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Plasma clouds can enhance the collection of current to a charged body in the ionosphere in two ways. The first is by providing a large collection area for ionospheric electrons to be collected. The second is by ionization of neutral gas in the vicinity of the plasma cloud. The collection of electrons across a magnetic field is examined, and it is shown that the effective collection area is limited to the region of the cloud where the magnetic field effects are overwhelmed by the electric field effects from the charged body. Upper and lower bounds are obtained for the radius of the core region where the electric field influence dominates. From these, upper and lower bounds are obtained for the current collection.

The ballistic Mars hopper is proposed as an alternative mobility concept for unmanned exploration of the martian surface. In the ballistic Mars hopper concept, oxygen and carbon monoxide produced from the martian atmosphere are used as propellants in a rocket propulsion system for an unmanned vehicle on suborbital trajectories between landing sights separated by distances of up to 1000 km. This mobility concept is seen as uniquely capable of allowing both intensive and extensive exploration of the planet using only a single landed vehicle massing approximately 2000 kg. The technical challenges associated with In-Situ Propellant Production (ISPP) on the surface of Mars are reviewed. A rocket propulsion subsystem capable of using oxygen and carbon monoxide as propellants is described. Finally, results of mission analysis and a hopper landing hazard simulation are reported. It is concluded that an attractive Mars hopper can be developed based on relatively near-term technology.

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