Mars 2020 Descent Stage Integrated Propulsion Subsystem: Changes from MSL and Flight Performance

On February 18, 2021, NASA’s Mars 2020 mission successfully landed the Perseverance rover in Jezero Crater, the heaviest interplanetary rover ever built, on the surface of Mars. Following up on the successful Entry, Descent and Landing of the Curiosity rover of the Mars Science Laboratory mission in August 2012, the Mars 2020 mission Descent Stage Propulsion System was a “build-to-print” sequel. The Mars 2020 Descent Stage Propulsion System had a few minor low risk changes based on the flight performance of the Mars Science Laboratory System to improve performance. The in-flight performance of the Descent Stage Propulsion System was consistent with expectations with the exception of apparent higher than expected delivered thrust from the Mars Lander Engines, which occurred both on Mars 2020 and the Mars Science Laboratory missions. The Descent Stage Propulsion System completed its mission with significant capability margin with respect to thruster life, maximum delivered thrust, and available propellant at touchdown.

2021年2月18日，美国国家航空航天局（NASA）的火星2020任务成功将有史以来最重的星际漫游车——毅力号火星车（Perseverance rover）着陆于火星表面的杰泽罗陨石坑（Jezero Crater）。继2012年8月火星科学实验室任务的好奇号火星车（Curiosity rover）成功完成进入、下降与着陆（Entry, Descent and Landing）后，火星2020任务的下降级推进系统（Descent Stage Propulsion System）是一款“按图制造”的后续型号。该系统基于火星科学实验室系统的飞行性能进行了若干低风险微小改进，以优化工作表现。下降级推进系统的在轨飞行性能与预期基本一致，但火星着陆器发动机（Mars Lander Engines）的输出推力明显高于预期——这一现象在火星2020任务与火星科学实验室任务中均有出现。最终，该系统在推进器寿命（thruster life）、最大输出推力（maximum delivered thrust）及着陆时剩余推进剂（available propellant at touchdown）等方面均保留充足性能余量，圆满完成任务。