RTG Impact Response to Hard Landing During Mars Environmental Survey (MESUR) Mission

This paper presents the results done to perform specialized RTG design studies. The analytical results indicate that a lander by itself experiences much higher g-loads than the lander with an integral penetrator; but that minor modifications of the shape of the lander can very substantially reduce the maximum g-load during landing, thus eliminating the need for retrorockets for RTG survival. Paper presented at the 27th IECEC in San Diego, CA August 3-7, 1992. Also included are four copies (3 bound) from Fairchild presentation.