Rendez-Vous GNC and System Analyses for the Mars Sample Return Mission
- Paper number
IAC-05-A3.3.04
- Author
Mr. Regnier Pascal, EADS Astrium, France
- Coauthor
Dr. Charles Koeck, EADS Astrium, France
- Coauthor
Mr. Frapard Benoit, EADS Astrium, France
- Coauthor
Mr. Sembely Xavier, EADS Astrium, France
- Coauthor
Mr. Slade Richard, EADS Astrium, United Kingdom
- Year
2005
- Abstract
In the frame of the Aurora Exploration Program, ESA initiated in 2003 two parallel industrial Phase A studies for the Mars Sample Return mission. EADS Astrium Ltd (UK) was awarded a contract with (among others) Astrium-SAS (France) responsible for the Rendez-Vous GNC system and Sener (Spain) involved in the Rendez-Vous capture / docking mechanism design. The operational Rendez-Vous in Mars orbit is a key mission element of MSR, to transfer the samples acquired on the surface on Mars to the return vehicle waiting in Mars orbit. In order to secure this critical function, ESA also planned to implement a Rendez-Vous Experiment on-board the ExoMars mission, scheduled to launch a few years before MSR, in order to validate in advance the required technology, GNC algorithms and operations using a dummy target. Astrium-SAS was as well responsible for an ExoMars mission Phase A study in which this RVE function was to be designed and assessed. This paper describes the engineering process and technical results obtained in the design and analysis of these Rendez-Vous systems. After recalling the main assumptions and constraints associated to the ExoMars and MSR missions, the investigations carried out to assess the two Rendez-Vous systems are presented : System Analysis, Orbiter Configuration, GNC engineering, Operations, overall mass budgets. The main trade-offs concerning the target detection technique (RF versus optical measurements), the phasing and the final translation phases are discussed, as well as the system architecture options (chaser / target selection, capture versus docking). An overview of capture mechanism concepts envisaged for the MSR mission is also presented. Finally the proposed designs are described and illustrated : it is first described how the designed ExoMars Rendez-Vous Experiment fulfils the technology and operational demonstration needs required for MSR. Then it is shown how the designed operational Rendez-Vous System is implemented within the overall MSR system while fulfilling all mission constraints.
- Abstract document
- Manuscript document
IAC-05-A3.3.04.pdf (🔒 authorized access only).
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