PDS: The Planetary Atmospheres Node
Apr 5, 2006 - Ls 34.7 MY 28 to Aug 30, 2006 - Ls 99.6 MY 28
Graphed MGS aerobraking-derived atmospheric density values in 'profile format' obtained from accelerometer measurements during orbit #173 (Ls 292, MY 23). Both 1-second and 40-second average values (and their error bar magnitudes) are displayed. The graphed values are available in the data file available here.
Graphed MGS aerobraking-derived atmospheric density and scale height values in 'altitude format' obtained from accelerometer measurements during orbit #173 (Ls 292, MY 23). The graphed values are available in the data file available here.
Useful Mission Documents
References
Tolson, R.H. et al., Utilization of Mars Global Surveyor Accelerometer Data for Atmospheric Modeling,in Astrodynamics 1999, Advances in the Astronautical Sciences, Edited by K. C. Howell, F. R. Hoots, B. Kaufman and K. T. Alfriend, Volume 103, 2000, published for the American Astronautical Society by Unifelt, Inc. P.O. Box 28130, San Diego, CA 92198
https://atmos.nmsu.edu/PDS/data/PDS4/mgsa_bundle/document/aaspaper.pdf
Cancro, G.J., R.H. Tolson and G.M. Keating, Operational Data Reduction Procedure for Determining Density and Vertical Structure of the Martian Upper Atmosphere from Mars Global Surveyor Accelerometer Measurements, NASA/CR-998-208721, October 1998.
Tolson, R.H. et al., Application of Accelerometer Data to Mars Global Surveyor Aerobraking Operations, Journal of Spacecraft and Rockets, Vol. 36, No. 3, May-June 1999pp. 323-329.
Description of the DATA
For each drag pass (spanning orbits 5 - 1281 of the mission) there is an individual ASCII profile file containing derived density values at 1-second intervals for a time period spanning several hundred seconds centered upon the periapse time. There is also a separate ASCII altitude file which provides derived density and scale height values at specified altitudes (100 km, 110 km, etc.) for both the inbound and outbound portions of the orbit/drag pass as well as at the periapsis altitude, and 1.26 nanobar pressure level during both the inbound and outbound portions of the orbit/drag pass.
The data contained within the MGS aerobraking PDS archive MGSA_0002 are provided in either the altitude or profile folders within the data folder. Within both the profile and altitude folders are subfolders containing ~100 drag passes of data, with each drag pass consisting of a single ASCII file. No drag passes occurred during orbits 19-39 or 203-572 so the archive does not contain files for those orbits.
Retrieving the data volume
Calibrated Data
Data can be retrieved at the file level - download the index, (csv) select the desired files and submit a list of URNs to retrieve the data Link this to a page to retrieve the data.
Example of Data (partial file)
Accelerometer altitude data description
Access to data
Data can be retrieved at the file level - download the index, (csv) select the desired files and submit a list of URNs to retrieve the data Link this to a page to retrieve the data.
Example of Data (partial file)
Raw Data
Access to Data
Similar aerobraking archives are available for the MRO and MARS Odyssey orbiter missions.
Citing Datasets for Publication
G.M.Keating (1999), MGS-M-ACCEL-2-EDR-V1.1, NASA Planetary Data System, https://doi.org/10.17189/1518940.
Aerobraking Description
MGS Aerodynamic Properties
Instrument Description
Guide to Accelerometer products
MGS Aerodynamic Properties
Instrument Description
Guide to Accelerometer products
References
Tolson, R.H. et al., Utilization of Mars Global Surveyor Accelerometer Data for Atmospheric Modeling,in Astrodynamics 1999, Advances in the Astronautical Sciences, Edited by K. C. Howell, F. R. Hoots, B. Kaufman and K. T. Alfriend, Volume 103, 2000, published for the American Astronautical Society by Unifelt, Inc. P.O. Box 28130, San Diego, CA 92198
https://atmos.nmsu.edu/PDS/data/PDS4/mgsa_bundle/document/aaspaper.pdf
Cancro, G.J., R.H. Tolson and G.M. Keating, Operational Data Reduction Procedure for Determining Density and Vertical Structure of the Martian Upper Atmosphere from Mars Global Surveyor Accelerometer Measurements, NASA/CR-998-208721, October 1998.
