Jet AUGUST Propulsion 2013 Laboratory volume 43

number 8

Mars 2020 rover to continue search for habitability By Mark Whalen Mission will demonstrate collection and storage of samples for return to

Planning for the 2020 rover envisions a basic structure that capitalizes on the design and engineering work done for the Curiosity rover but with new science instruments selected through competition for different science objectives.

As JPL celebrates the landing of Curiosity on Mars Scientist Ken Farley of Caltech. “It’s going to be a long croscopic levels to look for features that may have been one year ago in August, planning for a new mission to road, but it’ll be really important to our understanding formed by past life. deliver the next rover to the Red Planet is well under- Mars and the solar system when we get samples back.” Rather than creating powder of rock samples—as way. The mission’s suite of instruments will be determined Curiosity’s drill does—the drill on the 2020 rover will The Mars 2020 rover mission will take the next by next spring through a competitive announcement of extract cores from the uppermost few centimeters of steps in the search for whether the planet has ever opportunity. Meantime, a team working on defining the the surface of rock where life may have existed—for supported life by exploring a habitable environment mission’s science suggests that the rover include capa- example, at the site of a onetime lake. and gathering rock and soil samples for a possible bilities for unprecedented in-situ analysis of rock and soil The rover will deliver a cache of 25 to 30 samples of return to Earth by another future mission. samples. rocks weighing a total of about half a kilogram, Farley “The science community has been dreaming for To help determine drilling targets, the team said the said. Each core sample will go into individual tubes decades about bringing samples back,” noted Project rover should have the ability to analyze samples at mi- Continued on page 2

Curiosity celebrates a year on Mars By Mark Whalen

Could it be a year already? The raucous and triumphant Justin Maki, engineering camera cognizant Al Chen, entry, descent and landing flight dy- celebration during the late-night hours of Sunday, Aug. 5, engineer, mastcam deputy principal investigator namics and operations lead: Aug. 5 changed everything. 2012, when space fans worldwide welcomed the Curiosity and Hand Lens Imager/Mars Descent Imager co- Now, I find myself working the 2020 mission, which specifi- rover to the surface of Mars, is still a vivid memory for many investigator: Everyone knows about the “Seven Minutes cally calls for the reuse of Curiosity’s landing system. What JPLers. Universe caught up with some of the key players of Terror,” but for me there was an eighth minute of terror: seemed so unimaginable a year ago now seems to everyone who made Mars Science Laboratory happen. waiting for the first Hazcam images after landing. While to be the next logical step. The successful landing of Curi- most of the team in the control room was celebrating and osity was obviously a payday in itself for those of us who high-fiving, I was still at my console waiting for the first worked 10 years to get seven minutes to go right. But the What were the best surprises for you during the Q few bits of image data to trickle in. My computer monitor decision to double-down on the landing system for 2020 is experience? When did you first realize that the mission was being projected live onto the control room screen, so an especially sweet validation of all of our efforts. was truly hitting a payday and has been worth all the my task on landing night was to get the picture displayed work and sacrifice? as quickly as possible. When the images came down, it was Anita Sengupta, supersonic parachute systems definitely memorable. engneer on the entry, descent and landing team: The best surprise is the outpouring of excitement, interest and Ashwin Vasavada, project scientist: Betina Pavri, lead payload downlink coordina- wonder from the general public and students. Much of the Our science team worked incredibly hard to choose the best tor: The most exciting thing for me so far is the discovery public, I believe, truly understands the value, importance, site possible to understand Mars’ early environment and that—sometime in the past—there was flowing water on challenge and accomplishment of space exploration because suitability for life. But there’s only so much you can figure the surface of Mars at Curiosity’s location in Gale Crater. of Curiosity—not only as a national endeavor, but as a hu- out from orbit, even with those amazing Hirise images. I The water was flowing long enough, and was vigorous man endeavor. After the landing I began to realize how much think most of us were stunned when we first got Curiosity’s enough, to round off rocks, like we see in streambeds on support and affection we had with the outpouring of interest telephoto lens on Mt. Sharp. It was everything we hoped for Earth. That’s a fascinating result. via social media. Landing night was the ultimate “payday” scientifically. But even more, it was gorgeous, and so Earth- for me. like. Continued on page 2

