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Comparison of Statistical Estimation Techniques for Mars Entry, Descent, and Landing Reconstruction from MEDLI-like Data SourcesFlight data from an entry, descent, and landing (EDL) sequence can be used to reconstruct the vehicle's trajectory, aerodynamic coefficients and the atmospheric profile experienced by the vehicle. Past Mars missions have contained instruments that do not provide direct measurement of the freestream atmospheric conditions. Thus, the uncertainties in the atmospheric reconstruction and the aerodynamic database knowledge could not be separated. The upcoming Mars Science Laboratory (MSL) will take measurements of the pressure distribution on the aeroshell forebody during entry and will allow freestream atmospheric conditions to be partially observable. This data provides a mean to separate atmospheric and aerodynamic uncertainties and is part of the MSL EDL Instrumentation (MEDLI) project. Methods to estimate the flight performance statistically using on-board measurements are demonstrated here through the use of simulated Mars data. Different statistical estimators are used to demonstrate which estimator best quantifies the uncertainties in the flight parameters. The techniques demonstrated herein are planned for application to the MSL flight dataset after the spacecraft lands on Mars in August 2012.
Document ID
20120001471
Acquisition Source
Langley Research Center
Document Type
Conference Paper
Authors
Dutta, Soumyo (Georgia Inst. of Tech. Atlanta, GA, United States)
Braun, Robert D. (Georgia Inst. of Tech. Atlanta, GA, United States)
Russell, Ryan P. (Georgia Inst. of Tech. Atlanta, GA, United States)
Clark, Ian G. (Georgia Inst. of Tech. Atlanta, GA, United States)
Striepe, Scott A. (NASA Langley Research Center Hampton, VA, United States)
Date Acquired
August 25, 2013
Publication Date
January 9, 2012
Subject Category
Astrodynamics
Report/Patent Number
NF1676L-14037
AIAA Paper 2012-0400
Meeting Information
Meeting: 50th AIAA Aerospace Sciences Meeting and Exhibit
Location: Nashville, TN
Country: United States
Start Date: January 9, 2012
End Date: January 12, 2012
Sponsors: American Inst. of Aeronautics and Astronautics
Funding Number(s)
WBS: WBS 599489.02.07.07.16.01
CONTRACT_GRANT: NNX08AI18A
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Public Use Permitted.

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