TRICKY SCIENCE OF AEROBRAKING

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TRICKY SCIENCE OF AEROBRAKING

• HOW DO WE GET SPACECRAFT TO ORBIT MARS?

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AEROBRAKING DEFINED

• The practice of using a planetary atmosphere to
  change orbit of a spacecraft.
• Atmosphere facilitates the conversion of some
  orbital energy to thermal energy
• Aerodynamic drag on vehicle caused by particles
  of the atmosphere (drag pass)
• Net Result velocity change in spacecraft
• Reduction in spacecraft energy tighter orbit
  around planet

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HOW DOES IT WORK?
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HISTORY

• Relatively new concept
• 1st demod at Venus with Magellan spacecraft 1994
• Incorporated into Mars Global Surveyor mission
  1997
• Numerous problems
• Odyssey Mission
• 23 OCT
• 60-75 days of aerobraking
• Biggest challenge and biggest risk to mission
• Side Note
• Due to recent Martian Chemical Orbiter and
  Martian Polar Lander failures, Odyssey mission
  flag bearer for future Mars missions.

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ADVANTAGES

• After Mars Orbit Insertion (MOI) Aerobraking will
  achieve a tight circular orbit around Mars
• Required for science payload
• Lessons amount of fuel needed on spacecraft
• Decrease mass, Save

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DISADVANTAGES

• Significantly increases operational complexity
• Places another major risk element in reliability
  equation

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LINKS

• Good Aerobraking Graphic
• Excellent Description of Aerobraking
• JPL site
• Lockheed Martin Aerospace
• Mars Odyssey Updates