The Viking '75 Mission to Mars permits a truly unique opportunity to explore the natural satellites, Phobos and Deimos, from distances measured in the tens of kilometers. Because of the particular orbital geometry currently planned for the Viking Mission, the Viking spacecraft can be maneuvered to make repeated passes very close to Phobos and Deimos during the proposed extended mission phase. Multipass images of both satellites will cover approximately 75% of Phobos and 50% of Deimos. Resolution on the order of 50 meters is possible. Close encounters will permit mass determination to an accuracy of tens of percent. A preliminary feasibility study has been made which shows that the propulsive requirements are nominal, the orbit determination accuracy is adequate, and the satellites are within the scan platform pointing capability during portions of each encounter.


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    Title :

    Phobos and Deimos encounter experiment during the Viking extended mission


    Contributors:

    Conference:

    American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics, Aerospace Sciences Meeting ; 1975 ; Pasadena, CA


    Publication date :

    1975-01-01


    Type of media :

    Conference paper


    Type of material :

    No indication


    Language :

    English




    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




    Mission Concept of Phobos/Deimos Exploration

    K. Matsushima / J. Saito / M. Utashima et al. | NTIS | 1993