More Details On:
Clementine launched on a Titan IIG expendable launch vehicle from Vandenberg Air Force Base into Low Earth Orbit (LEO) on January 25, 1994. Eight days after launch, it executed a delta-V maneuver [i.e., a Trans-lunar Transfer Injection (TTI) burn] that placed it into a lunar phasing loop orbit with two Earth flybys. The STAR 37FM Solid Rocket Motor (SRM) and ISA, collectively referred to as the Interstage Adapter Subsystem (ISAS), separated from the spacecraft during this phasing orbit. The ISAS remained in a highly elliptical orbit for several months to collect and to telemeter to Earth radiation data from the Van Allen belts.
The Clementine spacecraft performed a delta-V maneuver using its bi-propellant propulsion system to inject into a higher phasing loop orbit that intersected the Moon on February 19, 1994. The spacecraft transferred into a five hour elliptical polar orbit (Å400 km x 1225 km) to conduct comprehensive lunar mapping for about two months. Multi-spectral data in the ultraviolet, visible, and infrared wavelengths were collected, stored, and downlinked to Earth during each orbit. Figure 1 shows the trajectories used to enter lunar orbit.
Following the lunar mapping phase, the spacecraft performed a delta-V maneuver to leave lunar orbit. It entered a highly elliptical Earth orbit and was to use a gravity-assisted lunar swingby to enter a new trajectory and fly by the near-Earth asteroid Geographos. Figure 2 shows the planned trajectory to enter the orbit to fly by Geographos. Figure 3 shows the planned asteroid flyby trajectory. During the transfer and asteroid flyby the spacecraft was to have demonstrated autonomous navigation and perform asteroid surveillance, detection, acquisition, and tracking. The closest approach to the asteroid would have occurred at a distance of 8.5 million km from the Earth when the spacecraft was within 100 km of the asteroid.
The spacecraft was commanded from launch through the lunar mapping phase by the NRL's spacecraft control facility located in Pomonkey, Maryland and by the NASA's DSN. Additionally, support was provided during the critical TTI burn by the Centre National D'Etudes Spatiales satellite operations network and by the MICOMTEK Satellite Applications Centre of Pretoria, South Africa. The DSN was to have commanded the vehicle during the asteroid encounter phase. The Mission Operations Center, operated by the NRL and located in Alexandria, VA, provided flight operations and mission support during all mission phases.
Text Taken From Clementine: The Deep Space Program Science Experiment, by: Regeon, P., Chapman, J., and Baugh, B.
Homepage || Background || Mission || Spacecraft || Sensors || Data || Images || Participating Organizations || Publications || Related Links || Search this Site
webmaster@pxi.com