A Guidance System for the Ascent of a Martian Probe

Abstract

A radio command guidance system is described which is useful for guiding a probe from the surface of Mars to rendezvous with another vehicle flying by Mars on an escape trajectory. Lightness and simplicity are the design goals. The system includes, in the ascent vehicle, a radar transponder, three axis gyroscope dependent autopilot and a three channel radio command system. In the larger flyby vehicle, there is a radar, a computer for navigation and guidance calculations, and a command transmitter. The paper describes the system and shows the effect of various errors on the total fuel required.