Publication Date:
2019-07-13
Description:
The driving requirement for design of a Mars Sample return mission is assuring containment of the returned samples. The impact of this requirement on developmental costs, mass allocation, and design approach of the Earth Entry Vehicle is significant. A simple Earth entry vehicle is described which can meet these requirements and safely transport the Mars Sample Return mission's sample through the Earth's atmosphere to a recoverable location on the surface. Detailed analysis and test are combined with probabilistic risk assessment to design this entirely passive concept that circumvents the potential failure modes of a parachute terminal descent system. The design also possesses features that mitigate other risks during the entry, descent, landing and recovery phases. The results of a full-scale drop test are summarized.
Keywords:
Spacecraft Design, Testing and Performance
Type:
IAF-00-Q.3.04
,
51st International Astronautics Federation Congress; Oct 02, 2000 - Oct 06, 2000; Rio de Janeiro; Brazil
Format:
application/pdf
