VELOCITY REQUIREMENTS FOR A SOFT LANDING ON PHOBOS OR DEIMOS IN 1969
Abstract
The velocity requirements to soft land on either Phobos or Deimos, the small Martian moons, are determined for the 1969 launch opportunity. A single impulse retro and plane change maneuver is applied at periapsis of the hyperbolic trajectory to achieve the desired final orbit about Mars. Less Delta-V is required to attain the orbit of Phobos. This fact, combined with the lower orbital altitude, makes Phobos the preferred target for a soft landing. The minimum Delta-V for a soft landing does not coincide with the minimum injection energy for a ballistic trajectory to Mars, so that a trajectory can be found that maximizes the payload landed on Phobos.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Jul 01, 1968
- Accession Number
- AD0673478
Entities
People
- J. M. Baker
Organizations
- The Aerospace Corporation