Its Responsiveness to the Strategies, Priorities, and Guidelines Put Forward by the National Academies' Vision and Voyages and Other Relevant National Academies Mars-Related Reports Decadal Findings and Assessment: Vision and Voyages recommended de-scoping the MAX-C mission concept if necessary to ensure that it would cost ≤$2.5 billion, and proceeding to collect at least the minimum number of samples defined by advisory groups (>20, baseline 31) , from the highest priority classes of materials for sampling.
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From page 109... ...
Although not formally part of the MEP, the InSight Discovery mission is addressing questions about Mars's interior that were prioritized in National Academies reports on Mars prior to Vision and Voyages. Finding: Mars 2020 will fulfill the mandate of Vision and Voyages that Mars Sample Return take "a criti cal next step [by identifying and collecting]
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From page 110... ...
-class science for consideration for the next decadal survey. The Long-Term Goals of the Planetary Science Division's MEP and the Program's Ability to Optimize the Science Return, Given the Current Fiscal Posture of the Program Decadal Findings and Assessment: The Mars 2020 mission will be a significant first step toward MSR and will accomplish in situ science in addition to sample collection.
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From page 111... ...
orbiters capable of relay communications (Mars Odyssey, MRO, MAVEN) would create tactical challenges for continued operation of current and planned landed missions beyond 2021, and compromise the ability of the MEP to continue its science return.
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From page 112... ...
This could involve international contri butions of instruments, other hardware, or whole missions that complement what the United States is providing or leading, as suggested in Vision and Voyages and as proposed in the "focused and rapid" concept for Mars sample return. The Extent to Which the Mars Exploration Architecture Represents a Reasonably Balanced Mission Portfolio Decadal Findings and Assessment: Major new science questions have emerged since Vision and Voyages that will not be addressed by MSR or any U.S.
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From page 113... ...
Although the current MEP has a broad focus across most areas of Mars as a system, the program going forward beyond Mars 2020 is focused entirely on sample return. There is currently no vision for a program beyond sample return, either for scientific investigation or to prepare for future human exploration.
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From page 114... ...
2017. "Unraveling the Diversity of Early Aqueous Environments and Climate on Mars Through the Phyllosilicate Record." Presentation to the 48th Lunar and Planetary Science Conference.
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From page 115... ...
2016. "Geological Water Resources for Humans on Mars: Constraints from Orbital Spectral Mapping and In Situ Measurements." Presentation to the 47th Lunar and Planetary Science Conference.
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