Title:
Challenges of Mars Entry, Descent and Landing
Challenges of Mars Entry, Descent and Landing
Author(s)
Braun, Robert D.
Manning, Robert M.
Manning, Robert M.
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Abstract
The United States has successfully landed five
robotic systems on the surface of Mars. These systems all
had landed mass below 0.6 metric tons (t), had landed
footprints on the order of hundreds of km and landed at sites
below -1 km MOLA elevation due the need to perform
entry, descent and landing operations in an environment
with sufficient atmospheric density. Current plans for
human exploration of Mars call for the landing of 40-80 t
surface elements at scientifically interesting locations within
close proximity (10’s of m) of pre-positioned robotic assets.
This paper summarizes past successful entry, descent and
landing systems and approaches being developed by the
robotic Mars exploration program to increased landed
performance (mass, accuracy and surface elevation). In
addition, the entry, descent and landing sequence for a
human exploration system will be reviewed, highlighting
the technology and systems advances required.
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Date Issued
2006-03
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3646225 bytes
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Text
Resource Subtype
Paper