2 MARS 2020 Continued from page 1 that are inserted in the cache, which will the mission’s requirements mature, he manager, who also worked on the Mars be conducted by NASA’s Human Explora- help scientists keep track of notes on added. Exploration Rovers and Mars Pathfinder. tion and Operations Mission Directorate. how the sample was collected. The $1.5 billion mission is targeted for “We have stockpiled as much of the NASA said the decision on when and niverse “That’s what’s special about the ability launch in July or August 2020, with land- residual Mars Science Laboratory how to return Martian samples to Earth U to bring chosen samples back,” Farley ing between January and March 2021. hardware as we can and are identifying won’t be made until a later date. Mars said. “We’ll know exactly where they’re McNamee said a key milestone for the issues of high risk, in terms of parts sample return was identified as a top from, to see how they fit in relation to team is a mission concept review at JPL obsolescence and the like,” added Mc- priority by the National Research Coun- features that we can identify and charac- Aug. 6 and 7. A mission definition review Namee, who praised the documentation cil’s decadal survey in terize with the rover’s instruments.” will follow in about a year. carried out by the Curiosity staff. “It’s 2011. The mission builds on a heritage of About 70 to 80 JPLers are currently at not just hardware and software we’re in- The mission “will deliver a lot of ex- success, as it will reuse much of the work full-time on the mission, a number heriting. They have done a very nice job.” ploratory science in an area that will be engineering and design of the Curios- that will increase to between 400 and The 2020 rover’s objectives also call different from anywhere else we’ve been ity rover, flight system and skycrane, 500 by 2017-18. The core staff will be for it to demonstrate how natural re- on Mars,” Farley said. “Even if we don’t said Project Manager John McNamee. Mars Science Laboratory veterans, in- sources on Mars can be used by future bring a cache back, there will certainly Enhanced capabilities will be added as cluding Matt Wallace, the deputy project human missions. This experiment would be important scientific returns.”

CURIOSITY Continued from page 1

their own personality, passion and way of contributing. Sengupta: That you really can do anything in life Q What is the best lesson you learned? I’m learning to find the right balance between leading and if you put your mind and heart in it. The more difficult the facilitating, allowing everyone to express their view but problem, the more interesting and fascinating the journey to also developing consensus quickly, since our clock is al- find the solution. My career has already benefited because I Vasavada: As a project scientist, my job has been ways ticking. took on a significant technical challenge and was successful. just as much about people as about science. I’ve learned As you grow as an engineer you grow as a person. a lot from managing a team of 400+ scientists, each with Curiosity’s top five science discoveries

1. A suitable home for life 2. Evidence for an ancient streambed 3. Radiation could pose health risk for humans 4. The hunt for elusive methane 5. Diverse environments abound According to the MSL project, Curios- The rocks found by Curiosity are Curiosity’s radiation assessment detector took measurements on the Scientists using Earth-based detectors Curiosity found many diverse signs of a ity’s top finding was that Mars could smooth and rounded and likely rolled flight to Mars and continues to take measurements on the surface. The have reported finding methane in the watery past near its Gale Crater landing have the right chemistry to have downstream for at least a few miles. findings will be used to explore different approaches for safe human Martian atmosphere. Since landing, site. Water-transported sand dunes supported living microbes, discover- The exposed bedrock above tells a space missions and habitats. Above: the Mars Science Laboratory Curiosity has found none. It could be and water-cemented gravel were ing sulfur, oxygen, phosphorus and story of a steady stream of flowing spacecraft during cruise to Mars (left) and the Orion spacecraft. that methane is emitted from just a among the sites to wow scientists as carbon—key ingredients necessary water about knee deep. few places on Mars, or just in certain Curiosity explored the area. for life—in the powder sample drilled seasons. from “John Klein.”

South by Southwest (SXSW) Interactive The public impact Award for Best Social Media Campaign, One year later, Curiosity remains incred- Shorty Award for “Foursquare Mayor of ibly strong among social media fans, said the Year” and a Webby for Best Overall JPL Media Relations Office Manager Ve- Social Presence. “For the Webby, JPL ronica McGregor. beat some tough competition, including She noted the sustained interest in the HBO True Blood, the New York Times, rover’s Twitter account, which now has the London Olympics, the New Yorker, U about 1.3 million followers, and Face- GQ.com, MTV, Anderson Cooper and the book page with half a million “Likes.” Discovery Channel,” McGregor said. JPL also took top honors this spring in For many people, following the activi- three of the most prestigious awards for ties of Curiosity has rekindled or sparked social media, McGregor said, noting the interest in other aspects of JPL’s and NASA’s programs, she added. 3 Does moon hold the best hope for life? niverse U Studies continue for Clipper mission in early 2020s

