Welcome Guest [Log In] [Register]

Forum rules [2009.07.18]    List of members    Contact
Welcome to Anatomia Universalis! This is a forum dedicated to discussion, learning and news concerning all things astronomy.

You're currently viewing Anatomia Universalis as a guest. This means your forum experience will be limited and you will not be able to enjoy all the features we offer. If you join our community, you'll have access to all the information and discussions in all the sections and to many member-only features: you'll be able to see posted images, post new threads, reply to existing ones, send private messages, create and edit your profile, participate in polls, and much more!

Registration is simple, fast and free. Register now! Your e-mail address will not be disclosed to anyone and will only be used to confirm that you are human and not a robot; we will never spam your inbox.

If you're already a member, please log into your account to access all of our features:

Username:   Password:
Reply
Mars 1969A; 1969 // USSR
Topic Started: Friday 31-07-2009, 00:26 (423 Views)
[Publisher] Magrathean
Member Avatar
point of ignition
Mars > Missions > Mars 1969A > Index
 
Posted Image

  1. Index
  2. [go2=missionoverview]Mission overview[/go2]
  3. [go2=spacecraftandinstruments]Spacecraft and instruments[/go2]
Quote    ↑
 
[Publisher] Magrathean
Member Avatar
point of ignition
[anchor]missionoverview[/anchor]
Mars > Missions > Mars 1969A > Mission overview
 
Objectives
  1. orbit and photograph Mars
  2. study the martian atmosphere




Summary

Launch date: 27 march 1969

Mission status: failed

The soviet probes Mars 1969A and Mars 1969B were two identical probes intended to probe the martian atmosphere and photograph the red planet's surface. Both missions resulted in failure due to problems during the launch stage.

The first two stages of the rocket operated perfectly, but the third stage suffered an unexpected problem which originated a fire. The rocket and the probe exploded as a result of the fire.
Sources: Wikipedia / Mars 1969A | AboveTopSecret / Mars exploration timeline
Quote    ↑
 
[Publisher] Magrathean
Member Avatar
point of ignition
[anchor]spacecraftandinstruments[/anchor]
Mars > Missions > Mars 1969A > Spacecraft and instruments
 
Mars 1969A had a spherical fuel compartment separated into two sections which held dinitrogen tetroxide and dimethylhydrazine. Two solar panels with a total area of 7 m2 extended from either side of the probe, and a parabolic high-gain antenna 2.8 m in diameter was mounted on top of the compartment. Near the top were also three pressurized compartments, each holding specialized equipment. The rest of the scientific equipment, along with two conical low-gain antennas, was mounted on the outside of the craft.

Posted Image
The top compartment contained the spacecraft's electronics. The middle compartment held the telecommunication and navigation systems. The bottom compartment housed a nickel-cadmium battery, the cameras with which the probe was to image Mars's surface, and telemetry devices.

Mars 1969A's main engine sat at the bottom of the craft and ran on the main fuel compartment. Eight thrusters with individual fuel tanks and nine helium tanks controlled spacecraft attitude.

Orientation was achieved by using two Sun sensors, two Earth sensors, two Mars sensors, one Canopus sensor, gyroscopes, and small thrusters which ran on ten nitrogen tanks.

Power was supplied by the two solar panels. The panels also charged the battery, which was used as storage power.

Communications with Earth were carried out via four transmitters, three receivers and the telemetry system. The high-gain antenna was to be used when the probe was close to Mars.

Insulation contributed to some of the thermal control, though there was an active ventilation and air-circulation system in the pressurized compartments. This system worked equally well in sunlight and out of it.

Mars 1969A held three cameras which it would have used to image the surface of Mars. Each camera had three color filters and two lenses with different fields of view. The best resolution attainable with the cameras was 200 meters per pixel. Each camera could store 160 images before sending them back to Earth.

Other scientific instruments were a radiometer, a radiation detector, a water-vapor detector, ultraviolet and infrared spectrometers, a solar plasma spectrometer, a gamma-ray spectrometer, a mass spectrometer and an ion spectrometer.

Mars 1969A's total mass was 4,850 kg.
Source: NASA / Mars 1969A
Quote    ↑
 
1 user reading this topic (1 Guest and 0 Anonymous)
« Previous Topic · Past missions · Next Topic »
Reply


[This theme is Magrathean's variation on a theme created by Wanboa of AnimeBoxCafe.]