Throughout weeks two satellites CubeSat — MarCO-A and MarCO-B — activated their propulsion system to get on the path to Mars. This trajectory correction maneuver allows the spacecraft to lay the exact route through space to the red planet after launch. Both CubeSat successfully made the maneuver; the same process took place the spacecraft NASA’s InSight on may 22.
A pair of CubeSat, launched 5 may as part of the mission Mars Cube One (MarCO), along with the landing apparatus of InSight should direct the latter to Mars. The very same InSight to land on the planet on November 26. Cubes will transmit to Earth data about InSight as the input apparatus into the atmosphere and attempts to land. MarCO will not collect any scientific data, their main purpose is to test miniature technologies of communication and navigation, which could pave the way for future CubeSat sent to other planets.
As MarCO-A and B have successfully completed a set of communication tests over the last couple of weeks, said John Baker, program Manager of planetary satellites at the jet propulsion Laboratory of NASA (JPL). JPL developed and manages the CubeSat mission.
“Our main task is to demonstrate how inexpensive CubeSat technology can be used in deep space for the first time,” Baker says. “And since MarCO went on the way to Mars, we have already achieved with them more than any “they were launched” to them.”
While MarCO is A had adjusted its course to Mars relatively smoothly, MarCO-B faced an unexpected problem. His maneuver was less due to the depressurization valve, which engineers tracked a few weeks. The leak led to small changes of the trajectory. Will need another few weeks to establish the movement of satellites.
If “they were launched” come to Mars, they will try to transmit to Earth data about the landing InSight. However, the latter will depend not only on the “cubes” in the transmission data; partially this work will conduct the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter.
“Satellites-cubes” NASA went to Mars
Ilya Hel