Characterization of a Radiometer Window for Mars Aftbody Heating Including Ablation Product Deposition Using a Miniature Arc Jet

Abstract: The Mars Entry, Descent, and Landing Instrumentation 2 (MEDLI2) sensor suite for the Mars 2020 mission includes a radiometer on the backshell to measure the radiative heating during entry into the Martian atmosphere. Thermal Protection System (TPS) ablation products may be deposited on the radiometer window which would degrade the transmission and thus alter the accuracy of the radiometer readings. Testing in NASA Ames Research Center’s miniature arc jet (mARC) facility was conducted to depos…