Jet Propulsion Laboratory California Ins6tute of Technology Mars 2020 Project Update for Planetary Science Subcommittee Ken Farley Project Scientist (Caltech-JPL) October 5, 2015 Mars 2020 Project CL#15-4023 1 Jet Propulsion Laboratory Mars Exploration in This Decade California Ins6tute of Technology Mars 2020 Project Baseline Mars 2020 mission addresses the highest priority science • Builds on Curiosity results by inves6gang a landing site for possible bio-signature preservaon in full geologic context • Provides HEOMD/STMD contribu6ons to address key Strategic Knowledge Gaps • Provides cached samples for possible return – highest priority of Decadal Survey Future Planning CL#15-4023 2 Biosignatures: seeking the signs of ancient life PRE-CONDITIONS THAT POSSIBLE EVIDENCE PAST LIFE MUST HAVE BEEN MET OF ANY PAST LIFE DETECTED PAST POTENTIAL FOR EXISTENCE OF RECOGNITION OF HABITABLE BIOSIGNATURE POTENTIAL DEFINITIVE ENVIRONMENT PRESERVATION BIOSIGNATURE BIOSIGNATURE Proposed Mars 2020 Rover Mars Sample Return From the Mars 2020 Science Definition Team Report Labs on Earth (Mustard et al. 2014)! CL#15-4023 3 Biosignatures: seeking the signs of ancient life Organics Minerals Organic Detection, Context, Fine-Scale Characterization Mineralogy Biominerals (composition Biomarker organic molecules & morphology consistent (organic matter features) oolitic limestone Soprenoid, hopanoid, steroid with biological activity) Macro Structures/ Micro Structures/ Textures Textures Context Imaging Fine-scale Imaging Larger scale rock e.g., Microfossils, structures such as microtubules, stromatolites, biofilms, etc. domical stromatolite bioherms, reefs microfossils Chemistry Carbon Isotopic Record Isotopes in Sedimentary Carbonates and Organic Matter Context, 20 Fine-Scale Chemistry 10 0 Carbonates -10 13 Isotopic record δ C -20 Chemical features (stable isotopic -30 Organics that suggest patterns) -40 Possible microbial -50 biological processing -60 Oxidized BIF enrichment of REE in Paleosols Disappear -70 patterns of isotope carbonate -4.0 -3.0 -2.0 -1.0 Age, Ga abundance From the Mars 2020 Science Definition Team Report (Mustard et al. 2014)! CL#15-4023 4 Jet Propulsion Laboratory Mars 2020 Mission Objectives California Ins6tute of Technology Mars 2020 Project • Conduct Rigorous In Situ Science A. Geologic Context and History Carry out an integrated set of context, contact, and spaally- coordinated MeasureMents to characterize the geology of the landing site B. In Situ Astrobiology Using the geologic context as a foundaon, find and characterize ancient habitable environMents, iden6fy rocks with the highest chance of preserving signs of ancient Mar6an life if it were present, and within those environMents, seek the signs of life • Enable the Future C. Sample Return AsseMble rigorously docuMented and returnable cached samples for possible future return to Earth D. Human Exploraon Facilitate future huMan exploraon by Making significant progress towards filling Major strategic knowledge gaps and… Technology …deMonstrate technology required for future Mars exploraon • Execute Within Current Financial RealiKes – U6lize MSL-heritage design and a Moderate instruMent suite to stay within the resource constraints specified by NASA These are a thoroughly integrated set of objectives to support Agency’s Journey to Mars CL#15-4023 5 Jet Propulsion Laboratory Mission Overview California Ins6tute of Technology Mars 2020 Project LAUNCH CRUISE/APPROACH ENTRY, DESCENT & LANDING SURFACE MISSION • MSL Class/Capability LV • 7.5 Month cruise • MSL EDL systeM (Range Trigger • 20 kM traverse distance capability • Period: Jul/Aug 2020 • Arrive Feb 2021 baselined, Terrain Relave Navigaon • Seeking signs of past life funded thru PDR): guided entry and • Returnable cache of samples powered descent/Sky Crane • Prepare for huMan exploraon of Mars • 16 x 14 kM landing ellipse (range trigger baselined) • Access to landing sites ±30° latude, ≤ -0.5 kM elevaon • Curiosity-class Rover CL#15-4023 6 Jet Propulsion Laboratory Heritage Implementation - What’s New? California Ins6tute of Technology Mars 2020 Project Cruise Stage Vehicle: Build to print Backshell/Parachute: Build to print + additional sensors for MEDLI2 + EDL Camera (Parachute up-look) Descent Stage Vehicle: Build to print + EDL Camera (Rover down-look) Rover: High heritage + 7 NASA-selected Instruments + Sampling & caching system + EDL Camera (DS up-look) + (new) EECAMs + Resources reserved for TRN (image processor and down-look camera) Heatshield: Build to print + additional sensors for MEDLI2 CL#15-4023 7 Jet Propulsion Laboratory Mars 2020 Payload California Ins6tute of Technology Mars 2020 Project 1. Mastcam-Z - stereo zoom camera 2. Supercam - remote elemental chemistry and mineralogy 3. SHERLOC - fine-scale