AbstractMars is the first planet where significant steps are being taken to establish a “virtual presence throughout the solar system”—one of NASA's strategic goals. Preparations are under way to begin implementation of an evolving Mars Network of satellites to meet the future communications and navigation challenges of the ongoing international Mars exploration campaign. The Mars Network concept is to deploy two classes of satellites. The first class is very low-cost MicroSats, launched piggyback on Ariane 5, for deployment in 800-km circular orbits in a variety of planes for frequent global contacts. From their low orbits, the MicroSats provide highly efficient relay communication links for small, energy constrained landers, and their orbital motion provides strong navigation signatures. The second, larger class of Mars areostationary satellites (MARSats) are deployed in 17,000-km orbits with 1-sol periods, as required, to support very high bandwidth users.


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    Title :

    Mars network for enabling low-cost missions


    Contributors:
    Hastrup, R.C. (author) / Bell, D.J. (author) / Cesarone, R.J. (author) / Edwards, C.D. (author) / Ely, T.A. (author) / Guinn, J.R. (author) / Rosell, S.N. (author) / Srinivasan, J.M. (author) / Townes, S.A. (author)

    Published in:

    Acta Astronautica ; 52 , 2-6 ; 227-235


    Publication date :

    2002-01-01


    Size :

    9 pages




    Type of media :

    Article (Journal)


    Type of material :

    Electronic Resource


    Language :

    English



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    Mars network for enabling low-cost missions

    Hastrup, R.C. | Online Contents | 2003


    Mars network for enabling low-cost missions

    Hastrup, R. C. / Bell, D. J. / Cesarone, R. J. et al. | British Library Conference Proceedings | 2003


    Mars Relay Satellite: Key to Enabling Low-Cost Exploration Missions

    Hastrup, R. / Cesarone, R. / Miller, A. | NTRS | 1993