While the Magellan spacecraft is currently in an elliptical orbit around Venus, its orbit may be circularized by means of an aerobraking maneuver during which a minor amount of aerodynamic drag is applied to 1000-2000 orbits. An evaluation is presently undertaken of the thermal-control and operational problems arising from such a maneuver, in virtue of its not having been considered among the design requirements of the spacecraft. Attention is given to atmospheric erosion and contamination problems to which the spacecraft surfaces could be exposed.


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    Title :

    Aerobraking Magellan


    Contributors:

    Conference:

    AAS/AIAA Astrodynamics Conference ; 1991 ; Durango, CO, United States


    Publication date :

    1992-01-01


    Type of media :

    Conference paper


    Type of material :

    No indication


    Language :

    English




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