Abstract This paper provides a mission overview of the Mars Pathfinder mission ,launched in December 1996 as part of an ongoing series of Mars missions to prepare for the landing of a man on the 'red planet' in the next century. It gives a brief mission summary, followed by a scientific description focusing on how Pathfinder made it to Mars and how it surveyed Mars's atmosphere and Mars's surface. It looks at how Mars Pathfinder was not only a huge scientific success, but also gave the public, via Internet, the opportunity to participate at a space mission at a level never experienced before.
Outline
Title
Abstract
Chapter
Introduction
Mission Summary
Science Description
Spacecraft Description
Development and Manufacturing Structure
Launch Vehicle
Mission Costs
Summary
From the Paper "On December 4, 1996 the pathfinder mission was launched on a Delta II-7925 launch vehicle out of Cape Canaveral Air Station. After 211 days in space and a distance traveled of almost 300 million miles the spacecraft landed on July 4, 1997 at its destination (DLR, 2003). In order to fine-tune the flight path a series of four-trajectory correction maneuvers (TCMs) were performed throughout the journey. NASA used the Deep Space Network (DSN) for tracking, telemetry, and command operations. DSN is an international network of antennas that supports interplanetary spacecraft missions by using giant dish antennas (Jet Propulsion Laboratory, 2004)."
An analysis of the events that led up to the Space Shuttle Columbia disaster and the changes that NASA has implemented to prevent a similar disaster from occurring.
Abstract This paper introduces and analyzes the topic of the Space Shuttle Columbia disaster. Specifically, it analyzes the accident that occurred on the morning of February 1, 2003 and discusses the events that led up to its occurrence. The paper then discusses what NASA learned from the Columbia disaster and the changes that it has implemented as a result.
From the Paper "In conclusion, NASA learned much from the Columbia disaster, and they have implemented new flight techniques and safety checks that help ensure this type of accident does not happen again. However, the Columbia disaster indicates that communication and decision-making at NASA is sometime suspect, and that continues, even today, even though NASA has developed these new safety checks to help make sure disasters like Columbia do not happen again. While the communication techniques NASA officials use may come into question, ultimately, it is recognized that space travel, although we often take it for granted, is inherently dangerous. Astronauts know that, and so do their families. Every time we send another space shuttle into orbit, we face the possibility of disaster, it is that simple. Still, space travel has largely been safe, and it seems that NASA will continue to promote safe space travel into the future."
Tags: astronauts flight communication STS-107, Cape Canaveral
