Title:
Entry Descent and Landing Challenges of Human Mars Exploration
Entry Descent and Landing Challenges of Human Mars Exploration
Author(s)
Wells, Grant William
Lafleur, Jarret M.
Verges, Amanda
Manyapu, Kavya
Christian, John A., III
Lewis, Charity
Braun, Robert D.
Lafleur, Jarret M.
Verges, Amanda
Manyapu, Kavya
Christian, John A., III
Lewis, Charity
Braun, Robert D.
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Abstract
Near-term capabilities for robotic spacecraft include a target of landing
1 - 2 metric ton payloads with a precision of about 10 kilometers, at moderate
altitude landing sites (as high as +2 km MOLA). While challenging, these
capabilities are modest in comparison to the requirements for landing human
crews on Mars. Human Mars exploration studies imply the capability to safely
land 40 - 80 metric ton payloads with a precision of tens of meters, possibly at
even higher altitudes. New entry, descent and landing challenges imposed by the
large mass requirements of human Mars exploration include: (1) the potential
need for aerocapture prior to entry, descent and landing and associated thermal
protection strategies, (2) large aeroshell diameter requirements, (3) severe mass
fraction restrictions, (4) rapid transition from the hypersonic entry mode to a
descent and landing configuration, (5) the need for supersonic propulsion
initiation, and (6) increased system reliability. This investigation explores the
potential of extending robotic entry, descent and landing architectures to human
missions and highlights the challenges of landing large payloads on the surface
of Mars.
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Date Issued
2006-02
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Text
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Paper