Statistical Entry, Descent, and Landing Performance Reconstruction of the Mars Science Laboratory

摘要

The Mars Science Laboratory spacecraft landed an approximately 900 kg rover on Mars on August 5, 2012 while using the largest aeroshell and supersonic parachute ever utilized by a planetary entry mission. Similar to past Mars missions, the spacecraft recorded iner-tial measurement unit data and radar altimeter measurements during its descent through the Martian atmosphere, but its aeroshell was also instrumented with flush atmospheric data system sensors that captured the pressure distribution on the vehicle during hypersonic and supersonic flight regimes. The rich data set enabled a comprehensive post flight analysis of the vehicle's trajectory. This paper shows the vehicle's reconstructed trajectory, aerodynamics, and atmospheric conditions using several statistical estimation methods, specifically the Extended Kalman filter, Unscented Kalman filter, and adaptive filter. The statistical estimation methods allow for both state estimation and uncertainty quantification of model errors, which could improve design of future Mars entry missions.