The MSL Entry, Descent, & Landing Instrument (MEDLI) Suite is a set of engineering sensors designed to measure the atmospheric conditions and performance of the entry vehicle's heatshield of the Mars Science Laboratory during atmospheric entry and descent. The instrument suite, which flew on the Mars Science Laboratory and entered the Mars atmosphere on August 6, 2012, provided important engineering data for the design of entry systems for future planetary missions.
The Mars Science Laboratory Entry, Descent and Landing Instrumentation suite is a series of sensors embedded in the heat shield of the Mars Science Laboratory, which was launched Nov. 26, 2011, and successfully entered the Mars atmosphere Aug. 6, 2012. The MEDLI sensors successfully measured the temperature and pressure endured by the heat shield during atmospheric entry and descent at Mars.
MEDLI: Key Mission Facts
The MEDLI experiment has helped NASA dramatically reduce mass margins on future missions, enabling more robust robotic studies. It collected an order of magnitude more EDL data than previous Mars missions. Data includes: Thermocouple/recession sensor data to define aeroheating uncertainties and determine performance limits of heritage materials. Pressure data for accurate trajectory reconstruction, separation of aerodynamic/atmospheric uncertainties in hypersonic and supersonic regimes. MEDLI is in design to provide even more re-entry data on a future Mars mission. This data will enhance entry environment modeling allowing optimized spacecraft design. Will collect an order of magnitude more EDL data than all previous Mars missions Thermocouple/recession sensor data to define aeroheating uncertainties and determine performance limits of heritage materials Pressure data for accurate trajectory reconstruction, separation of aerodynamic/atmospheric uncertainties in the hypersonic and supersonic regimes
More »Organizations Performing Work | Role | Type | Location |
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Langley Research Center (LaRC) | Lead Organization | NASA Center | Hampton, Virginia |
Ames Research Center (ARC) | Supporting Organization | NASA Center | Moffett Field, California |
Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) | Supporting Organization | FFRDC/UARC | Pasadena, California |