Systems engineering the Curiosity Rover: A retrospective

Abstract

This paper will discuss systems engineering challenges in development of the Mars Science Laboratory Curiosity Rover. As of the writing of this paper, Curiosity has been successfully exploring the surface of Mars for months, but during development it was not always clear it would be a success. MSL is by design three spacecraft in one: The cruise system to get from Earth to Mars; the entry descent and landing system; and the Rover to perform the intended scientific exploration. Each of these has it own unique challenges and is intertwined given the integrated nature of the design. The rover's complex science payload, sampling system and overall scale resulted in many technical challenges. This paper will present a few examples of the systems engineering challenges overcome during the development of the Curiosity rover.