SEVERAL SUCCESSFUL MISSIONS HAVE PREVIOUSLY TRAVELED TO MARS AND BEEN VERY USEFUL FOR FURTHERING HUMAN UNDERSTANDING OF THE PLANET. HOWEVER MISSIONS IN THE FUTURE WILL REQUIRE LARGER LANDED MASSES AND DECREASED UNCERTAINTIES ESPECIALLY IF A MANNED MISSION IS BEING ATTEMPTED. THEREFORE IMPROVING CURRENT COMPUTATIONAL TOOLS WILL BE IMPORTANT FOR MEETING THESE REQUIREMENTS. ONE EVENT OF INTEREST THAT OCCURS ON MARS IS THE FORMATION OF PLANET ENCIRCLING DUST STORMS; THESE STORMS SWEEP DUST HIGH INTO THE ATMOSPHERE WHICH COULD INTERFERE WITH AN ENTERING VEHICLE S HEAT SHIELD. THE REASONS FOR THE FORMATION OF THESE STORMS IS NOT WELL UNDERSTOOD SO IT NOT REALISTIC TO PREDICT WHEN THEY WILL OCCUR AND THEREFORE IT IS VITAL TO CHARACTERIZE HOW THESE PARTICLES INTERACT WITH AN ENTRY VEHICLE. DUE TO THE COMPLICATED AEROTHERMODYNAMIC NATURE OF THE HYPERSONIC FLOW FIELD IT IS CHALLENGING TO UNDERSTAND THE EFFECT THESE PARTICLES WILL HAVE.

Regents Of The University Of Minnesota

Investigators