Approach and Entry, Descent, and Landing Operations for Mars Science Laboratory

Abstract

On 5 August 2012, at 2231 hrs, Pacific Daylight Time, the Mars Science Laboratory rover Curiosity landed safely within Gale Crater. The successful landing depended not only upon the flawless execution of the numerous critical activities during the 7 min. entry, descent, and landing but also upon the operational preparations and decisions made by the flight team during approach the final weeks, days, and hours before landing. During this period, decisions made by the flight team balanced operational risk to the spacecraft in flight with any resulting risks incurred during entry, descent, and landing as a result of those decisions. The operations plans made in preparation for approach and entry, descent, and landing readied the operations team for the decisions and actions executed in flight that balanced the operational and entry, descent, and landing risks and prepared the vehicle for a successful landing.