Marsbound: A Spacecraft

Odyssey

21955A2109
Sainath Reddy Gangidi
Aero “B” Section
• Launch and Trajectory
• Interplanetary Cruise
• Entry, Descent, and Landing
• Exploration and Science
• Return Journey
• Mission Accomplished
Launch and Trajectory :
• The journey from Earth to Mars begins with the
launch of the spacecraft.
• The spacecraft must be launched at a specific
time when Earth and Mars are in the correct
positions in their orbits.
• This is known as the launch window.
• Once the spacecraft is launched, it follows a
trajectory that takes it towards Mars.
• The trajectory is carefully calculated to ensure
that the spacecraft arrives at Mars at the right
time and in the right location.
Interplanetary Cruise :
• After the spacecraft leaves Earth's orbit, it enters the interplanetary cruise
phase. During this phase, the spacecraft travels through space towards Mars.
• The journey can take anywhere from six to eight months depending on the
distance between the two planets.
• The spacecraft is equipped with solar panels that provide power for the
instruments and systems onboard.
• The crew, if there is one, spends their time conducting experiments,
monitoring the spacecraft's systems, and communicating with mission
control back on Earth.
Entry, Descent, and Landing :
• As the spacecraft approaches Mars, it must slow down to enter into orbit
around the planet.
• This is done by firing the spacecraft's engines to reduce its speed. Once in
orbit, the spacecraft prepares for entry, descent, and landing.
• The entry, descent, and landing phase is the most critical part of the mission.
The spacecraft must enter Mars' atmosphere at just the right angle and speed
to avoid burning up or bouncing off the atmosphere.
• Once through the atmosphere, the spacecraft deploys a parachute to slow its
descent before firing rockets to land safely on the surface.
Exploration and Science
• Once the spacecraft has landed on Mars, the
exploration and science phase begins.
• The crew, if there is one, disembarks from the
spacecraft and begins conducting experiments and
collecting samples of the Martian soil and rocks.
• The instruments onboard the spacecraft continue to
collect data on the Martian environment, including
the weather, radiation levels, and atmospheric
composition.
• This data is transmitted back to Earth for analysis by
scientists.
Return Journey
• After completing their mission on Mars, the crew re-
boards the spacecraft and prepares for the return
journey to Earth. The spacecraft must once again
follow a carefully calculated trajectory to ensure that it
arrives back on Earth at the correct time and location.
• The journey back to Earth can take anywhere from six
to eight months, during which time the crew continues
to conduct experiments and monitor the spacecraft's
systems. Upon re-entry into Earth's atmosphere, the
spacecraft deploys parachutes to slow its descent before
landing safely on the ground.
Mission Accomplished :
• After a successful mission to Mars, the crew returns to Earth as heroes. The
data and samples collected during the mission are analyzed by scientists,
providing valuable insights into the Martian environment and its potential
for supporting life.
• The mission serves as a stepping stone for future missions to Mars and
beyond, paving the way for humans to explore and colonize other planets in
our solar system and beyond.