Mars atmosphere and volatile evolution mission instrument integration and test challenges

This paper focuses on the many challenges involved in the integration and test of the Mars Atmosphere and Volatile EvolutioN (MAVEN) mission instrument packages both standalone and with the spacecraft. MAVEN is on schedule for a November 2013 launch from Kennedy Space Center (KSC) in Florida. The instrument packages manifested for MAVEN will provide the data required to determine the impact on climate due to atmospheric loss to space. MAVEN will accomplish this by measuring the structure, composition, and variability of all regions from which escape occurs, and will sample all local solar times and most latitudes. The requirements imposed on the mission dictate the need for a rigorous ground test program and well defined spacecraft interfaces, while the fixed launch date requires innovative and timely solutions to reduce both technical and schedule risk during the test program. The test limitations and constraints will be covered, with unique tests and methods discussed in detail. Among these are high voltage operations, magnetic and optics testing. The mechanical and electrical interfaces to the spacecraft, along with the instrument interactions that drove those interface requirements will be included. All the MAVEN instruments have been successfully integrated to the spacecraft; and lessons learned that have resulted in a test program that not only lowers risk, but allowed the majority of the instruments to adhere to their original delivery schedules will be presented.