Verification and validation of Mars Science Laboratory surface system

Abstract

This paper will discuss the system level verification and validation test program for the surface capability of the Mars Science Laboratory (MSL) Curiosity Rover. MSL has many similarities to its predecessors, the Mars Exploration Rovers Spirit and Opportunity. However, Curiosity's diverse science payload, new sampling system, and overall scale led to new challenges in development and testing. The rover hardware and software were developed to allow certain functions to work in parallel to maximize the science that could be done each day on Mars. This led to complex behavioral interactions, which had to be tested and verified before they could be trusted. An incremental test program was developed that first exercised and verified individual functions and then validated system capabilities in mission-like scenarios. The plans, execution and results of these mission-like surface system tests will be presented.