Technology development plans for the Mars Sample Return mission

Mars Sample Return (MSR), a technology-rich mission, is being planned for possible launch in 2013. Project guidelines dictate all technology be at Technology Readiness Level (TRL)-6 by the PDR scheduled for mid-2009. Funding for MSR focused technology development starts in FY05. Over the last year, a MSR technology planning board has assessed technology needs and developed a plan to be implemented over the next 4 years. This paper describes this plan and how we arrived at it. The plan includes needed technologies that are being developed in other Mars Exploration Program (MEP) technology areas, and flight demonstrations that are required to reduce overall project risk.