Planetary Sciences Subcommittee of NAC 3 Feb 2010 MSL Status Update

Doug McCuistion Mars Exploration Program, Director

James L. Green Planetary Science Division, Director

MSL Technical Accomplishments Since Dec ‘09 PSS

•  Actuators –  All flight motors delivered –  Full complement of flight actuators delivered to JPL

•  Restarted LPHTA life test after December failure of bearing cage—~60% complete to 1 Martian life today

–  If LPHTA’s complete 2x life successfully (March), we are DONE with actuators!

•  Avionics –  All FPGAs burned and Rover Compute Elements assembled and in regression

testing –  Power avionics beginning acceptance tested –  GNC/Landing Radar headed to full-up field testing

•  SA/SPaH Robot Arm and Drill / CHIMRA EM testbed deliveries completed, and sample chain validation initiated.

•  Descent Stage Propulsion rework complete, and cruise stage rework beginning

MSL Recent Developments •  Only three major open issues remain:

–  SAM Wide Range Pump •  Both design’s life test units failed during December holidays •  One variant made 2x start/stop lives, and .93 run-time life before stopped for high current

–  Modest reduction of bearing pre-load expected to resolve •  Assuming success w/new preload, SAM will deliver before rover environments

–  Radar Transmit Receive Module •  One of 6 TRM’s failed in test •  Root cause: Capacitor short due to residual gold shard •  Rework/replacement plans in development—no delivery impact expected

–  MMRTG Beginning of Mission power shortfall •  Flight unit power is below spec due to larger than expected thermo-electric degradation •  Degradation is in-family with Pioneer units, but differences between EM and FM need to be

investigated •  Tiger Team initiated with DOE to understand root cause and potential steps to mitigate

further degradation •  Potential operational impacts under study—may be reduced ops in Martian winter.

•  No major problems uncovered in the Western Titanium investigation. –  >1000 suspect parts identified –  About 100 left to fully investigate but negative impacts unlikely due to applications –  Final dispositions planned early March 2010

MSL Recent Developments

•  Launch slip budget history –  Oct ’08: Initial augmentation Rough Order of Magnitude (ROM) estimate from

the Project ~$400M –  June ‘09: $432M Approved by Agency Program Management Council

(APMC) •  Also directed “additional reserves” be set aside to cover most of the Standing

Review Boards estimates •  Commitment to Congress in the Rebaseline Report was NTE of $495M

•  MSL “Readiness to Proceed” Review completed Nov 18-20, 2009 –  Key objectives:

•  Assess technical readiness to proceed into system-level assembly and test •  Assess budget and reserve status for development work remaining

–  Project requested modest amount of additional reserves (above $432M established as true cost-to-go for development, after October ‘08 ROM)

MSL Recent Developments

•  Standing Review Board Conclusions: –  2011 launch opportunity remains viable with good schedule margin against Oct.

window –  Budget reserves (including Project’s new request) are inadequate. –  Major risks are understood and are being addressed. –  Project is well positioned and prepared to re-start ATLO, with a well thought out and

mature plan.

•  Directorate PMC held January 15th –  Referred MSL to APMC recommending augmentation of reserves to prevent work

slippage into 2011

•  Agency PMC held January 26th –  APMC assessed:

•  Should MSL proceed on toward 2011 launch date? •  Does the funding requirement at completion remain within the $495M commitment?

–  APMC results: •  Unanimous approval to proceed—project is stabilizing technically and financially •  Cost estimates, including risks, remain well within predictions and external commitment

»  SMD/PSD/MEP funding supports needs without no new impacts 5

MSL Budget Status—Green

Budget Status and Impacts Presented to the July 2009 PSS •  Impacts must be contained in the Planetary Division

–  The Mars Program will repay non-Mars “loan”

•  Impacts to cover low- to mid-range budget needs, in order: –  Reduce or eliminate Mars Program APA in FY10 and FY11 –  Reduce US portion of Mars-16/18/20 missions –  Reduce Discovery future and New Frontiers mission lines (no impact to current schedules)

•  Impacts increase to cover mid- to upper-range budget needs, in order: –  Further reduce US portion of Mars-16/18/20 missions –  Delay LADEE and ILN missions –  Delay New Frontiers 3 phase B selection

Updated FY11 Budget Status: •  MSL project has requested funding that is within the “low to mid-range values”

–  No additional Planetary Program impacts (ie: No delays or impacts to R&A)

•  Funding request is within the Commitment to Congress discussed in the Rebaseline Report ($495M)