The Viking '75 Mission to Mars is reported which permits a truly unique opportunity to explore the natural satellite, Phobos, from distances measured in tens of kilometers. A preliminary feasibility study has been made which shows that a science mission involving a Phobos close encounter is technically feasible and within the capabilities of the current Viking design. For less than 20 m/s, the Viking Orbiter can provide approximately two 40-day periods of close observation of Phobos, with the first encounter period in January and the second in March, 1977. Multi-pass images of the entire satellite from nearly all aspect angles and with resolution on the order of 10 meters are possible. Close encounters will permit mass determinations to an accuracy of tens of percent. These experiments can be performed in series with the nominal mission; thus, providing complementary scientific information without compromising the original mission and science objectives.


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    Title :

    Preliminary feasibility study of a multi-Phobos encounter experiment during the Viking extended mission


    Contributors:

    Publication date :

    1974-09-01


    Type of media :

    Report


    Type of material :

    No indication


    Language :

    English


    Keywords :


    Phobos and Deimos encounter experiment during the Viking extended mission

    Tolson, R. H. / Blanchard, R. C. / Daniels, E. F. | NTRS | 1975


    Phobos and Deimos encounter experiment during the Viking extended mission

    TOLSON, R. / BLANCHARD, R. / DANIELS, E. | AIAA | 1975


    Pfaobos and Deimos Encounter Experiment during the Viking Extended Mission

    Robert H. Tolson / Robert C. Blanchard / Edward F. Daniels | AIAA | 1976


    Phobos: Close encounter imaging from the Viking Orbiters

    Duxbury, T. C. / Callahan, J. D. / Ocampo, A. C. | NTRS | 1984