Systems engineering and support systems technology considerations of a Mars Ascent Vehicle

A Mars Ascent Vehicle (MAV) systems engineering study is underway to define the driving requirements, concept of operations, system engineering challenges, and surface support systems to enable the launch of a rock core sample to a specified delivery orbit for later retrieval and return to Earth. Th...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Sengupta, A., Pauken, M., Kennett, A., Trinidad, M., Zabrensky, E.
Format: Conference Proceeding
Language:English
Subjects:
Construction
Electron tubes
Engines
Mars
Orbits
Propulsion
Vehicles
Online Access:Request full text
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Summary:A Mars Ascent Vehicle (MAV) systems engineering study is underway to define the driving requirements, concept of operations, system engineering challenges, and surface support systems to enable the launch of a rock core sample to a specified delivery orbit for later retrieval and return to Earth. The proposed MAV would essentially be a small-scale launch vehicle, the first of its kind to be launched autonomously from another planet. The MAV would be a flight element of the proposed Mars Sample Return (MSR) campaign architecture, which currently assumes a 2018 launch of the sample caching mission and a 2024 (Earth) launch date of the MAV and lander, with arrival on Mars in 2025. After 9 months on the surface the MAV would be erected and launched to a specified delivery orbit. In the delivery orbit it would release its payload, a 5 kg sphere containing the rock core sample. An orbiter would rendezvous and capture the payload, returning it to Earth a year later.
ISSN:1095-323X
2996-2358
DOI:10.1109/AERO.2012.6187298