Atmospheric maneuvering during Martian entryA comparative-advantages study is made of two different Martian atmospheric entry maneuvers, on the basis of calculation results for the case of a vehicle with a maximum L/D ratio of 2.3. Entries from a highly elliptical Martian orbit at 5 km/sec are more difficult than those from a lower altitude and speed orbit at 3.5 km/sec, due to their more stringent guidance requirements. Efforts to reduce the deceleration for the higher speed entry by lift-modulation achieved a 40-percent reduction, but at the cost of a 50-percent decrease in lateral range. The lower-speed entry's gliding trajectory is noted to encounter a far more benign atmospheric environment.
Document ID
19880063362
Acquisition Source
Legacy CDMS
Document Type
Conference Paper
Authors
Tauber, Michael E. (NASA Ames Research Center Moffett Field, CA, United States)
Bowles, Jeffrey V. (NASA Ames Research Center Moffett Field, CA, United States)
Yang, Lily (Sterling Software Palo Alto, CA, United States)