# Mars Technology Program

The Mars Technology Program (MTP) is part of the NASA Mars Exploration
Program (MEP). The purpose of MTP is to develop technologies needed for
future Mars missions, including Mars Scouts.

The two principle program elements of MTP are the Focused Technology and
the Base Technology Programs. The Focused Technology Program addresses
technologies that are specific and critical to near-term missions, while
the Base Technology Program addresses technologies that are applicable
to multiple missions and can be characterized as longer term, higher
risk, and higher payoff technologies.

# [Focused Technology Program]{.underline}

In the recent past, Mars Technology Program's focused technology
included the Mars Exploration Mission (MER). Currently the Focused
Technology Program supports three upcoming missions baselined for this
decade:

1\. Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter (MRO, 2005)

2.  Mars Science Laboratory (MSL, 2009)

3.  Mars Telecom Orbiter (MTO, 2009)

MSL requires far more new technology than the other two missions.
Currently, the MTP Focused Technology Program is providing the following
time-critical deliverables for infusion into the 2009 Mars Science
Laboratory (MSL) mission:

-   **Entry, Descent, and Landing (EDL)** technology will provide
    precision landing (\<10km landing error) and deliver a large payload
    (900-1100 kg) safely onto the Martian surface. These technologies
    are developed in the specialty areas of optical navigation, guided
    entry, subsonic parachute, descent propulsion, hazard detection and
    avoidance, and robust landing. The Optical Navigation Camera for
    this mission is developed under the focused technology of MRO and
    will be flight tested onboard MRO before its use on MSL.

-   **Long-life** **systems** capability addresses both the electronic
    and mechanical elements of MSL. The included elements are: an
    actuator assembly for rover wheels and robotic arms, an advanced
    mechanically pumped cooling loop to recycle waste heat from
    radioisotope power sources, and a lightweight wheel/differential.
    Long-life surface system components are designed to operate for 1+
    Mars year in the Martian environment.

-   **Robust software** for the MSL rover employs MDS-based software
    architecture and systems engineering methodology. Validation of this
    software technology involves both the MTP research rover platforms
    and simulated virtual rovers. The MDS architecture provides a
    unified framework and reusable software components for flight/ground
    software.

-   **Rover navigation and instrument placement** provides advanced
    navigation and approach-and-emplace capability, which allows the MSL
    rover to extend its mobility range beyond 5km and achieve single-sol
    target approach and instrument placement. (A "sol" is a Martian
    day.)

-   **Sample acquisition, handling, and processing** includes
    technologies that enable the extraction of samples from the
    environment (coring/abrading), transfer of those samples to a
    sample-processing unit (robotic arm controls), and processing of the
    samples for delivery to the onboard science instruments (rock
    crushing and sample distribution).

-   **Planetary Protection** addresses biological contamination control
    technologies for meeting the planetary protection requirements for
    MSL. This includes the deployment of a rapid validation method for
    enumerating spores (4 hours instead of 3 days) and
    cleaning/maintenance methods for achieving organic cleanliness
    (10^-9^ g/cm^2^

-   ) of the MSL sample handling/analysis chain.

-   **Mars proximity telecom** (a.k.a. the Electra Payload) provides a
    radiation tolerant/hardened, reconfigurable wireless network node to
    enable enhanced telecom and navigation capability for all future
    Mars missions. This payload will be flown on the Mars Reconnaissance
    Orbiter (MRO) mission to validate the technology before it is used
    on MSL.

# [Base Technology Program]{.underline}

The core of the Base Technology Program is breakthrough technology
elements that are not in the critical path of specific missions.
Technologies that can enhance baseline missions as well as new, enabling
technologies for future missions are addressed, including the following:

-   **Regional Mobility and Subsurface Access** involves innovations in
    autonomous surface vehicles (rovers), airplanes, subsurface access
    with drills and other robotic devices, and science operations.
    Current emphasis is on surface and subsurface mobility. Technologies
    for aerial vehicles are supported by the scout mission technologies
    (described below).

-   **Science Instruments and Systems** including the development of
    both remote and in situ instrumentation for addressing scientific
    objectives, with a focus on the development of new techniques for in
    situ life detection. Note that all science instrument development is
    carried out by the Base Technology Program. All science payloads for
    missions are competed, so the Focused Technology Program does not
    include any science instrument development.

-   **Telecom and Navigation** technology investments, specifically
    related to proximity link relay communications and in situ
    radio-based navigation scenarios. Relay communications technologies
    are aimed at significantly increasing science data return from a
    wide range of future exploration assets (e.g., landers, rovers,
    aerobots, microprobes) while minimizing mass, volume, and energy
    needs. Next-generation network protocols will ensure
    interoperability while enabling efficient operations. Additionally,
    extraction of radiometric information from these proximity links can
    support precision in situ navigation for scenarios such as approach,
    surface mobility, and on-orbit rendezvous.

-   **Advanced Entry, Descent, and Landing** **Technologies** focused on
    third- generation capabilities to provide pinpoint landing accuracy
    through advances in navigation, guidance, and sensors.

-   **Planetary Protection Technologies** include innovative
    technologies intended to satisfy planetary protection requirements
    for surface, subsurface and atmospheric missions as well as those
    technologies that allow sample acquisition for in situ life
    detection and sample return.

-   **Scout Mission Technologies** Scout Mission Technologies are
    derived from stated needs of the Mars science community, and enable
    a wide variety of future low-cost missions. MTP will competitively
    select those technologies that will have the highest payoff for
    future Scout missions. Technologies developed under this program
    will be available to the community and are intended to benefit
    future Scout and baseline missions.

-   **Applied Physics Laboratory's (APL) Directed Advanced Mars
    Technology Tasks.** Mars Exploration Program is taking advantage of
    existing expertise at APL and working cooperatively to develop new
    technologies, mainly in advanced electronics, specifically for Mars
    applications. The approach is for APL to work with JPL mission
    planners and flight project personnel to define a set of focused
    technologies that have a high probability of infusion in future Mars
    missions.