Tolson, R.H. et al., Application of Accelerometer Data to Mars Global Surveyor Aerobraking Operations, Journal of Spacecraft and Rockets, Vol. 36, No. 3, May-June 1999pp. 323-329.
Description of the DATA
For each drag pass (spanning orbits 5 - 1281 of the mission) there is an individual ASCII profile file containing derived density values at 1-second intervals for a time period spanning several hundred seconds centered upon the periapse time. There is also a separate ASCII altitude file which provides derived density and scale height values at specified altitudes (100 km, 110 km, etc.) for both the inbound and outbound portions of the orbit/drag pass as well as at the periapsis altitude, and 1.26 nanobar pressure level during both the inbound and outbound portions of the orbit/drag pass.
The data contained within the MGS aerobraking PDS archive MGSA_0002 are provided in either the altitude or profile folders within the data folder. Within both the profile and altitude folders are subfolders containing ~100 drag passes of data, with each drag pass consisting of a single ASCII file. No drag passes occurred during orbits 19-39 or 203-572 so the archive does not contain files for those orbits.
Retrieving the data volume
Calibrated Data
Data can be retrieved at the file level - download the index, (csv) select the desired files and submit a list of URNs to retrieve the data Link this to a page to retrieve the data.
Example of Data (partial file)
| Time from Periapse (sec) | Latitude (deg) | Longitude (deg) | Local Solar Time (hr) | Solar Zenith Angle (deg) | 7 sec Altitude (km) | Density (kg/km**3) | Sigma Density (kg.km**3 | 40 sec Altitude (km) | Density (kg/km**3) | Sigma Density (kg.km**3 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| -181.9 | 59.4 | 346.1 | 13.7 | 86.5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 173.01 | 0.042 | 0.083 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| -180.9 | 59.3 | 346.1 | 13.7 | 86.4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 172.37 | 0.044 | 0.083 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| -179.9 | 59.2 | 346.1 | 13.7 | 86.4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 171.7 | 0.048 | 0.083 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| -178.9 | 59.2 | 346.1 | 13.7 | 86.3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 171.09 | 0.05 | 0.083 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| -177.9 | 59.1 | 346 | 13.7 | 86.2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 170.5 | 0.053 | 0.083 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| -176.9 | 59 | 346 | 13.7 | 86.2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 169.92 | 0.055 | 0.083 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| -175.9 | 58.9 | 346 | 13.7 | 86.1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 169.36 | 0.057 | 0.083 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| -174.9 | 58.9 | 346 | 13.7 | 86 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 168.81 | 0.059 | 0.083 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| -173.9 | 58.8 | 346 | 13.7 | 85.9 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 168.28 | 0.061 | 0.083 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| -172.9 | 58.7 | 345.9 | 13.7 | 85.9 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 167.76 | 0.063 | 0.083 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| -171.9 | 58.6 | 345.9 | 13.7 | 85.8 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 167.15 | 0.068 | 0.082 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| -170.9 | 58.6 | 345.9 | 13.7 | 85.7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 166.57 | 0.072 | 0.083 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| -169.9 | 58.5 | 345.9 | 13.7 | 85.7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 166.05 | 0.076 | 0.083 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| -168.9 | 58.4 | 345.8 | 13.7 | 85.6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 165.58 | 0.079 | 0.083 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| -167.9 | 58.3 | 345.8 | 13.7 | 85.5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 165.13 | 0.081 | 0.082 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| -166.9 | 58.3 | 345.8 | 13.7 | 85.4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 164.63 | 0.085 | 0.083 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| -165.9 | 58.2 | 345.8 | 13.7 | 85.4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 164.2 | 0.087 | 0.083 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| -164.9 | 58.1 | 345.8 | 13.7 | 85.3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 163.77 | 0.089 | 0.083 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| -163.9 | 58.1 | 345.7 | 13.7 | 85.2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 163.35 | 0.091 | 0.082 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| -162.9 | 58 | 345.7 | 13.7 | 85.2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 162.86 | 0.096 | 0.082 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| -161.9 | 57.9 | 345.7 | 13.7 | 85.1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 162.39 | 0.1 | 0.082 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| -160.9 | 57.8 | 345.7 | 13.7 | 85 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 161.94 | 0.105 | 0.082 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| -159.9 | 57.8 | 345.7 | 13.7 | 84.9 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 161.34 | 0.107 | 0.082 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| -158.9 | 57.7 | 345.6 | 13.7 | 84.9 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 160.91 | 0.111 | 0.082 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| -157.9 | 57.6 | 345.6 | 13.7 | 84.8 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 160.48 | 0.116 | 0.082 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| -156.9 | 57.5 | 345.6 | 13.7 | 84.7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 160.07 | 0.12 | 0.082 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| -155.9 | 57.5 | 345.6 | 13.7 | 84.6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 159.53 | 0.122 | 0.082 |
Accelerometer altitude data description
Access to data
Data can be retrieved at the file level - download the index, (csv) select the desired files and submit a list of URNs to retrieve the data Link this to a page to retrieve the data.
Example of Data (partial file)
| Altitude (km) | Latitude (deg) | Longitude (deg) | Local Solar Time (hr) | Longitude of Sun (deg) | Solar Zenith Angle (deg) | Density (kg/km**3) | Sigma Density (kg/km**3) | Scale Height (km) | Sigma Scale Height (km) | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Periapse | 123.05 | 45.65 | 343 | 13.56 | 258.1 | 73.25 | 14.67 | 1.93 | 7.52 | 1.51 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1.26 nbar inbound | 127.69 | 48.84 | 343.61 | 13.59 | 258.1 | 76.32 | 6.13 | 0.16 | 5.95 | 0.31 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1.26 nbar outbound | 131.42 | 39.2 | 341.92 | 13.51 | 258.1 | 67.08 | 5.96 | 0.22 | 6.15 | 0.36 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| inbound | 130 | 50.43 | 343.92 | 13.61 | 258.1 | 77.85 | 4.64 | 0.25 | 7.57 | 1.02 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| outbound | 130 | 39.63 | 341.98 | 13.51 | 258.1 | 67.48 | 7.07 | 0.24 | 7.26 | 0.6 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| inbound | 140 | 53.41 | 344.57 | 13.64 | 258.1 | 80.73 | 1.57 | 0.04 | 9.81 | 0.82 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| outbound | 140 | 36.63 | 341.52 | 13.49 | 258.1 | 64.63 | 1.6 | 0.02 | 7.35 | 0.24 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| inbound | 150 | 55.58 | 345.09 | 13.66 | 258.1 | 82.83 | 0.44 | 0.02 | 5.94 | 0.68 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| outbound | 150 | 34.46 | 341.2 | 13.48 | 258.1 | 62.57 | 0.48 | 0.01 | 9.48 | 0.52 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| inbound | 160 | 57.36 | 345.55 | 13.69 | 258.1 | 84.56 | 0.13 | 0 | 11.77 | 0.83 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| outbound | 160 | 32.67 | 340.94 | 13.47 | 258.1 | 60.87 | 0.19 | 0 | 12.68 | 0.62 |
Raw Data
Access to Data
Similar aerobraking archives are available for the MRO and MARS Odyssey orbiter missions.
Citing Datasets for Publication
G.M.Keating (1999), MGS-M-ACCEL-2-EDR-V1.1, NASA Planetary Data System, https://doi.org/10.17189/1518940.
