glenn@LL-VLSI.ARPA (Glenn Chapman) (01/30/89)
The Soviet Union's Phobos II probe has successfully gone into orbit
around Mars today (Jan. 29th) according to Radio Moscow short wave (sorry
no time or orbital insertion was given). The announcement said that the orbit
was near to the expected value, suggesting firing occurred at 800 Km (500 mi)
yielding a 4200 Km (2610 mi) by 79,000 Km (49,100 mi) orbit, 79 hour orbit.
Retro engine thrust is rated at 1 - 1.9 tonnes, nitric acid/hydrazine engine.
After 25 days this will change to a 9700 Km (6030 mi) by 79,000 Km (49,100 mi)
79 hour orbit, where it will stay for 35 days. Then a circular 9700 Km
(6030 mi) 8 hour will be established for 30 days which will gain the
controllers the navigation information for the 9378 Km (5827 mi) 7.6 hour
final orbit at Phobos. Thus roughly 90 days from now, about May 30, the
probe make its rendezvous with that moon of Mars. After that it will return
to the 8 hour orbit for more observations of the planet.
One other point concerning my Jan. 24th posting about the transmitter
failure. The reports that I read were in Defense Daily and Aerospace Daily,
and the two articles were identical. However, I have since talked to several
others who have direct communications with Russian researchers. All say that
there no problem was mentioned by the Soviets even after the Jan 9th date of
the articles which quoted unnamed sources. Let us hope that this was a false
alarm, or at least the transmitters are working again. (I want to see all the
data on Phobos come to earth - the Soviets have said they will make most of
it available in the west).
Now we may find out if the Martian moons will be a source of material for
refueling Mars ships. Unfortunately this data will be coming from the USSR
for the next few years. However, they that make the effort deserve the
rewards
[One personal message - Mitch Waldrop would you please send me your Arpa
or Bitnet address so that I can send you the postings directly - the number
I copied down over the phone does not work; thanks and sorry to the rest of
for this personal intrusion]
Glenn Chapman
MIT Lincoln Lab