NASA/TM-2006-214522 Mars Aerocapture Systems Study Henry S. Wright Langley Research Center, Hampton, Virginia David Y. Oh Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Pasadena, California Carlos H. Westhelle Johnson Space Center, Houston, Texas Jody L. Fisher National Institute of Aerospace, Hampton, Virginia R. Eric Dyke Swales Aerospace, Hampton, Virginia Karl T. Edquist Langley Research Center, Hampton, Virginia James L. Brown Ames Research Center, Hampton, Virginia Hilary L. Justh Marshall Space Flight Center, Huntsville, Alabama Michelle M. Munk Marshall Space Flight Center, Huntsville, Alabama November 2006 The NASA STI Program Office . in Profile Since its founding, NASA has been dedicated to the • CONFERENCE PUBLICATION. Collected advancement of aeronautics and space science. 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[email protected] • TECHNICAL MEMORANDUM. Scientific • Fax your question to the NASA STI Help Desk and technical findings that are preliminary or of at (301) 621-0134 specialized interest, e.g., quick release reports, working papers, and bibliographies that contain minimal annotation. Does not contain extensive • Phone the NASA STI Help Desk at analysis. (301) 621-0390 • CONTRACTOR REPORT. Scientific and • Write to: technical findings by NASA-sponsored NASA STI Help Desk contractors and grantees. NASA Center for AeroSpace Information 7121 Standard Drive Hanover, MD 21076-1320 NASA/TM-2006-214522 Mars Aerocapture Systems Study Henry S. Wright Langley Research Center, Hampton, Virginia David Y. Oh Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Pasadena, California Carlos H. Westhelle Johnson Space Center, Houston, Texas Jody L. Fisher National Institute of Aerospace, Hampton, Virginia R. Eric Dyke Swales Aerospace, Hampton, Virginia Karl T. Edquist Langley Research Center, Hampton, Virginia James L. Brown Ames Research Center, Hampton, Virginia Hilary L. Justh Marshall Space Flight Center, Huntsville, Alabama Michelle M. Munk Marshall Space Flight Center, Huntsville, Alabama National Aeronautics and Space Administration Langley Research Center Hampton, Virginia 23681-2199 November 2006 Available from: NASA Center for AeroSpace Information (CASI) National Technical Information Service (NTIS) 7121 Standard Drive 5285 Port Royal Road Hanover, MD 21076-1320 Springfield, VA 22161-2171 (301) 621-0390 (703) 605-6000 Contents Contents............................................................................................................................................................................... i List of Tables ..................................................................................................................................................................... ii List of Figures ................................................................................................................................................................... iii Introduction........................................................................................................................................................................ 1 Symbols and Abbreviations .............................................................................................................................................. 2 Study Overview ................................................................................................................................................................. 5 MASS Problem Statement ............................................................................................................................................ 5 Aerocapture Assumptions............................................................................................................................................. 5 Study Programmatics .................................................................................................................................................... 6 Summary Results........................................................................................................................................................... 6 Comparison to Other Aeropass Missions ................................................................................................................ 6 Comparison to an All-Propulsive Option ................................................................................................................ 7 Mission Analysis ............................................................................................................................................................... 7 Mission Assessment ...................................................................................................................................................... 7 Constraints ................................................................................................................................................................. 8 Investigation of the Opportunities............................................................................................................................ 9 Baseline Mission Architecture.................................................................................................................................... 10 Arrival State (Arrival Navigation).............................................................................................................................. 11 Aerocapture Process ........................................................................................................................................................ 12 Modeling of the Atmosphere of Mars ............................................................................................................................ 12 Mars Global Reference Atmospheric Model (Mars-GRAM)................................................................................... 12 Mars-GRAM Auxiliary Profiles from Observed Data.............................................................................................. 13 Configuration and Aerodynamics................................................................................................................................... 13 Aeroshell Configuration Basis (60° vs 70° Sphere Cone) ........................................................................................ 13 Aerodynamics .............................................................................................................................................................. 14 Guidance and Integrated Trajectory Performance......................................................................................................... 15 HYPAS Guidance........................................................................................................................................................ 15 POST2 Trajectory Simulation .................................................................................................................................... 16 Simulation Results and Performance ......................................................................................................................... 16 Aeroheating Environment ............................................................................................................................................... 17 Forebody Heating Environments................................................................................................................................18 Afterbody Heating Environments............................................................................................................................... 18 Radiative