True Airspeed: Spacecraft Aerobraking Orbit Determination and Dynamics at Venus and Mars

Details True Airspeed: Spacecraft Aerobraking Orbit Determination and Dynamics at Venus and Mars True Airspeed: Spacecraft Aerobraking Orbit Determination and Dynamics at Venus and Mars

Sep 1998

adsabs.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/nph-data_query?bibcode=1998dda....30.0901g&link_type=abstract

American Astronomical Society, DDA meeting #30, #09.01; Bulletin of the American Astronomical Society, Vol. 30, p.1145

Physics

Scientific paper

Use of planetary atmospheres to non-propulsively alter spacecraft orbits allows selection of less costly launch vehicles, but demands an integrated approach to a spectrum of dynamical challenges. These include atmospheric physics, gravity field determination and spacecraft maneuvering events, in the presence of a continuously changing, close-proximity orbit, often with measurement-geometry singularities. To reconstruct, estimate and predict the spacecraft trajectory, radiometric tracking data from the Deep Space Network are collected, then used in a weighted least-squares batch sense, along with dynamical computer models, to estimate, characterize and predict spacecraft dynamics. Inability to solve for the actual forces acting on the spacecraft, and thus predict its trajectory, can result in rapid loss of mission. The Magellan spacecraft was successfully aerobraked into a near-circular 90-minute orbit during the summer of 1993. 730 passes through the atmosphere of Venus were navigated remotely by ground controllers, presenting many new challenges to the navigation teams' orbit determination task. While Magellan aerobraked in the later stages of its' mapping mission, the Mars Global Surveyor spacecraft does so to achieve the nominal science orbit, contending with dust storms and highly variable atmospheric conditions along the way. With MGS still in the early stages of aerobraking, the orbit determination strategies, differences, similarities and lessons-learned from these two missions will be discussed.

Affiliated with

Also associated with

No associations

Rating

True Airspeed: Spacecraft Aerobraking Orbit Determination and Dynamics at Venus and Mars does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this scientific paper.

If you have personal experience with True Airspeed: Spacecraft Aerobraking Orbit Determination and Dynamics at Venus and Mars, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and True Airspeed: Spacecraft Aerobraking Orbit Determination and Dynamics at Venus and Mars will most certainly appreciate the feedback.

Rate now

Comments { 0 }

Profile ID: LFWR-SCP-O-814608