DocumentCode :
2983785
Title :
Mars Pathfinder Rover-Lewis Research Center technology experiments program
Author :
Stevenson, Steven M.
Author_Institution :
NASA Lewis Res. Center, Cleveland, OH, USA
Volume :
1
fYear :
1997
fDate :
27 Jul-1 Aug 1997
Firstpage :
722
Abstract :
An overview of NASA´s Mars Pathfinder Program is given and the development and role of three technology experiments from NASA´s Lewis Research Center and carried on the Mars Pathfinder Rover is described. Two missions to Mars were developed and managed by the Jet Propulsion Laboratory, and launched late 1996 Mars Global Surveyor, and Mars Pathfinder. Mars Global Surveyor is an orbiter which will survey the planet with a number of different instruments, and will arrive in September 1997, and Mars Pathfinder which consists of a lander and a small rover, landing on Mars July 4, 1997. These are the first two missions of the Mars Exploration Program consisting of a ten year series of small robotic martian probes to be launched every 26 months. The Pathfinder rover will perform a number of technology and operational experiments which will provide the engineering information necessary to design and operate more complex, scientifically oriented surface missions involving roving vehicles and other machinery operating in the martian environment. Because of its expertise in space power systems and technologies, space mechanisms and tribology, Lewis Research Center was asked by the Jet Propulsion Laboratory to contribute three experiments concerning the effects of the martian environment on surface solar power systems and the abrasive qualities of the Mars surface material. In addition, Rover static charging was investigated and a static discharge system of several fine Tungsten points was developed and fixed to the Rover. These experiments and findings are described
Keywords :
Mars; abrasion; electrostatic discharge; planetary surfaces; solar power; space power generation; space vehicles; Jet Propulsion Laboratory; Lewis Research Center; Mars Exploration Program; Mars Pathfinder Rover; Mars surface material; NASA; Sojourner; abrasive qualities; engineering information; fine Tungsten points; lander; robotic martian probes; roving vehicles; scientifically oriented surface missions; small rover; static discharge system; surface solar power systems; technology experiments program; Instruments; Laboratories; Mars; Planetary orbits; Planets; Propulsion; Robots; Space technology; Surface charging; Surface discharges;
fLanguage :
English
Publisher :
ieee
Conference_Titel :
Energy Conversion Engineering Conference, 1997. IECEC-97., Proceedings of the 32nd Intersociety
Conference_Location :
Honolulu, HI
Print_ISBN :
0-7803-4515-0
Type :
conf
DOI :
10.1109/IECEC.1997.659279
Filename :
659279
Link To Document :
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