RAMIFICATIONS OF COMMUNICATION DURING THE ENTRY, DESCENT, AND LANDING PHASE OF THE 2009 MARS SCIENCE LABORATORY MISSION

摘要

This paper addresses the assumptions, constraints, analysis, and selection of the Mars Science Laboratory (MSL) launch/arrival periods and Entry, Descent, and Landing (EDL) communication strategy. The discussion details the complexity of satisfying EDL communication in the 2009 Earth-Mars opportunity while maintaining a wide landing site latitude range, remaining within the capability of the spacecraft and mission cost, and possibly sharing the 2009 launch opportunity with the Mars Telecommunications Orbiter (MTO) Project. The extent and type of communication available to MSL during EDL is presented along with how the availability of communication during EDL influenced the selection of launch/arrival periods for the MSL Project.