Navigation and trajectory planning aspects for the Mars global surveyor (MGS) mission, are discussed. In the first 205 days of the mission since launch on 7 November July 1996, two trajectory maneuvers were successfully completed. The third maneuver was cancelled due to the accuracy of the targeting of the previous maneuvers. The final trajectory correction maneuver will occur on arrival in order to adjust the arrival conditions for the Mars orbit insertion maneuver. The planned capture orbit is highly elliptical with a 45 hour orbital period, a 300 km periapsis altitude and a descending node. Two-way coherent Doppler and time delay measurements are acquired in the X-band by the Deep Space network and used to navigate the spacecraft. After capture, the orbit will be circularized by aerobraking and propulsive maneuvers. The three-phase aerobraking maneuver is described. During the 687 earth-day observation period, navigation will maintain a 2:00 pm descending node, sun-synchronous low altitude, short periodic orbit. Ground track coverage will remain almost uniform in order to maximize data acquisition.


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    Title :

    Navigation and the Mars global surveyor mission


    Contributors:
    Esposito, P. (author) / Alwar, V. (author) / Demcak, S. (author) / Giorgini, J. (author) / Graat, E. (author) / Johnston, M. (author)

    Publication date :

    1997-08-01


    Type of media :

    Conference paper


    Type of material :

    No indication


    Language :

    English




    Navigation and the Mars Global Surveyor Mission

    Johnston, M. / Graat, E. / Giorgini, J. et al. | NTRS | 1997


    Navigation and the Mars global surveyor mission

    Esposito, P. | British Library Online Contents | 1997


    Navigation and the Mars global surveyor mission

    Esposito, P. / European Space Agency | British Library Conference Proceedings | 1997


    Navigation and the Mars Global Surveyor Mission

    Alwar, V. / Graat, E. / Johnston, M. et al. | NTRS | 1997


    Mars Global Surveyor Mission

    Cunningham, G.E. | Online Contents | 1996