HR: 0800h
AN: P51B-1439    [Abstracts]
TI: A Neptune/Triton Vision Mission Using Nuclear Electric Propulsion
AU: * Steffes, P
EM: paul.steffes@ece.gatech.edu
AF: School of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology, School of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, GA 30332-0250 United States
AU: Bienstock, B
EM: bernard.j.bienstock@boeing.com
AF: Boeing Satellite Systems, Inc., P.O. Box 92919 MC W-S50-X382, Los Angeles, CA 90009-291 United States
AU: Atkinson, D H
EM: atkinson@ece.uidaho.edu
AF: Dept of Electrical and Computer Engineering University of Idaho, Box 441023, Moscow, ID 83844-1023 United States
AU: Baines, K
EM: kbaines@pop.jpl.nasa.gov
AF: Jet Propulsion Laboratory, M/S 183-601 4800 Oak Grove Drive, Pasadena, CA 91109-8099 United States
AU: Mahaffey, P
EM: paul.r.mahaffy@nasa.gov
AF: NASA GSFC, Code 915, Greenbelt, MD 20771 United States
AU: Atreya, S
EM: atreya@umich.edu
AF: College of Engineering The University of Michigan, Space Research Building 2455 Hayward Street, Ann Arbor, MI 48109-2143 United States
AU: Stern, A
EM: astern@boulder.swri.edu
AF: Space Science & Engineering Division Southwest Research Institute, 1050 Walnut Street, Suite 400, Boulder, CO 80302 United States
AU: Wright, M
EM: mjwright@mail.arc.nasa.gov
AF: NASA Ames Research Center, M/S 230-2 , Moffett Field, CA 94035-1000 United States
AB: The giant planets of the outer solar system divide into two distinct classes: the `gas giants' Jupiter and Saturn, primarily comprising hydrogen and helium; and the `ice giants' Uranus and Neptune that are believed to contain significant amounts of the heavier elements including oxygen, nitrogen, carbon, and sulfur. Detailed comparisons of the internal structures and compositions of the gas giants with those of the ice giants will yield valuable insights into the processes that formed the solar system and, perhaps, extrasolar systems. By 2012, Pioneer, Voyager, Galileo, Cassini, and possibly a New Frontiers Jupiter mission will have yielded significant information on the chemical and physical properties of Jupiter and Saturn. A Neptune mission would deliver the corresponding key data for an ice giant planet. A Neptune Orbiter with Probes mission utilizing nuclear electric propulsion (NEP) to study Triton, Nereid, the other icy satellites of Neptune, Neptune's system of rings, and the deep Neptune atmosphere to pressures ranging from several hundred bars to possibly several kilobars is being examined. Power and propulsion would be provided using nuclear electric technologies. Such an ambitious mission requires a number of technical issues be investigated and resolved, including: (1) developing a realizable mission design that allows proper targeting and timing of the entry probe(s) while offering adequate opportunities for detailed measurements of Triton, the other icy satellites and ring science, (2) giant-planet atmospheric probe thermal protection system (TPS) design, (3) descent probe design including seals, windows, penetrations and inlets, and pressure vessel, (4) probe telecommunications through the dense and absorbing Neptunian atmosphere, and (5) within NEP mass and power constraints, defining an appropriate suite of science instruments to explore the depths of the Neptune atmosphere, magnetic field, Triton, and the icy satellites. Another driving factor in the design of the Orbiter and Probes is the necessity to maintain a fully operational flight system during the lengthy transit time from launch through Neptune encounter, and beyond. Following our response to the recent NASA Research Announcement (NRA) for Space Science Vision Missions for mission studies by NASA for implementation in the 2013 or later time frame, our team has been selected to explore the feasibility of such a Neptune mission.
DE: 6207 Comparative planetology
DE: 6255 Neptune
DE: 6260 Neptunian satellites
DE: 6265 Planetary rings
DE: 6297 Instruments and techniques
SC: Planetary Sciences [P]
MN: 2004 AGU Fall Meeting