Mars Science Laboratory Descent-Stage Integrated Propulsion Subsystem: Development and Flight Performance

On 5 August 2012, the Mars Science Laboratory mission successfully landed Curiosity, the largest interplanetary rover ever built, on the surface of Mars. The entry, descent, and landing phase of this mission was by far the most complex landing ever attempted on a planetary body. The descent-stage propulsion subsystem was explicitly developed for the guided-entry and sky-crane maneuvers that enabled precise landing of Curiosity. Development of the descent-stage propulsion system required a number of new propulsion hardware developments, incorporating technologies not normally found in spacecraft propulsion subsystems. The in-flight performance of the descent-stage propulsion system was consistent with expectations, with the exception of higher than expected delivered thrust from the Mars lander engines. 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.