Application of solar-electric propulsion to extensive Martian surface observation is examined; spacecraft design that employs 370-sqm solar arrays, electron-bombardment ion engines, and vidicon or photographic film camera systems is described; spacecraft is chemically boosted into escape trajectory from which heliocentric transfer to Mars is accomplished by way of electric propulsion; at Mars high polar orbit near terminator is established with chemical retropropulsion system; entire solar array is retained and provides sufficient power to enable electric thrusters to adjust orbit plane for optimum photography and lower spacecraft into series of decreasingly smaller orbits from which variety of observations is possible.


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    Title :

    Photographic exploration of mars with solar-electric propulsion


    Additional title:

    J Spacecraft Rockets


    Contributors:

    Published in:

    Publication date :

    1968


    Size :

    7 pages


    Type of media :

    Article (Journal)


    Type of material :

    Print


    Language :

    English


    Keywords :



    Photographic exploration of Mars with solar- electric propulsion.

    Prasthofer, W. P. / Vachon, R. I. / Wood, L. H. | NTRS | 1967


    Photographic exploration of Mars with solar- electric propulsion

    PRASTHOFER, W. / VACHON, R. / WOOD, L.H. | AIAA | 1967


    Photographic exploration of Mars with solar- electric propulsion.

    Prasthofer, W. P. / Vachon, R. I. / Wood, L. H. | NTRS | 1968


    Planetary photographic exploration with solar- electric propulsion.

    Dailey, C. C. / Katz, L. / Vachon, R. I. et al. | NTRS | 1967