The Latest Activities and Innovations for the Parachute-free Landing Analysis Efforts for Mars Sample Return Vehicle

The developmental activities for a passively stable Earth Entry System (EES) to safely return Martian samples to Earth are reported from the perspective of the past and current programs conducted through the CRashworthiness for Aerospace Structures and Hybrids (CRASH) Lab. The aerodynamically stable Entry, Descent, and Landing (EDL) EES relies on impact attenuation and the redirection of loads away from the Returnable Sample Tube Assemblies (RSTA) gathered by the Perseverance Rover. The CRASH Lab has collaborated with NASA on MSR for many years. The work generated from such collaboration includes EES linear and stochastic optimization techniques for developing EES subsystems, parameterization of critical impacting mechanisms, high fidelity structural modeling, uncertainty quantification, and analyses of mission-critical structures pursuant to Planetary Protection (PP). From the inception of the EES (previously called Earth Entry Vehicle or EEV), there have been several structural concepts and iterations, where each holds its own innovation merits. This paper will underscore the values and contributions of some of these concepts to their subsequent developments and, ultimately, the baseline sample carrier and entry system. Publicly released deliverables from the CRASH Lab on NASA and JPL-sponsored programs, which have played a significant role in the assessment, developmental directions, and broad acceptance of the MSR EES, will be presented. The paper will further relay the importance of establishing long-lasting government, industry, and university collaborations that crosslink multiple academic generations.