After successful orbit insertion, MAVEN enters transition phase The #MAVEN spacecraft successfully entered into Mars orbit on September 21, 2014 at 10:24 p.m. EDT. The 33 minute and 15 second Mars Orbit Insertion (MOI) maneuver provided a thrust of 1195 Newtons, reduced the spacecraft’s velocity (∆V) by 1230.5 m/s (2752 mph), and captured MAVEN into a stable 35-hour orbit period with an inclination of 74.2 degrees. Preliminary post MOI maneuver navigation analysis indicates a nominal maneuver performance with a captured orbit apoapsis altitude of 44,500 km and a periapsis altitude of 382 km (an eccentricity of 0.85). Immediately following the end of the maneuver, the navigation team assessed the captured orbital conditions to determine the orbital period, semi-major axis, and the second periapsis altitude to ensure a stable and no-impact orbit. A contingency periapsis raise maneuver scheduled for the first apoapsis was not required. Next up in the transition to the science operations phase is the first Periapsis Lowering Maneuver on Sept. 24, which will lower periapsis to ~200 km, and the first Period Reduction Maneuver (PRM) on Sept. 26, which will reduce the orbit period to 5.5 hours. PRM-1 is approximately 47% of the MOI ∆V. The science phase of the mission is scheduled to begin on November 8th. (Image credit: NASA - National Aeronautics and Space Administration)
Posted on: Mon, 22 Sep 2014 17:32:50 +0000
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