AAS 98-145

NAVIGATION FLIGHT OPERATIONS FOR MARS PATHFINDER

R. M. Vaughan, P. H. Kallemeyn, D. A. Spencer - Jet Propulsion Laboratory; R. D. Braun - NASA Langley Research Center

Abstract

This paper describes the navigation flight experience for the Mars Pathfinder interplanetary cruise from launch in December 1996 to arrival at Mars on July 4, 1997. First, force modeling and the successful application of an enhanced filter technique for spacecraft orbit determination are discussed. Next, maneuver design and execution results for the 4 Trajectory Correction Maneuvers (TCMs) are presented. Finally, the navigation role in the days and hours leading up to and including the Entry, Descent, and Landing (EDL) is explained.

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