organic geochemistry and mineralogy (mapping) 4. PIXL - fine-scale elemental chemistry (mapping) 5. RIMFAX - subsurface structure - ground penetrating radar (Norway) 6. MEDA - weather and atmospheric dust monitoring (Spain) 7. MOXIE - ISRU – conversion of atmospheric CO2 to O2 CL#15-4023 8 Jet Propulsion Laboratory Mars 2020 Payload Update California Ins6tute of Technology Mars 2020 Project Added Wide Angle Topographic Sensor Turret Assembly for Operations and eNgineering (WATSON) • Augmented turret fine-scale imaging capability by adding MAHLI heritage optic + mux board to SHERLOC instrument • Provides contextual science and engineering data Added EDL / Parachute Uplook Cameras • Improved EDL instrumentation for engineering data • Parachute up-look, descent stage down-look, & rover up-look cameras CL#15-4023 9 Jet Propulsion Laboratory Mars 2020 Sampling and Caching System California Ins6tute of Technology Mars 2020 Project Sample Handling Robotic Arm and Turret Scope: Arm and tubes • Acquire and seal samples of Mar6an surface Material – Rock cores and regolith Approach: • Use MSL-like robo6c arM for sample acquisi6on • Rotary Percussive coring drill • Acquire samples directly into sample tubes – Reduce exposure to contaminaon vectors (PP and Science) • Process filled sample tubes within controlled Bit Carousel voluMe using a sample handling arM (in enclosure) • HerMe6cally seal samples in tubes – Prevent loss of volales – Prevent contaminaon of sample Sample Tubes Sample Tubes Plug/Seals Volume and Vision Stations Bit Carousel Robotic Arm and Turret • Cache samples on Mars for poten6al return (in sterile storage) (in sterile storage) (includes drill interface) to Earth Status • Architec6ng of systeM is coMplete • Design of Many eleMents is underway - Robo6c (sample acquisi6on) arM vendor coMpe66vely selected and on contract - Sample handling arM RFP vendor selec6on underway - Lay-out of sampling handling eleMents and rover voluMe has closed - Adap6ve Caching approach has been baselined CL#15-4023 10 Jet Propulsion Laboratory Hardware/Design Overview California Ins6tute of Technology Mars 2020 Project Seal/Caging Plug Sample Handling Assembly (SHA) Volume Assessment Dispenser/Storage (links under bit carousel) Station (6 stacks of 7 each) Vision Assessment Station 42 Seals Strongback Structure 42 Caging Plugs (interface between ACA components and rover top deck) 42 Sample Tubes 5 Coring Bits 1 Regolith Bit 2 Abrading Bits Sample Tube Sealing/Sample Tube Storage Drop-off Station Sample Tube Warming Station TOP VIEW Bit Carousel CL#15-4023 11 Jet Propulsion Laboratory Adaptive Caching Overview California Ins6tute of Technology Mars 2020 Project Adaptive Caching is the baseline approach for Mars 2020 1. Samples are drilled into tubes, tubes are sealed, and then stored on board the rover 2. At an appropriate location, samples (and blanks) are deposited together on the surface There is no "cache container" that holds the samples Tubes and seals designed to withstand >10 years on Mars surface Advantageous for science - Allows for con6nued sampling and caching aer priMe Mission - offloading of samples reduces Mission risk (and risk averse behavior) associated with traverse and other hazards - samples could be down-selected individually for Earth return long aer the end of the Mars 2020 Mission CL#15-4023 12 Jet Propulsion Laboratory Adaptive Caching Overview California Ins6tute of Technology Mars 2020 Project • Baseline operational assumption: Depot Cache operational scheme – All sample tubes are deposited in a single location – Location is determined to be accessible for a potential follow-on retrieval mission – Location is chosen to minimize joint mission risk across both M2020 and potential retrieving mission CL#15-4023 13 Jet Propulsion Laboratory Sample Tube Temperature California Ins6tute of Technology Mars 2020 Project Assessment: • Mars 2020 project is assessing the sample MaxiMuM Annual TeMperature vs Latude temperature under a set of conservative assumptions – Low albedo surface assumptions – No thermal conduction to the surface – Conservative dust covered state • Project is looking to coat sample tubes for high emissivity • On going testing underway to confirm performance assumptions • Science concern is related to maximum ambient surface temperatures which vary with latitude • Science concern focuses most keenly on temperatures above 50C The latitudinal variations in temperature can be considered as a science trade in landing site selection. Priority landing sites shown with vertical lines. CL#15-4023 14 Jet Propulsion Laboratory Mars 2020 Summary California Ins6tute of Technology Mars 2020 Project q Completed Phase A and formally entered Phase B of formulation § Completed instrument accommodation reviews,