MarCO: Mars Cube One

Klesh, Andrew, Jet Propulsion Lab.; Baker, John J., Jet Propulsion Lab.; Krajewski, Joel, Jet Propulsion Lab.

doi:10.1117/3.2618157.ch5

Book: The Nanosatellite Revolution: 30 Years and Continuing

Editor(s): Henry Helvajian; Siegfried W. Janson

Author(s): Andrew Klesh, John Baker, Joel Krajewski

Published: 2023

https://doi.org/10.1117/3.2618157.ch5

Author Affiliations +

Abstract

The MarCO mission, from initial concept through interplanetary flight operations, is a technological demonstration to advance technology necessary to bring NanoSpacecraft into deep space. While MarCO itself took advantage of the significant developments of INSPIRE, it pioneered operational usage and laid the groundwork for many NanoSpacecraft now in development. The remainder of this chapter will focus on the lessons learned from MarCO development and flight, including from the evolution of the design through early planning, integration and test, flight operations, and InSight entry-descent-and-landing support.