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Systems Engineering and Technology Considerations of a Mars Ascent VehicleA Mars Ascent Vehicle (MAV) systems engineering study is underway to define the driving requirements, system architecture, major risks, and required technology developments to support the launch of a rock core sample to a specified delivery orbit for later retrieval and return to Earth. The proposed MAV would essentially be a small-scale launch vehicle, the first of its kind to be launched autonomously from another planet. The MAV would be a flight element of the proposed Mars Sample Return (MSR) campaign architecture, which currently assumes a 2018 launch of the sample caching mission and a 2024 (Earth) launch date of the MAV and lander, with arrival on Mars in 2025. After 9 months on the surface the MAV would be erected and launched to a specified delivery orbit. In the delivery orbit it would release its payload, a 5 kg sphere containing the rock core sample. An orbiter would rendezvous and capture the payload, returning it to Earth a year later.
Document ID
20150005959
Acquisition Source
Jet Propulsion Laboratory
Document Type
Conference Paper
External Source(s)
Authors
Sengupta, Anita
(Jet Propulsion Lab., California Inst. of Tech. Pasadena, CA, United States)
Kennett, Andrew
(Jet Propulsion Lab., California Inst. of Tech. Pasadena, CA, United States)
Pauken, Mike
(Jet Propulsion Lab., California Inst. of Tech. Pasadena, CA, United States)
Trinidad, Mark
(Northrop Grumman Corp. Redondo Beach, CA, United States)
Zabrensky, Ed
(Northrop Grumman Corp. Redondo Beach, CA, United States)
Date Acquired
April 21, 2015
Publication Date
March 12, 2012
Subject Category
Launch Vehicles And Launch Operations
Meeting Information
Meeting: 2011 IEEE Aerospace Conference
Location: Big Sky, MT
Country: United States
Start Date: March 5, 2011
End Date: March 12, 2011
Sponsors: Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Other
Keywords
entry, descent, and landing (EDL)
Mars
sample return
Mars Ascent Vehicle (MAV)

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