The Mars Global Surveyor spacecraft was initially placed into a high eccentricity, nearly polar orbit about Mars with a 45-hour period. To accomplish the science objectives of the mission, a 2-hour, circular orbit was required. Using a method known as aerobraking, numerous passes through the upper atmosphere slowed the spacecraft, thereby reducing the orbital period and eccentricity. To successfully perform aerobraking, the spacecraft was designed to be longitudinally, aerodynamically stable in pitch and yaw. Since the orbit is nearly polar, the yaw orientation of the spacecraft was sensitive to disturbances caused by the zonal components of wind (east-to-west or west-to-east) acting on the spacecraft at aerobraking altitudes. Zonal wind velocities were computed by equating the aerodynamic and inertia-related torques acting on the spacecraft. Comparisons of calculated zonal winds with those computed from the Mars Thermospheric Global Circulation Model are discussed.


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    Title :

    Calculation of Zonal Winds using Accelerometer and Rate Data from Mars Global Surveyor


    Contributors:

    Conference:

    AIAA/AAS Astrodynamics Specialist Conference ; 2006 ; Keystone, CO, United States


    Publication date :

    2006-08-21


    Type of media :

    Conference paper


    Type of material :

    No indication


    Language :

    English




    Calculation of Zonal Winds Using Accelerometer and Rate Data from Mars Global Surveyor

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    Zonal Wind Calculations from Mars Global Surveyor Accelerometer and Rate Data

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