Engineering topics
Spear, Anthony J.
Publications and source records attributed to Spear, Anthony J..
Mars Pathfinder Project Progress Report
This paper reports on thestatus of Mars Pathfinder's drive to space qualify its flight system for launch on December 2, 1996 under a cost cap- in particular how the project is dealing with qualification fo its entry, descent and landing event and the surface operations phase as well as the normal launch and space flight phases. It also reports on its landing site selection and science plan.
Progress Report on Mars Pathfinder Project Approach
Mars Pathfinder, launching on December 2, 1996 and landing on Mars on July 4, 1997, will demonstrate a low-cost delivery system to the surface of Mars. Historically, spacecraft that orbit or land on a distant body carry massive amounts of fuel for braking at the planet. Pathfinder requires fuel only to navigate to Mars; the spacecraft aerobrakes into the Mars atmosphere directly from Earth-Mars transfer trajectory, deploys a parachute at 10 km above the surface and, within 100 m of the surface, fires solid rockets for final braking prior to deployment of airbags that cushion touchdown. After landing, petals open to upright the lander, followed by deployment of a small rover and several science instruments.
Mars Pathfinder Project Progress Report
Mars Pathfinder, launching on December 2, 1996 and landing on mars on July 4, 1997, will
Low Cost Approach to Pathfinder
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Low Cost Approach to (MESUR) Pathfinder and Network
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Low Cost Approach to Mars Pathfinder and Small Landers
NASA'sMars Surveyor Program will launch several small orbiters to Mars, each carrying subsets fo the Mars Observer instruments, starting as early as '96, to achieve the Mars Observer Mission objectives. Small landers will follow, as early as '98, accomplishing surface investigations as determined by the NASA AO process.