Title :
MASER: A Mars meteorology and seismology mini-network mission concept enabled by Milliwatt-RPS
Author :
Lorenz, Robert ; Oleson, Steve ; Cataldo, Robert ; Schmitz, Paul ; Colozza, Anthony ; Bairstow, Brian ; Young Lee ; Amini, Rashied
Author_Institution :
JHU Appl. Phys. Lab., Laurel, MD, USA
Abstract :
A design reference mission (MASER - Meteorology and Seismology Enabled by Radioisotopes) for a Mars mini-network is presented. Four hard landers using parachutes and crushable impact attenuators would be deployed in the polar plains north of the Tharsis bulge to perform seismic and meteorological measurements throughout a Martian year (including the dark winter). Operation throughout the polar winter is only possible through the use of a power subsystem that would rely upon six Radioisotope Heater Units (RHUs), providing ~240mWe.
Keywords :
Mars; parachutes; radioisotope thermoelectric generators; radioisotopes; seismology; space power generation; MASER; Mars mini-network; RHU; crushable impact attenuator; meteorological measurement; meteorology and seismology enabled by radioisotope; milliwatt-RPS; parachutes; polar plains; radioisotope heater units; radioisotope power systems; Compass; Laboratories; Mars; Masers; Meteorology; NASA; Seismic measurements;
Conference_Titel :
Aerospace Conference, 2014 IEEE
Conference_Location :
Big Sky, MT
Print_ISBN :
978-1-4799-5582-4
DOI :
10.1109/AERO.2014.6836397
