Look Before You Leap: Installing R13 on the Curiosity Mars Rover

In April of 2023 the Curiosity Mars Science Laboratory updated the flight software onboard the primary flight computer for the first time in six years. This paper describes the preparations to update the flight software and the process to update the onboard software. The flight software transition was designed to verify success at every step before proceeding to the next part of the activity. When possible, multiple chances for success were enabled, and backups and contingency plans were in place for the full transition. The result was a smooth and anomaly free flight software transition that allowed for a rapid return to science operations.