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Mars Exploration Rovers Entry, Descent, and Landing Trajectory AnalysisThe Mars Exploration Rover mission successfully landed two rovers "Spirit" and "Opportunity" on Mars on January 4th and 25th of 2004, respectively. The trajectory analysis performed to define the entry, descent, and landing (EDL) scenario is described. The entry requirements and constraints are presented, as well as uncertainties used in a Monte Carlo dispersion analysis to statistically assess the robustness of the entry design to off-nominal conditions. In the analysis, six-degree-of-freedom and three-degree-of-freedom trajectory results are compared to assess the entry characteristics of the capsule. Comparison of the preentry results to preliminary post-landing reconstruction data shows that all EDL parameters were within the requirements. In addition, the final landing position for both "Spirit" and "Opportunity" were within 15 km of the predicted landing location.
Document ID
20040095912
Acquisition Source
Langley Research Center
Document Type
Conference Paper
Authors
Desai, Prasun N. (NASA Langley Research Center Hampton, VA, United States)
Knocke, Philip C. (Jet Propulsion Lab., California Inst. of Tech. Pasadena, CA, United States)
Date Acquired
September 7, 2013
Publication Date
August 11, 2004
Subject Category
Launch Vehicles And Launch Operations
Report/Patent Number
AIAA Paper 2004-5092
Report Number: AIAA Paper 2004-5092
Meeting Information
Meeting: AIAA/AAS Astrodnamics Specialist Conference and Exhibit
Location: Providence, RI
Country: United States
Start Date: August 16, 2004
End Date: August 19, 2004
Funding Number(s)
OTHER: 23-749-30-00
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Work of the US Gov. Public Use Permitted.

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