Engineering topics

Farquhar, Robert

Publications and source records attributed to Farquhar, Robert.

3 records

NASA NTRS1999

Report on the loss of the Mars Climate Orbiter Mission : JPL special review board

The Mars Climate Orbiter (MCO) was launched on December 11, 1998. The MCO was to arrive at Mars and begin orbit insertion on September 23, 1999. The Mars Orbit Insertion (MOI) burn, a 16-minute maneuver to slow the spacecraft and enable capture into an orbit around Mars, began on schedule. Five minutes into the maneuver, and approximately 49 seconds before the anticipated time for loss of communication, the MCO was occulted by Mars. Thereafter, no contact with the spacecraft could be established. On September 24, 1999, an internal JPL team (the MCO Peer Review Team) was appointed to help investigate the reason for the loss of spacecraft signal. The Peer Review Team's findings are presented in this report.

Mars Climate Orbiter↗

NASA NTRS1990

Pushing back the frontier - A mission to the Pluto-Charon system

A flyby mission to Pluto is proposed. The size, orbit, atmosphere, and surface of Pluto, and the Pluto-Charon system are described. The benefits of a planetary flyby compared to ground observations are discussed in terms of imaging capabilities. Planned payloads include a plasma science package, a UV spectrometer, and a thermal mapper. The advantages of a dual launch to Mars and the need for a Jupiter-Pluto transfer are considered. A diagram of a spacecraft for a flyby study of Pluto is provided.

Farquhar, Robert↗

NASA NTRS1988

Teaching old spacecraft new tricks

The technique of sending existing space probes on extended mission by altering their orbital paths with gravity-assist maneuvers and relatively brief rocket firings is examined. The use of the technique to convert the International Sun-Earth Explorer 3 mission into the International Cometary Explorer mission is discussed. Other examples are considered, including the extension of the Giotto mission and the retargeting of the Sakigake spacecraft. The original and altered trajectories of these three missions are illustrated.

Farquhar, Robert↗