By Mark Whalen

JPL scientist Kevin Hand is a technical ply to the other moons. So when we said Spacecraft safety is critical as well. Support from the science community consultant for “Europa Report,” a movie Europa, it’s not just because we thought “It’s been a long time since we’ve done for a Europa mission is clear, but the releasing this month that chronicles a Europa was cool. When you’re looking for a mission that’s experienced the kind of most important advocates are in Con- future astronaut journey to the moon of a place to go to understand if there could radiation environment that we’re going to gress. On a positive note, the House Ap- Jupiter seeking to make the first discov- be life there, and ultimately to be able to see with the Europa Clipper,” Goldstein propriations Committee’s draft language ery of life beyond Earth. look for it from the surface from a future said. “We have to make sure we have for NASA’s 2014 budget includes $80 But for Hand, this fictional mission may lander, it’s the place to go.” high-reliability parts, and that the payload million for a Europa reformulation study not be a fantasy. He is among a select The current mission plan also includes can maintain the integrity it needs.” and an announcement of opportunity for group looking hard at the feasibility of flybys of Ganymede and Callisto, but JPL is partnering with the Johns Hop- instrument development. conducting such a mission—save for the Europa will be the focus, with 45 orbital kins University Applied Physics Labora- “While we’re not an officially approved astronauts—early next decade. encounters planned. tory on the mission. Currently, about 50 project, clearly we have significant advo- The idea fits right in with the National The launch date for the mission de- JPLers are on the development team, cacy in terms of support from Congress, Research Council’s most recent planetary pends on how the spacecraft gets to which expects to add another 25 or so in but also, very notably, the support of decadal survey that rated Europa as a Jupiter, said Project Manager Barry the next few months. the science community,” said Goldstein. high priority. The JPL concept, the Euro- Goldstein. An Atlas-class rocket could “This is just to get to the mission con- “We’re very optimistic that we will get our pa Clipper, is under study and is working launch it on a time-tested -Earth- cept review phase,” said Goldstein, noting formal start if not next year then the year toward a 2021 launch. Earth gravity-assist trajectory; windows that the team is working on system engi- after that.” The study team plans to hold a prelimi- for such a launch open once every 13 to neering and architectural design, science “If life is out there in our solar system, nary mission concept review next Febru- 15 months. But a new rocket being devel- requirements and payload accommoda- I’m quite convinced that Europa is the ary. A formal concept review is tentatively oped under NASA’s Space Launch System tion issues. “We also have a significant best place to look,” Hand said. “This planned for September 2014, said Gold- could provide a much quicker alternative. mission design team working the very mission may not find that life, but it will stein, which could make the project ready The Space Launch System could get the complicated and difficult orbit trajec- characterize Europa in a way that it to enter phase A in fiscal year 2015. spacecraft to Jupiter “in a little bit under tory that we have to master to get the could make an incredibly compelling case “My goal is to find life beyond Earth,” two years,” Goldstein said. “We could passes around Europa to get the science for Europa not just being habitable, but said Hand, who has taken a key role in have launch opportunities approximately accomplished.” potentially inhabited.” recent Europa studies. “And if Earth has every 12 months, the earliest one being taught us anything, it’s that where you June 2022. Compare that to the Atlas find water, you find life. We know now launch in November 2021, which would of several liquid-water oceans existing take six and a half years.” Going with the beneath the icy shells of the moons of Space Launch System, he said, “shaves the outer solar system. And among those at least four and a half years from the worlds, Europa is the prime place to go cruise, a substantial improvement.” and look for life beyond Earth—living Key among the myriad challenges in life.” this first-of-its-type mission are concerns Besides Europa, Jupiter’s moons Gany- about planetary protection and the ef- mede and Callisto are also thought to fects of radiation on the spacecraft. have subsurface oceans, noted Project “On missions such as [Mars] Phoenix, Scientist Bob Pappalardo. Europa’s ice we were looking for organic material, the caps are much more shallow than those building blocks of life,” noted Goldstein, at the other two moons, allowing for who was also the Phoenix project man- easier access, and probably are geologi- ager. “You want to make sure not to bring cally active today, he said. anything with you that would give you a “There’s hope that [Europa’s] ocean and false-positive reading to that effect. How- the surface are exchanging materials, and ever, the challenge is as great or greater that oxidants on the surface could poten- for Europa, where we are concerned Spots and shallow pits pepper the ridged surface of Europa in this 2002 view combining images taken by JPLs’ Galileo spacecraft tially get into the ocean to be a food for about forward contamination impacting a during two different orbits around Jupiter. The spots and pits visible in this region of Europa’s northern hemisphere are each about 10 life,” Pappalardo said. “That doesn’t ap- possible ecosystem.” kilometers (6 miles) across. 4 Former JPLer named NASA science chief ments,” which proposes a revolutionary our own solar system. the barrier infrared detector played Former JPL research scientist Ellen way to remotely control the environ- The awards, presented at a United a pivotal role in propelling JPL to the News Stofan has been named NASA’s new ment surrounding one or more roving Kingdom space conference in July, forefront of quantum structure infra- vehicles. niverse chief scientist, effective Aug. 25. are organized by the Arthur C. Clarke red detector technology, the society

