1. Technology Enabling the Exploration of Mars Brooke Tuttle ITMG 100 09 – PowerPoint Presentation 11/18/2008

2. What has NASA been pursuing? A science based exploration of Mars to understand: – Life – Climate – Geology – Preparation for Human Exploration

3. Focus Technology Specific and essential ‘Near-term’ missions Base Technology Applies to various missions Long term High risk High pay off

4. The Mars Technology Program Focus TechnologyBase Technology Mars Exploration Rover (MER)Rover Technology Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter (MRO)Mars Science Instrument Development Mars Science Laboratory (MSL)Telecom and Navigation Mars Telecom Orbiter (MTO)Planetary Protection Second Decade Missions Advanced EDL Mars Sample Return (MSR)Subsurface Access Astrobiology Field Laboratory (AFL)Low-Cost Mission Technology Advanced Electronics

5. Mars Science Laboratory (MSL)

6. What is the MSL? M ars S cience L aboratory – IT’S A ROVER!! Gathering samples Fall 2009!!!

7. Is there REALLY life on Mars?! WAS there or IS there microbial life? – aka ‘habitability’ Soil and rock samples – Geology and climate Innovative technology

8. Broad Benefit Technologies Propulsion – Atlas V Power – MMRTG Telecommunications Software engineering – Daily updates

9. In-situ Exploration and Sample Return Technologies What is in-situ?? – In the aerospace industry, equipment on board an aircraft must be tested "in situ", or in place, to confirm everything functions properly as a system. - So, exploration ‘in the place of’ Mars

10. Entry, Descent, and Landing Guided Entry (GNC) Powered Descent Descent Imaging Bigger Parachute Sky Crane

12. Autonomous Planetary Mobility Avoid hazards Traditional technologies Innovative technologies – Size of a miniature compact car Rocker bogie Global path planning and visual target planning

13. Technologies for Severe Environments Temperature varies from -196˚F to 86˚F How does that poor rover not just explode? – General use of instruments create heat – Strategic heaters – Heat Rejection System

14. Sample Return Technologies Gather samples and store for analysis Actually testing the latest technologies Hopefully paving the way for future missions to bring back samples to Earth

15. Planetary Protection Technologies Cleaning and sterilizing Handling of rock, soil, and atmospheric samples We do NOT want to discover ourselves! LAL & ATP = faster measures of biological cleanliness

16. Works Cited "NASA's Mars Exploration Program." Technologies That Enable Mars Exploration. 12 Mar. 2006. NASA.. "Jet Propulsion Laboratory/California Institute of Technology." Mars Science Laboratory. 13 Nov. 2008. NASA.. In Situ. 13 Nov. 2008. Wikipedia..

17. Questions?! =)