The MER Project will launch two spacecraft (MER-A and MER-B) to Mars in 2003 with the objective of delivering two Rovers to different landing sites on Mars to study the surface composition and to look for evidence of present or past water. This paper describes the methods used to estimate the statistical AV and propellant requirements for propulsive maneuvers necessary to deliver the two Rovers while ensuring that planetary protection requirements are satisfied. Maneuver analysis results for four different trajectories, open and close of launch periods for each of the two MER missions, are presented. The results for the two representative landing sites (MER-A: Melas Chasma, MER-B: Hematite) indicate that the MER-A Open case has the most demanding propellant requirement (-45 kg), and that the inertial atmospheric entry flight path angle delivery requirements of-1 1.550.17 (3 0) deg for MER-A and-1 1.550.20 (30) deg for MER-B are achievable.
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