Landing footprint
A landing footprint, also called a landing ellipse, is the area of uncertainty of a spacecraft's landing zone on an astronomical body. After atmospheric entry, the landing point of a non-powered spacecraft will depend upon entry angle, entry mass, atmospheric conditions, and drag. It is therefore infeasible to calculate the spacecraft's landing point with absolute precision. By simulating entry under varying conditions, an ellipse can be calculated, resembling a footprint. The size of the ellipse represents the degree of uncertainty for a given confidence interval.[1]
The landing footprint of Opportunity rover on Meridiani Planum, Mars
References
- Lakdawalla, Emily (13 May 2008). "Landing Ellipse". The Planetary Society. Retrieved 7 May 2018.
Further reading
- Mitcheltree, Robert A.; Kellas, Sotiris (January 1999). A Passive Earth-Entry Capsule for Mars Sample Return (Report). NASA/Langley Research Center.
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