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Mars Pathfinder Airbag Impact Attenuation SystemThe Mars Pathfinder spacecraft, scheduled for launch in December 1996, is designed to validate a low cost Entry, Descent, and Landing system and to perform scientific surface operations. The Jet Propulsion Laboratory and Sandia National Laboratories teamed to design, fabricate, test and validate a prototype 0.38 scale model of an airbag impact attenuation system. A computer code was developed to predict the performance of the airbag system. A test program in Sandia's High Altitude Chamber was performed to validate the code and demonstrate the feasibility of the airbag concept and design. In addition, freefall tests were performed at representative velocities to demonstrate the structural integrity of the airbag system design. The feasibility program demonstrated that the airbag impact attenuation design will protect the lander upon impact with the Martian surface.
Document ID
20100042133
Acquisition Source
Jet Propulsion Laboratory
Document Type
Conference Paper
External Source(s)
Authors
Waye, Donald
(Sandia National Labs. Albuquerque, NM, United States)
Cole, J. Kenneth
(Sandia National Labs. Albuquerque, NM, United States)
Rivellini, Tommaso P.
(Jet Propulsion Lab., California Inst. of Tech. Pasadena, CA, United States)
Date Acquired
August 25, 2013
Publication Date
March 1, 1995
Subject Category
Spacecraft Design, Testing And Performance
Report/Patent Number
AIAA-95-1552-CP
Funding Number(s)
OTHER: DPR WO-9004
CONTRACT_GRANT: DE-AC04-94ALK85000
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Other
Keywords
Mars Pathfinder

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