High L/D Mars aerocapture for 2001, 2003 and 2005 mission opportunities

Abstract

The scope of the present investigation includes realistic trajectory simulations for a biconic aerocapture vehicle Copyright© 1998 by North Carolina State University. Published by the AIAA, Inc. with permission. Graduate Research Assistant, Student AIAA. ^ Professor, Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, and Director, Mars Mission Research Center. Fellow AIAA. with an L/D of 0.78, determination of its entry corridor, design of its nominal entry trajectory, evaluation of it's tolerance to atmospheric density variation, which can be possibly encountered during aerocapture, and the change in propellant usage resulting from these dispersions. To make the simulation more realistic, minimum €3 mission opportunities for the years 2001, 2003 and 2005 are chosen for consideration and their results are compared. Arrival dates, entry velocities and geographical entry locations for these mission opportunities' are used as entry conditions. In addition, comparative trajectory analysis between a biconic vehicle( Z/£>=0.78 ) and a Viking type vehicle (L/D=0.18) are carried out for the 2005 mission. The 2005 opportunity is a likely candidate for a Mars Sample Return Mission which could benefit significantly from aerocapture.