The Mars Observer Mission
Abstract
The Mars Observer Mission is to be the first in a series of modest-cost inner-planet missions. Launch is planned for the August/September 1990 Mars opportunity with arrival at Mars one year later. The geoscience/climatology objectives are to be met during a mapping mission over the course of one Mars year (687 days). The mapping orbit will be near-polar (93 degree orbital inclination), sun-synchronous (2 PM sunward equator crossing), and near-circular (350 km orbit altitude, 116 minute period). The spacecraft, to be selected in late 1985, will be a modified version of an existing commercial design which, in the mapping orbit, will maintain a nadir orientation. Experiments and instruments will be selected through an Announcement of Opportunity (AO) process with release of the AO in April 1985, and selection in early 1986. A description of current planning for this mission, with emphasis on climatology, is presented here.
- Publication:
-
AIAA, Aerospace Sciences Meeting
- Pub Date:
- January 1985
- Bibcode:
- 1985aiaa.meetQ....P
- Keywords:
-
- Climatology;
- Dust Storms;
- Mars Observer;
- Planetary Atmospheres;
- Planetary Mapping;
- Space Missions;
- Carbon Dioxide;
- Spacecraft Models;
- Water;
- Lunar and Planetary Exploration