AbstractPresent Entry, Descent and Landing (EDL) technology for interplanetary missions does not have the capabilities to meet the demanding requirements that come with future missions. A popular target for such missions is Mars and today efforts are made to send manned as well as sophisticated robotic probes to the Martian surface. Because present EDL technology has reached its limits, fundamentally new approaches are needed to significantly extend capabilities. Systematic evaluation of novel EDL technologies and optimization of EDL strategies are crucial needs for conceptual design. A computational framework will be presented tailored to enable systematic EDL analysis with special regards to novel EDL technology and event strategies. The benefits of flexible heat shield concepts that come with liberties in the choice of the ballistic coefficient will be shown in comparison with solid shield alternatives for payload classes of 2, 25 and 40 tonnes to show potential for manned and robotic missions. Furthermore, benefits of the new methodology for novel EDL event strategies are presented and discussed. The introduced methodology will help designers exploit new directions for conceptual design regarding EDL systems in terms of entry mass optimization and mission capabilities.

    HighlightsEDL demands and limits with special regards to future Mars missions are outlined.Computational methods to analyse and optimize EDL designs are introduced.A novel approach to show benefits of the use of new technologies is presented.New EDL technology is able to undercut present designs in terms of entry mass.The presented EDL strategy does have the ability to extend present capacities.


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    Title :

    Strategies to utilize advanced heat shield technology for high-payload mars atmospheric entry missions


    Contributors:
    Braun, Max (author) / Bruce, Paul (author) / Levis, Errikos (author)

    Published in:

    Acta Astronautica ; 136 ; 22-33


    Publication date :

    2017-03-06


    Size :

    12 pages




    Type of media :

    Article (Journal)


    Type of material :

    Electronic Resource


    Language :

    English




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