The Venus Radar Mapper (VRM) mission is sponsored by NASA to put a single spacecraft in orbit around Venus to map the surface of Venus using a synthetic aperture mapping radar. The spacecraft is scheduled to be launched in April 1988 using a Shuttle-Centaur G combination. The spacecraft arrives at Venus in late July 1988 and begins its mapping mission which lasts for one Venus rotation or 243 days. This paper describes the VRM mission at its present state of design. The science objectives and project constraints are described. Key features of the spacecraft system and radar system are discussed. The interplanetary and mapping orbit design are covered. Navigation strategy is explained, including trajectory maneuvers and mapping phase orbit determination. Finally, the mapping sequences to optimize planet coverage are described.


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    Title :

    The Venus Radar Mapper (VRM) mission


    Contributors:
    Cutting, E. (author) / Kwok, J. H. (author) / Mohan, S. N. (author)

    Publication date :

    1984-01-01


    Type of media :

    Conference paper


    Type of material :

    No indication


    Language :

    English




    The venus radar mapper mission

    Dallas, S.S. | Elsevier | 1986


    The Venus radar mapper mission

    Dallas, S. S. | NTRS | 1984


    The Venus Radar Mapper (VRM) mission

    CUTTING, E. / KWOK, J. / MOHAN, S. | AIAA | 1984