Assessment of Aerocapture for Orbit Insertion of Small Satellites at Mars

What is it about?

The increasing ability of smallsats to perform science missions at relatively low cost has led to the interest in using them as rideshare on interplanetary missions. Packaging and mass constraints limit the application of onboard propulsion systems on rideshare missions, leading to a limited range of orbits available to these interplanetary smallsat missions. Development of an independent smallsat orbit insertion capability would enable smallsat missions to address significant planetary science objectives at Mars and its moons which may otherwise be ignored by larger missions. We show that drag-modulation aerocapture maneuver increases the range of orbits available to smallsat missions by decreasing their required propellant mass fraction.

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