NSSDCA ID: 1996-062A-07
Mission Name: Mars Global SurveyorThe Mars Global Surveyor spacecraft carried an accelerometer instrument designed to measure the change in velocity as the spacecraft performed aerobraking maneuvers in the martian thermosphere. The accelerometer data can be used to deduce atmospheric drag on the spacecraft, so atmospheric densities can be estimated. The z-axis accelerometer is aligned closely to the spacecraft velocity vector. It has a sensitivity of 0.332 mm/s per count, allowing measurements up to at least 170 km altitude. A typical set of accelerometer measurements during aerobraking spanned from about 200 s before periapsis to 200 s after periapsis, about 30 degrees of latitude. Additional measurements obtained before and after this period are used to determine accelerometer bias for each pass. Measurements are obtained every 0.1 s. Accelerations of 1 micro-g were detected.
Questions and comments about this experiment can be directed to: Dr. David R. Williams
Name | Role | Original Affiliation | |
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Dr. Gerald M. Keating | Principal Investigator | NASA Langley Research Center |