The Mars Science Laboratory Remote Sensing Mast

The Mars Science Laboratory Remote Sensing Mast (RSM) was built to deploy, point and protect science instruments and navigation cameras used by the Curiosity rover in her mission to explore Gale Crater on Mars. The mechanical design of the RSM and the payload accommodation details are described along with some of the more difficult challenges faced in the assembly, test and operations phases of the mission. Details of the flight software design that allowed the team to meet tight pointing requirements and protect the sun-sensitive ChemCam instrument from the hazard of direct sun exposure are presented. Basic operations and early results of the performance of the mast on Mars are reviewed.