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NASA NTRS · 20070032876

Maneuver Analysis and Targeting Strategy for the Stardust Re-Entry Capsule

Helfrich, Clifford E.·Bhat, Ram·Kangas, Julie·Wilson, Roby·Wong, Mau·Potts, Chris·Williams, Ken
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Abstract

Stardust employed biased maneuvers to limit turns and minimize execution errors. Biased maneuvers also addressed planetary protection and safety issues. Stardust utilized a fixed-direction burn for the final maneuver to match the prevailing attitude so no turns were needed. Performance of the final burn was calibrated in flight.

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Helfrich, Clifford E., Bhat, Ram, Kangas, Julie, Wilson, Roby, Wong, Mau, Potts, Chris, Williams, Ken. 2006-08-22. Maneuver Analysis and Targeting Strategy for the Stardust Re-Entry Capsule. https://ntrs.nasa.gov/citations/20070032876

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NASA NTRS2006

Maneuver Analysis and Targeting Strategy for the Stardust Re-Entry Capsule

The Stardust Sample Return Capsule (SRC) returned to Earth on January 15, 2006 after seven years of collecting interstellar and comet particles over three heliocentric revolutions, as shown in Figure 1. The SRC was carried on board the Stardust spacecraft, as shown in Figure 2. Because the spacecraft was built with unbalanced thrusters, turns and attitude control maintenance resulted in undesirable delta-v being imparted to the trajectory. As a result, a carefully planned maneuver strategy was devised to accurately target the Stardust capsule to the Utah Test and Training Range (UTTR). This paper provides an overview of the Stardust spacecraft and mission and describes the maneuver strategy that was employed to achieve the stringent targeting requirements for landing in Utah. In addition, an overview of Stardust maneuver analysis tools and techniques will also be presented.

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