Future missions to Mars will require a communications system to link activities on the Martian surface with each other and with mission controllers on earth. This paper documents the preliminary design of an areosynchronous communications satellite to provide such links. As designed, the satellite will provide almost continuous communication between Mars and earth, as well as continuous Mars surface-to-surface links. The capacity will exist for voice, data/command, and video transmission. The mission scenario assumed for this design is described, followed by the configuration design. The communications systems conceptual design and its impact on the overall spacecraft requirements are then presented. Supporting subsystems including electrical power; thermal control; guidance, navigation, and control; propulsion; structures; and configuration are reviewed. A description of the operating orbit and the assumed method of orbit acquisition are discussed.
Conceptual design of a communications system for Mars exploration missions
1989-01-01
Aufsatz (Konferenz)
Keine Angabe
Englisch
AIAA | 1990
|NTRS | 1990
|Mars exploration advances: Missions to Mars - Mars base
NTRS | 1992
|Mars exploration advances: Missions to Mars - Mars base
AIAA | 1992
|