Title:
Mission Architecture Considerations for Recovery of High-Altitude Atmospheric Dust Samples
Mission Architecture Considerations for Recovery of High-Altitude Atmospheric Dust Samples
Author(s)
Miller, Matthew J.
Steinfeldt, Bradley A.
Braun, Robert D.
Steinfeldt, Bradley A.
Braun, Robert D.
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Abstract
In this investigation, a parametric study for the preliminary design of an Earth atmospheric dust collection and recovery mission has been conducted. The scientific goal of this mission is to sample and recover mesospheric dust and particulate matter. Suborbital flight trajectories, vehicle configurations, and deceleration technologies were analyzed using conceptual models. The trajectory is shown to be driven by the science objective (sample collection at 45 km to 85 km in altitude) and the target dust and particulate matter size. Preliminary vehicle configuration results indicate an insensitivity to landing dispersion and show a spacecraft-dependent relation to total heating. From the initial results, the design space is pruned and three reference mission architectures are defined—one which utilizes a standard disk-gap-band parachute and two that utilize supersonic inflatable aerodynamic decelerators. With use of the inflatable aerodynamic decelerator, drag modulation is shown to be able to reduce the landed uncertainty in downrange by approximately 6.8 km at the 95% confidence level.
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Date Issued
2013-08
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Text
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Paper
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