The atmospheric flight environment of manned return from Mars is evaluated by analyzing the earth-return entry corridor. To identify and quantify the effects of various atmospheric exit conditions on the mission, the differences beween the capture to a specific orbit and the direct entry to a target splashdown site are investigated. The differences are quantified in terms of the airbrake lift-drag ratio requirements, the stagnation-point heating, and the significance of off-nominal atmospheric conditions. Results are presented on three different earth-return aerobraking scenarios: (1) the capture into a phasing orbit with a 24-hr period, (2) the capture into a 500-km circular orbit, and (3) the direct entry to splashdown.
Earth aerobraking strategies for manned return from Mars
1991-08-01
Conference paper
No indication
English
Earth aerobraking strategies for manned return from Mars
NTRS | 1992
|Earth aerobraking strategies for manned return from Mars
AIAA | 1991
|Earth aerobraking strategies for manned return from Mars
AIAA | 1992
|Aerobraking systems for manned Mars missions
NTRS | 1992
|