The next phase of Mars exploration will utilize numerous globally distributed small low-cost devices including landers penetrators microrovers and balloons. Direct-to-Earth communications links if required for these landers will drive the lander design for two reasons: a) mass and complexity needed for a steerable high-gain antenna and b) power requirements for a high-power amplifier (i.e. solar panel and battery mass). Total mass of the direct link hardware for several recent small-lander designs exceeded the mass of the scientific payload. Alternatively if communications are via a Mars-orbiting relay spacecraft resource requirements for the local UHF communication link are comparatively trivial: a simple whip antenna and less than 1 watt power. Clearly using a Mars relay spacecraft (MRS) is the preferred option if the MRS mission can be accomplished in an affordable and robust way. Our paper describes a point design for such a mission launched in the s001 or 2003 opportunity.


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    Title :

    Mars Relay Spacecraft: A Low-Cost Approach


    Contributors:
    SvitekT, . (author) / King, J. (author) / Fulton, R. (author) / McOmber, R. (author) / Hastrup, R. (author) / Miller, A. (author)

    Conference:

    AIAA/Utah State University Conference on Small Satellites ; 1995 ; Logan, UT, United States


    Publication date :

    1995-09-01


    Type of media :

    Conference paper


    Type of material :

    No indication


    Language :

    English




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