Mars Pathfinder, launching on December 2, 1996 and landing on Mars on July 4, 1997, will demonstrate a low-cost delivery system to the surface of Mars. Historically, spacecraft that orbit or land on a distant body carry massive amounts of fuel for braking at the planet. Pathfinder requires fuel only to navigate to Mars; the spacecraft aerobrakes into the Mars atmosphere directly from Earth-Mars transfer trajectory, deploys a parachute at 10 km above the surface and, within 100 m of the surface, fires solid rockets for final braking prior to deployment of airbags that cushion touchdown. After landing, petals open to upright the lander, followed by deployment of a small rover and several science instruments.


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    Title :

    Progress Report on Mars Pathfinder Project Approach


    Contributors:

    Publication date :

    1995-10-01


    Type of media :

    Miscellaneous


    Type of material :

    No indication


    Language :

    English


    Keywords :


    Mars Pathfinder Project Progress Report

    Spear, Anthony J. | NTRS | 1995


    Mars Pathfinder Project Progress Report

    Golombek, Matthew P. / Spear, Anthony J. | NTRS | 1996


    Mars Pathfinder project progress report

    Spear, A. J. / Golombek, M. P. / International Academy of Astronautics | British Library Conference Proceedings | 1996


    Progress Report on Mars Pathfinder Project Approach

    Spear, A. J. / IEEE; Aerospace and Electronics Systems Society | British Library Conference Proceedings | 1996


    Mars Pathfinder project progress report

    Spear, Anthony J. | Online Contents | 1996