U Stofan worked at JPL from 1989 to The plan includes multifunctional Foundation and the British Interplan- noted. Briefs 2000, during which she was deputy platforms that can change their shape etary Society. project scientist for the mis- and function to reflect solar energy, Poster honors for postdoc researchers Five JPLers have been recognized sion to Venus; chief scientist of the New warm and illuminate targets, power Five JPLers named to academy Five JPLers were recently elected for presenting the top poster high- Millenium Program; and an experiment solar panels, track movement and act as new corresponding members of the lighting postdoctoral scholars’ work scientist on the Spaceborne Imaging as a telecommunications relay. International Academy of Astronautics. over the past year. Radar-C mission. For more information, see http:// Jakob van Zyl (associate director, At the annual Postdoc Research Most recently, she served as senior www..gov/content/transformers-for- project formulation and strategy), Carol Day July 9, 45 postdocs presented research scientist and vice president extreme-environments/#.UemCbeDOsX5. Raymond (Small Bodies Program Office their research to the JPL commu- of environmental consulting company For a complete list of the selected manager) and Bob Pappalardo (Europa nity. Of the posters presented, five Proxemy Research in Maryland. proposals and more information about Clipper project scientist) were named were selected for recognition. Poster Stofan earned a bachelor of science the Innovative Advanced Concepts Pro- to the Basic Science Section, and Leslie authors each received an engraved degree in geology from the College of gram, visit http://www.nasa.gov/niac. Livesay (engineering and science direc- plaque and an opportunity to sum- William and Mary in 1983 and a Ph.D. Herschel instrument team honored tor) and Adam Steltzer (Systems Engi- marize their research at an awards in geological sciences from Brown The team behind the Herschel neering and Formulation Group) to the ceremony in September. Ellen Stofan University in 1989. spacecraft’s spectral and photometric Basic Engineering Section. The award recipients, with work Advanced technology concepts imaging receiver instrument has been The five join nine current and eight organization, category, poster title awarded awarded the 2013 Sir Arthur Clarke retired JPL members, including former and adviser: Award for academic study and research. JPL Director Ed Stone, a past academy Ingunn Wehus (3267), Astrophysics Two JPL proposals were among 12 se- The instrument is one of three on president. The current president is Mah- and Space Science: “Planck Compo- lected by NASA for study under Phase the European Space Agency spacecraft, devan Nair, who recently led the Indian nent Separation With Commander,” I of the NASA Innovative Advanced which was launched in 2009 and oper- space program. The organization was Charles Lawrence, adviser. Concepts Program, which aims to turn ated until the end of its scientific mis- founded by JPL founder Theodore von Jae-Hong Moon (3244), Earth Sci- science fiction into fact. sion in April of this year. JPL developed Karman. ence: “Multi-Decadal Sea-Level Shift Hamid Hemmati is principal investi- and built the “spider web” bolometers For more information, visit http:// In The Pacific From 1958 to 2008,” Y. gator for “Two-Dimensional Planetary for the instrument, which are 40 times iaaweb.org/content/view/134/232. Tony Song, adviser. Surface Landers,” which proposes to more sensitive than previous versions. Panagiotis Vergados (335G), Earth develop a new landing approach that JPL also developed and built mixers, Optics society promotes Ting Science: “Inside Tropical Cyclones significantly reduces development time local oscillator chains and power ampli- David Ting, a senior research sci- With GPS: A New Perspective,” An- and obviates the most complicated, fiers for Herschel’s heterodyne instru- entist and a principal member of thony Mannucci, adviser. most expensive and highest-risk phase ment for the far infrared (HIFI). engineering staff from the Infrared Pho- Heidar Thrastarson (3225), Plan- of any landing mission. Over its nearly four years of opera- tonics Group in Section 389, has been etary Science and Life Detection: The concept calls for a blanket- or tion, the spectral and photometric im- promoted to Fellow of the International “General Circulation and Variability of carpet-like two-dimensional lander with aging receiver instrument revolutionized Society for Optics and Photonics. Close-In Exoplanet Atmospheres,” Pin a low mass/drag ratio, which allows the understanding of the universe as seen Ting was honored for significant Chen, adviser. lander to efficiently shed its approach in far-infrared and sub-millimeter light. service to the society and to the greater Carl Borgentun (389K), Technol- velocity and provide a more robust It has studied the formation of stars science community, as well as recogni- ogy, Instrumentation and Engineering: structure for landing integrity. in our galaxy in unprecedented detail, tion of noteworthy technical achieve- “High-Power Semiconductor Lasers For more information, visit http:// including making a map of the entire ments. For In-Situ Sensing Of Atmospheric www.nasa.gov/content/two-dimensional- Milky Way and the nearby Andromeda He works in semiconductor phys- Gases,” Siamak Forouhar, adviser. planetary-surface-landers/#.Uel9au- Galaxy. It has imaged a quarter of a ics and device research, with interests Winners will be honored at a post- DOsX5. million galaxies out to distances bil- that include spintronic devices, solar doc awards ceremony on Sept. 4 from Adrian Stoica is principal investigator lions of light years, as well as a host cells, lasers and infrared detectors. 9 a.m. to noon in 180-101. for “Transformers for Extreme Environ- of planets, asteroids and comets within His contributions in the development of

