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Aerocapture vehicle mission design concepts for the inner and outer planetsThe paper presents mission design concepts using an aerocapture vehicle for future missions to the inner and outer planets which require substantial payloads in orbit that can not be readily realized using the present Space Transportation System (STS). Aerocapture is a mission design technique that utilizes aerodynamically controlled atmospheric entry to capture payloads into orbit as opposed to a completely propulsive orbit insertion. Results are presented which demonstrate great performance gains and acceptable accuracy using aerocapture. Attention is also given to the potential for aerocapture vehicle system design commonality for different missions, in order to demonstrate the ability of aerocapture as an interplanetary delivery technique to substantially augment the STS performance capabilities.
Document ID
19790063197
Acquisition Source
Legacy CDMS
Document Type
Conference Paper
Authors
Cruz, M. I.
(California Institute of Technology, Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Systems Div., Pasadena Calif., United States)
Date Acquired
August 9, 2013
Publication Date
June 1, 1979
Subject Category
Astrodynamics
Report/Patent Number
AAS PAPER 79-115
Meeting Information
Meeting: American Astronautical Society and American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics, Astrodynamics Specialist Conference
Location: Provincetown, MA
Start Date: June 25, 1979
End Date: June 27, 1979
Sponsors: American Astronautical Society, American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics
Accession Number
79A47210
Funding Number(s)
CONTRACT_GRANT: NAS7-100
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Other

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