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Systems Analysis Lecture by Robert Braun |
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Date: October 17, 2006
Time: 1:00pm
Location: NASA Langley Research Center, Building 1209, Room 180
Additional Information: Bio | Presentation (PDF)
Mars Exploration Entry, Descent and Landing Challenges
Robert D. Braun, Georgia Tech
The United States has successfully landed five robotic systems on the
surface of Mars. These systems all had landed mass below 0.6 metric tons
(t), had landed footprints on the order of hundreds of km and landed at
sites below -1 km MOLA elevation due the need to perform entry, descent and
landing operations in an environment with sufficient atmospheric density.
Current plans for human exploration of Mars call for the landing of 40-80 t
surface elements at scientifically interesting locations within close
proximity (10's of m) of pre-positioned robotic assets. This paper
summarizes past successful entry, descent and landing systems and
approaches being developed by the robotic Mars exploration program to
increased landed performance (mass, accuracy and surface elevation). In
addition, the entry, descent and landing sequence for a human exploration
system will be reviewed, highlighting the technology and systems advances
required.
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