Robotic missions to Mars - Paving the way for humansNASA is in the planning stages of a program leading to the human exploration of Mars. A critical element in that program is a set of robotic missions that will acquire information on the Martian environment and test critical functions (such as aerobraking) at the planet. This paper presents some history of Mars missions, as well as results of recent studies of the Mars robotic missions that are under consideration as part of the exploration program. These missions include: (1) global synoptic geochemical and climatological characterization from orbit (Mars Observer), (2) global network of small meteorological and seismic stations, (3) sample returns, (4) reconnaissance orbiters and (5) rovers.
Document ID
19910029396
Acquisition Source
Legacy CDMS
Document Type
Conference Paper
Authors
Pivirotto, D. S. (Jet Propulsion Lab., California Inst. of Tech. Pasadena, CA, United States)
Bourke, R. D. (Jet Propulsion Lab., California Inst. of Tech. Pasadena, CA, United States)
Cunningham, G. E. (Jet Propulsion Lab., California Inst. of Tech. Pasadena, CA, United States)
Golombek, M. P. (Jet Propulsion Lab., California Inst. of Tech. Pasadena, CA, United States)
Sturms, F. M. (JPL Pasadena, CA, United States)
Kahl, R. C. (Jet Propulsion Lab., California Inst. of Tech. Pasadena, CA, United States)
Lance, N. (NASA Johnson Space Center Houston, TX, United States)
Martin, J. S. (NASA Headquarters Washington, DC United States)