Solid Rocket Motors Solutions for Mars Landing and Re-ascent
- Paper number
IAC-08.D2.3.7
- Author
Mr. Frédéric DAUCH, SNPE, France
- Year
2008
- Abstract
The success of Mars exploration missions (ExoMars, MSR…) is depending on the availability of high performances and reliable propulsive systems for safe and accurate landing and re-ascent. Traditional solid rocket motors systems have performed well for space propulsion applications such as launch vehicle boosters and apogee kick-off motors as well as for military motor applications. Thanks to this extensive background, the paper highlights the benefits of solid propulsion for space exploration Landers and re-ascent vehicles and reviews its main advantages for different mission requirements. In this context, SNPE Matériaux Energétiques has performed a wide trade-off on design options for a large panel of landing and re-ascent requirements. Landing mission scenarios such as bouncing airbags EDLS (Entry Descent Landing System) type, vented airbags EDLS type and soft landing EDLS type, have been evaluated. A multi stage vehicle for re-ascent missions with in orbit rendez-vous or direct return to earth has also been analyzed. The trade-off shows that in many case solid propulsion presents serious assets. For some landing scenario, solid propulsion and liquid propulsion appear to be complementary. For mid term applications implying soft landing, it is shown that advanced solid propulsion technologies can advantageously compete against traditional liquid monopropellant engines for soft landing applications. Already available solid propulsion systems for exploration missions such as ExoMars and technologies to be considered for future exploration missions part of Aurora program (MSR), are presented in this paper.
- Abstract document
- Manuscript document
IAC-08.D2.3.7.pdf (🔒 authorized access only).
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