Abstract
On May 25, 2008, the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter (MRO) used its HiRISE camera to capture a dramatic image of the Phoenix Mars Lander descending on its parachute towards the surface of Mars. This was the first time that a spacecraft has imaged the final descent of another spacecraft onto a planetary body. Capturing the image required months of planning and testing across many disciplines of the MRO operations team. This paper presents the navigational changes to the MRO orbit to support the Phoenix entry geometry, the GN&C maneuvers necessary to track Phoenix during its entry and descent, the statistical analysis to determine the likelihood of capturing the image, and the HiRISE imaging preparation and post processing to bring out the details of the Lander, parachute and back-shell.
| Original language | English (US) |
|---|---|
| Title of host publication | Advances in the Astronautical Sciences |
| Pages | 77-96 |
| Number of pages | 20 |
| Volume | 133 |
| State | Published - 2009 |
| Event | 32nd Annual AAS Rocky Mountain Guidance and Control Conference - Breckenridge, CO, United States Duration: Jan 30 2009 → Feb 4 2009 |
Other
| Other | 32nd Annual AAS Rocky Mountain Guidance and Control Conference |
|---|---|
| Country | United States |
| City | Breckenridge, CO |
| Period | 1/30/09 → 2/4/09 |
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ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Aerospace Engineering
- Space and Planetary Science
Cite this
Mro imaging of Phoenix descent. / Good, P. G.; Johnson, M. A.; Eckart, D. F.; Sidney, W.; Manning, R. M.; Highsmith, D. E.; McEwen, Alfred S.; Mattson, S.; Eliason, E.
Advances in the Astronautical Sciences. Vol. 133 2009. p. 77-96.Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Conference contribution
}
TY - GEN
T1 - Mro imaging of Phoenix descent
AU - Good, P. G.
AU - Johnson, M. A.
AU - Eckart, D. F.
AU - Sidney, W.
AU - Manning, R. M.
AU - Highsmith, D. E.
AU - McEwen, Alfred S.
AU - Mattson, S.
AU - Eliason, E.
PY - 2009
Y1 - 2009
N2 - On May 25, 2008, the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter (MRO) used its HiRISE camera to capture a dramatic image of the Phoenix Mars Lander descending on its parachute towards the surface of Mars. This was the first time that a spacecraft has imaged the final descent of another spacecraft onto a planetary body. Capturing the image required months of planning and testing across many disciplines of the MRO operations team. This paper presents the navigational changes to the MRO orbit to support the Phoenix entry geometry, the GN&C maneuvers necessary to track Phoenix during its entry and descent, the statistical analysis to determine the likelihood of capturing the image, and the HiRISE imaging preparation and post processing to bring out the details of the Lander, parachute and back-shell.
AB - On May 25, 2008, the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter (MRO) used its HiRISE camera to capture a dramatic image of the Phoenix Mars Lander descending on its parachute towards the surface of Mars. This was the first time that a spacecraft has imaged the final descent of another spacecraft onto a planetary body. Capturing the image required months of planning and testing across many disciplines of the MRO operations team. This paper presents the navigational changes to the MRO orbit to support the Phoenix entry geometry, the GN&C maneuvers necessary to track Phoenix during its entry and descent, the statistical analysis to determine the likelihood of capturing the image, and the HiRISE imaging preparation and post processing to bring out the details of the Lander, parachute and back-shell.
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=80053418888&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=80053418888&partnerID=8YFLogxK
M3 - Conference contribution
AN - SCOPUS:80053418888
SN - 9780877035534
VL - 133
SP - 77
EP - 96
BT - Advances in the Astronautical Sciences
ER -