Scientific and Technical Aerospace Reports Volume 39 April 6, 2001

spectral studies to the field, and of drawing on data sets and expertise from non-traditional groups, in order to best define what
is needed to detect and identify interesting materials and desirable landing sites on Mars using infrared spectroscopy.
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Infrared Spectroscopy; Infrared Signatures; Spectral Signatures; Spectrum Analysis; Thermal Emission; Surface Roughness
Effects
20010023144 Jet Propulsion Lab., California Inst. of Tech., Pasadena, CA USA
In-Situ Planetary Chemical Analysis
Kounaves, S. P., Tufts Univ., USA; Buehler, M. G., Jet Propulsion Lab., California Inst. of Tech., USA; Grannan, S. M., Jet Propulsion
Lab., California Inst. of Tech., USA; Hecht, M. H., Jet Propulsion Lab., California Inst. of Tech., USA; Kuhlman, K. R., Jet
Propulsion Lab., California Inst. of Tech., USA; Concepts and Approaches for Mars Exploration; July 2000, Part 1, pp. 184-185;
In English; See also 20010023036; No Copyright; Avail: CASI; A01, Hardcopy; A03, Microfiche
Both, the search for evidence of life on Mars and the assessment of the Martian environment in respect to its compatibility
with human explorers, will require the ability to measure and understand the aqueous chemistry of the Martian regolith. Direct
in-situ chemical analysis is the only method by which chemical biosignatures can be reliably recognized and the toxicity of the
regolith accurately assessed. Qualitative and quantitative determination of the aqueous ionic constituents and their concentrations
is critical in developing kinetic and thermodynamic models that can be used to accurately predict the potential of the past or present
Martian geochemical environment to have either generated or still sustain life. In-situ chemical characterization could provide
evidence as to whether the chemical composition of the regolith or evaporates in suspected ancient water bodies have been biologically
influenced.
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Chemical Analysis; In Situ Measurement; Extraterrestrial Life; Mars Exploration
20010023145 Centre National d’Etudes Spatiales, France
The Stakes of the Aerocapture for Missions to Mars
Cledassou, R., Centre National d’Etudes Spatiales, France; Lam-Trong, Th., Centre National d’Etudes Spatiales, France; Charbonnier,
J. M., Centre National d’Etudes Spatiales, France; Concepts and Approaches for Mars Exploration; July 2000, Part 1,
pp. 186; In English; See also 20010023036; No Copyright; Abstract Only; Available from CASI only as part of the entire parent
document
The Hohmann transfer trajectory is an economical way to go from Earth to Mars but a spacecraft has to reduce its speed very
significantly upon arrival in order to be inserted into a Mars orbit. The aerocapture is a way to do that, by using the Martian atmosphere
to produce sufficient aerodynamic drag force on a heatshield and achieve the required deceleration. This presentation will
address the major stake of the aerocapture which is twofold: a) We will list the different technologies and areas of knowledge
related to the aerocapture, identify the risks associated with each of them and finally demonstrate that aerocapture is not as risky
as it is said to be; b) Aerocapture saves a huge amount of propellant and so allows to improve dramatically the dollar/kg ratio for
any payload at Mars by using this mass savings for payloads and by decreasing the launch cost. This benefit is particularly evident
for a return mission because of the amplification factor of the propellant mass for the escape of Mars (”snow ball” effect). We will
have a quantitative analysis of some typical cases of spacecraft vs. launcher performance . We will conclude that aerocapture is
interesting for the present robotic missions and certainly a good investment for the future manned missions to Mars.
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Mars Missions; Aerocapture; Earth-Mars Trajectories; Transfer Orbits
20010023442 Lunar and Planetary Inst., Houston, TX USA
Cometary Dust Streams at Mars: Preliminary Predictions From Meteor Streams at Earth and From Periodic Comets
Treiman, Allan H., Lunar and Planetary Inst., USA; Treiman, Jay S., University of Western Michigan, USA; Journal of Geophysical
Research; Oct. 25, 2000; ISSN 0148-0227; Volume 105, No. E10, pp. 24,571-24,581; In English
Report No.(s): Paper-2000JE001242; LPI-Contrib-1006; Copyright; Avail: Issuing Activity
Spacecraft are at risk from impacts of interplanetary dust particles, and those particles are concentrated near the orbits of comets
and of meteor streams, which are (for the most part) inferred to derive from comets. To explore potential dangers to Mars-orbiting
spacecraft from cometary dust, we screened known comets and meteor showers for those with orbits that closely approach
Mars’ orbit. of the 135 periodic Mars-crossing comets, the orbits of 50 approach within 0.1 AU of Mars and so are potential current
sources of dust and meteor streams at Mars. Among these, 1P/Halley, 9P/Tempel 1, and 1991D1 P/Hermann seem the most promising
targets for further study. Past orbits of all Mars-crossing comets might also yield meteor streams at Mars. Among known
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