READ AND SUBMIT CLASSIFIED ADS AT JPL’s online news source Brunstein worked at JPL from 1986 to the Dawn flight team’s award to mission direc- My family and I would like to thank http://jplspace 1995. He is survived by his wife, Marie, tor Marc Rayman. everyone in the Facilities Division assings P and stepchildren Jim, Eric and Laura. for their comforting condolences at E-mail us at Cremation was performed by the the passing of my mother and for Gloria Goodwin, 91, a retired PBX Neptune Society in Arizona. the generous memorial sent in her [email protected] operator supervisor, died June 21. L etters remembrance. We would also like to Goodwin joined JPL in 1961 and Robert Norman, 96, a retired me- thank JPL for the beautiful plants. retired in 1980. chanical engineer, died July 20. I would like to say thanks to my JPL Everyone’s kindness and generosity She is survived by children Vicki Norman worked at JPL from 1957 colleagues for their outpouring of is truly appreciated and gratefully Garrett, Sally Williams and Gary Clark; to 1982. He contributed to numerous sympathy and well wishes following acknowledged. eight grandchildren and six great- JPL projects, including Viking, Voyager, the recent passing of my grandmother. Linda Kyle Editor grandchildren. A celebration of life will Galileo and the Mariner missions. From surviving the Dust Bowl in west- Mark Whalen be held in her honor this summer. Pre-deceased by his daughter Diana, ern Kansas to watching us land Curios- Design Norman is survived by his wife, Laurel ity a month after her 100th birthday, Audrey Steffan Ann; daughter Cynthia Norman Klinger, she certainly had a full life. May she R etirees Barbara Insua granddaughters Robin and Jamie, and a now rest in heavenly peace. Gloria great-granddaughter. Todd Barber The following employees retired in Production Goodwin July: David Hinkle Krista Kelly, 44 years, Section 921; Correction Thanks to JPL for the beautiful plant that was sent to me for the passing of Andrea Stein, 35 years, Section Photography In the July 2013 issue of Universe, a my father. I would also like to thank 274; Diane Fisher, 30 years, Section JPL Photo Lab caption with a photo of a presentation of my colleagues in Section 392 for the 172A; Michele Bell, 26 years, Sec- a NASA systems-engineering excellence tion 349D; Judith Nelson, 23 years, Universe is published by the Office thoughtful sympathy card. I greatly award contained incorrect information. The appreciate your thoughts, prayers and Section 3917; Edward Barlow, 21 of Communications and Education photo shows JPL Engineering and Science support during this time. years, Section 347A. Retiree Samuel Brunstein, 83, of the Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Director Leslie Livesay and NASA Chief Cliff Helfrich died June 23. 4800 Oak Grove Drive, Engineer Mike Ryschkewitsch presenting Pasadena, CA 91109.