Phobos (1988-1989)
Sputnik | Luna | Mars | Venera | Cosmos | Zond | Vega |
Phobos
The last mission undertaken by the USSR was that of Phobos
- a mission involving two probes (Phobos 1 and 2) that were of a next-generation
Venera design. The purpose of these probes was to:
- conduct studies of the interplanetary environment
- perform observations of the sun
- characterize the plasma environment in the Martian vicinity
- conduct surface and atmospheric studies of Mars
- study the surface composition of the Martian satellite Phobos
Both launched in July of 1988, Phobos 1 never made it to Mars,
loosing contact with Earth on September 2, 1988. The problem was later found
to be in a software upload problem on August 29/30 that caused the craft's attitude
thrusters to power down, resulting in the craft no longer pointing to the sun
and the solar arrays not charging the batteries.
Phobos 2 reached Mars, and it gathered data on the sun, interplanetary
medium, Mars, and Phobos. However, a maneuver before the final phase of the mission
to place the craft within 50 m of Phobos' surface to release two craft - a mobile "hopper'
and a stationary platform - resulted in loss of communication. The mission ended
when there was unsuccessful signal acquisition on March 27, 1989. The cause was
traced to an on-board computer error.
Energetic Particles** (MSU-TASPD):
- This experiment was one of several provided by the Theoretical and Applied
Space Physics Division of the Skobeltsyn Institute of Nuclear Physics of Moscow
State University.
- The experiments flew on the Soviet Zond, Luna, Mars, Venera, Vega,
and Phobos interplanetary/planetary missions and measured energetic (MeV) particles
in the interplanetary medium.
- The earliest missions (Zond 1 and 3) measured protons above 30 MeV. Later
missions measured lower energy protons and some also measured fluxes toward
and away from the sun.
|
| Launch Date |
July 7, 1988 (Phobos 1) and July 12, 1988 (Phobos 2) |
| Launch Vehicle |
Proton-K |
| Mass |
2600 kg launch mass (6220 kg with orbital insertion hardware) |
| Propulsion |
28 thrusters: 24 50 N thrusters and 4 10 N thrusters |
| Stabilization |
three-axis control system with pointing based on Sun and star
sensors |
|
| Experiments: |
Name
|
Mass (kg)
|
Power Consumption (W)
|
Principal Investigator
|
| Flux Gate Magnetometer Mars (FGMM) |
5.1
|
4.3
|
Dr. Konrad Sauer |
| Magnetic Fields Near Mars (MAGMA) |
4.5
|
|
Dr. Konrad Schwingenschuh |
| Proton and Alpha Particle Spectrometer (TAUS) |
8
|
|
Dr. Helmut R. Rosenbauer |
| Energy, Mass, and Charge Spectrometer (SOVIKOMS) |
8
|
|
|
| Energetic Charged-Particle Spectrometer (SLED) |
5.4
|
|
|
| Solar Photometer (IPHIR) |
6.3
|
|
|
| X-ray Photometer (RF-15) |
6
|
|
|
| Ultrasound Spectrometer (SUFR) |
3.6
|
|
|
| Gamma-Ray Burst Spectrometer (LILAS) |
5.9
|
|
|
| Gamma-Ray Burst Spectrometer (VGS) |
2.3
|
|
|
| Videospectrometric System (VSK) |
51.7
|
|
|
| Infrared Spectrometer (ISM) |
9.5
|
|
|
| Gamma-Ray Emission Spectrometer (APEX) |
11.5
|
|
|
| Radar System (RLK) |
40.9
|
|
|
| Laser Mass Spectrometer Analyzer (LIMA-D) |
81.5
|
|
|
| Secondary Ion Mass Analyzer (DION) |
23.9
|
|
|
| Optical Radiation Spectrometer (AUGUST) |
18.1
|
|
Prof. Jacques E. Blamont |
| Automatic Space Plasma Experiment with Rotating Analyzer (ASPERA) |
8.7
|
|
Prof. Rickard Lundin |
| Plasma Wave System (PWS) |
7.7
|
|
Dr. Rejean J. L. Grard |
| Ion and Electron Spectrometer (HARP) |
5.4
|
|
Dr. Nina M. Shutte |
| Neutron Detector (IPNM) * |
12
|
|
|
| Solar Telescope / Coronograph (TEREK) * |
36
|
|
|
| Infrared Radiometer / Spectrometer (KRF) ** |
9.5
|
|
|
| Scanning Infrared Radiometer (Thermoscan) ** |
28
|
|
|
| Energetic Particles (MSU-TASPD) ** |
|
|
Dr. V. I. Tulupov |
* These experiments were only included on Phobos 1.
** These experiments were only included on Phobos 2.
|
