All the flight software aboard the two Mars Exploration Rover missions was written by engineers from NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) using software development tools from Green Hills Software.
Both the “Opportunity” rover, launched July 7, and the “Spirit” rover, launched June 10, are being directed and controlled by software programs and systems written with the use of Green Hills development tools.
“The two Mars rovers are essentially very sturdy, complex computers,” says David Kleidermacher, vice-president of engineering at Green Hills.
“And like every computer, they need specific software programs to tell them how to perform all the complex functions of space flight, landing and operation on the surface of Mars. The Green Hills tools are the building blocks for those software programs.”
JPL engineers faced a number of unique challenges when building the hardware and software for the two Mars rovers. They utilized the expertise of Green Hills’ engineers to help them rebuild the rovers’ entire operating system software with one set of software tools.
“Our engineers were able to provide JPL with the right products and professional knowledge–two elements that were critical to the success of their Mars missions,” said Kleidermacher.
On-the-Fly Software Upgrade
The Mars rover “Spirit” is scheduled to land on the red planet January 3, 2004, with the “Opportunity” rover set for a January 24, 2004 landing. Between now and then, JPL engineers, with the help of Green Hills Software’s products, will build a new version of software to be uplinked to the Mars-bound rovers. This updated software will direct the two rovers to their precise landing targets on Mars and enable them to carry out their complex scientific mission once they arrive.
