Fuel optimization during mars global surveyor aerobraking

摘要

Due to a solar array on the -y-axis side of the mars Global Surveyor (MGS) spacecraft that was seveely damaged duirng deployment, the MGS aerobraking mission was significantly replanned. The aerobraking mission was extended from about 400 aeropasses to about 893 aeropases. AT 0.013 kg/aeropass, the required increase in fuel use due to the additional 493 aeropasses would be 6.4 kg. There was insufficient margin to support this increase in fuel use.