Engineering topics
Edwards, Chad
Publications and source records attributed to Edwards, Chad.
The Mars Science Orbiter Concept
This paper describes a possible mission concept for the 2013 Mars launch opportunity. The actual NASA Mars Program plans and implementation may differ.
Mars Communications Network
This viewgraph presentation discusses the need for a relay network at Mars and investments needed for a Mars relay network.
Mars Network - a telecommunications and navigation infrastructure for Mars exploration
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Orbit Design Based on the Global Maps of Telecom Metrics
In this paper we describe an orbit design aide tool, called Telecom Orbit Analysis and Simulation Tool(TOAST). Although it can be used for studying and selecting orbits for any planet, we solely concentrate on its use for Mars. By specifying the six orbital elements for an orbit, a time frame of interest, a horizon mask angle, and some telecom parameters such as the transmitting power, frequency, antenna gains, antenna losses, link margin, received threshold powers for the rates, etc. this tool enables the user to view the animation of the orbit in two and three-dimensional different telecom metrics at any point on the Mars, namely the global planetary map.
An evolving Mars telecommunications network to enable exploration and increase science data return
The coming decade of Mars exploration involves a variety of unique telecommunications challenges. Increasing spatial and spectral resolution of in situ science instruments drive the need for increased bandwidth. At the same time, many innovative and low-cost in situ mission concepts are enabled by energy-efficient relay communications. In response to these needs, the Mars Exploration Program has established a plan for an evolving orbital infrastructure that can provide enhancing and enabling telecommunications services to future Mars missions. We will present the evolving capabilities of this network over the coming decade in terms of specific quantitative metrics such as data volume per sol and required lander energy per Gb of returned data for representative classes of Mars exploration spacecraft.