The paper presents mission design concepts using an aerocapture vehicle for future missions to the inner and outer planets which require substantial payloads in orbit that can not be readily realized using the present Space Transportation System (STS). Aerocapture is a mission design technique that utilizes aerodynamically controlled atmospheric entry to capture payloads into orbit as opposed to a completely propulsive orbit insertion. Results are presented which demonstrate great performance gains and acceptable accuracy using aerocapture. Attention is also given to the potential for aerocapture vehicle system design commonality for different missions, in order to demonstrate the ability of aerocapture as an interplanetary delivery technique to substantially augment the STS performance capabilities.
Aerocapture vehicle mission design concepts for the inner and outer planets
American Astronautical Society and American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics, Astrodynamics Specialist Conference ; 1979 ; Provincetown, MA
1979-06-01
Conference paper
No indication
English
Outer Planet Mission Studies Neptune Aerocapture
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