Skip to content

DN-004 M: Human-scale EDL atmospheric entry environment characterization

Better models of how pressure, density, wind, temperature and aerosols vary with altitude in the Mars atmosphere, over the heights that matter for human-class entry, descent and landing (EDL), with better coverage in time and space. "No human-scale descent vehicle has ever descended through the Martian atmosphere", and without this data the EDL risks "may not be able to close". Robotic landers "have consistently landed downwind of their intended targets". No source ties it to the Moon Base (Data gaps spreadsheet, DN-004 M).

Quotations below are from row DN-004 M of the data gaps spreadsheet. ADD Rev C's Appendix E prints the same record as a table, and it matches the row field for field (ADD Rev C, p. 287).

Description

"Refine models of vertical variability in atmospheric pressure, density, winds, temperature, and aerosol loading in the Martian atmosphere across altitudes relevant to human-class EDL. Improve temporal and spatial coverage to reduce uncertainty in descent and ascent trajectory predictions."

Need driver and data type

  • Need driver: Mars Surface Natural Environment Characterization
  • Data type: In Situ Measurement

Target measurement parameters

"Measurement of atmospheric pressure, wind velocity, temperature, atmospheric composition at various altitudes above representative surface sites."

Current state of data

"Pressure data from instrumented EDL systems, atmospheric profiles/models. Mars global reference atmospheric model (Mars GRAM) and orbiter data for atmospheric composition. Mars GRAM is built to inform EDL and ascent simulations; uncertainties increase at surface level."

Impact if data is unavailable

"Without further understanding of the Martian atmosphere, operational risks for human-scale EDL may not be able to close. No human-scale descent vehicle has ever descended through the Martian atmosphere and landed safely on the surface."

Benefits if data is available

"Mars robotic landers have consistently landed downwind of their intended targets. Increased understanding of the Martian atmosphere may lead to increased landing accuracy."

Traceability

  • Objectives: TH-06 M, TH-07 M (codes as printed; the sheet gives no titles)
  • Segment: Humans to Mars (H2M): "The M2M segment during which the data is needed, but not necessarily when it is collected" (Data gaps spreadsheet, Key sheet).

Priority

None. The spreadsheet has no priority field. The white paper calls the Rev C list "not a comprehensive or prioritized representation of NASA's data needs" (ACR25 data-gaps white paper, p. 4).

Moon Base relevance

Not established by the sources so far. The Users Guide's data-gap mapping covers lunar gaps only (Users Guide, pp. 12–13).

Sources

Data gaps spreadsheet, DN-004 M · ACR25 data-gaps white paper, p. 4 · Users Guide, pp. 12–13 · ADD Rev C, p. 287 · Mars EDL Challenges (2024), p. 3