Abstract The most commonly used mode of communications between Earth and a Mars surface mission is ultrahigh frequency (UHF) radio relay via a Mars orbiter. There are four orbiters and two surface rovers operating at Mars and by October there should be five orbiters and three landers or rovers. There has been some collaboration between ESA’s Mars Express orbiter and NASA’s rovers, but 2016 is when Mars relay becomes fully international. In October, ESA will deliver the ExoMars Trace Gas Orbiter (TGO) and Entry, Descent, and Landing (EDL) Demonstrator Module (EDM) lander to Mars. The ExoMars program includes both ESA and ROSCOSMOS, with NASA participation (the Electra UHF transceiver on TGO). NASA orbiters will provide relay for EDM and future ESA Mars landers and rovers. TGO will provide relay for NASA’s current and future surface assets (as Mars Express will continue to do).
Enabling International Data Relay at Mars
2017-01-01
31 pages
Article/Chapter (Book)
Electronic Resource
English
Enabling International Data Relay at Mars
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