Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter Navigation Strategy for the ExoMars Schiaparelli EDM Lander Mission

The Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter (MRO) had planned to provide surface relay
support for the brief mission of the ExoMars Schiaparelli EDM lander on Mars
in October 2016. Launched with the Trace Gas Orbiter (TGO) in March 2016,
Schiaparelli and TGO composed the first part of the ExoMars program. To place
MRO directly overhead on its third overflight of the Schiaparelli landing site, two
propulsive maneuvers were performed starting three months prior to Shiaparelli’s
arrival at Mars. This paper documents the maneuver strategy employed by the
MRO Navigation Team to support the Schiaparelli overflight campaign.