Workshop on the Study of the Ice Giant Planets (2014)
Uranus Exploration Challenges. Steve Matousek, California Institute of Technology, Jet Propulsion Laboratory
Mail Stop 301-335, 4800 Oak Grove Drive, Pasadena, CA 91109, [email protected].
Interest in Uranus exploration is on the rise since
Ice Giants exhibit different characteristics both in our
solar system, and in other solar systems, from gas giants or rocky planets. Challenges exist in reaching and
investigating the closest Ice Giant Uranus. These chal02 FLYBY +
N S/C distance from the
lenges are categorized
byPASSIVE
1) the large
- Flyby S/C
~800kg
Earth and Sun,
2) sufficient time for Uranian system
- Hibernation during cruise
measurements,- 4 instruments
3) characteristics
of the Uranian sys(added radarlike instrument)
tem, and 4) limited
budgets.
The
solutions
to the chal- Passive S/C – similar to “corner cubes” –
prior to Uranian
arrival and and possibly lowlenges include released
advanced
technology
tracked
er total mission
cost Propulsion
by examining some novel mission
- Chemical
3 months of science
architectures. --The
relationship
of solutions to challengNorth polar flyby
es is given in the table below:
ruise
e
cluding probe)
SEP
transitions to
ion
ce
URVEY:
PROBE
e
cluding probe)
+hallPROBE
be released
TER + PROBE
Architecture
Discovery/New
Frontiers
Flyby
- Passive S/C – similar to “corne
SEP
SEP
- Inclined Orbiter that transitions to
equatorial
- Polar+Orbiter
ORBITER
PROBE
ORBITER
+ PROBE
- Polar Orbiter – orbit outside the rings (not including
- Polar
Orbiter
– orbit outside the rings- Polar Orbit
- 1.5probe)
years
of science
- One probe:-atmospheric
- Orbiter
- Orbiter probe shall be
- Orbiter
Orbiter
- Multiple flybys of satellites
1.1-1.2 Ru (
- Multiple
flybys
of satellites
small nanosats
- Inclined
Orbiter that
transitions
to
released during
approach
- ~1000kg
- ~1500kg
14 RING HOVER
- ~1000kg
~1000kg
- Multiple fly
- One polar orbiter
equatorial
- Possible cruise science
- Possible cruise science
KBO
- One equatorial
orbiter cruise science
Hover
S/C
and
probe
- Possible
cruise
science
Possible
- 6 instruments (not including probe)
- 6ofinstruments
(not including probe)
- Multiple flybys
satellites
- Possible cruise science
- 4 instruments
(not including probe)
- 6- Solar
instruments
- Orbiter
- Chemical Propulsion
Electric Propulsion
- Atmospheric
probe
shall be released
- Atmospheric
probe
LARGE
FLAGSHIP
(All on Atlas V 551 LV) - 4 instruments
- Chemical
Propulsion
- Solar
Electric
Propulsion
- Possible cruise science
LARGE FLAGSHIP (All
on Atlas
V 551
LV)shall be released
during approach
during
-SMALL
Hover 3 FLAGSHIP
km above the
rings
and
SEP
- 15 instruments (not including probe)
(All
on Atlas
V 551approach
LV) probe (shall) released
- Atmospheric
probe shall be
- Atmospheric
- 2 years of science
- 2 years of science
SEP
move
in
toward
Uranus
12
DUAL
ORBITER
+
PROBE
13 CASS
- Atmospheric
probe
shall
be
released
during
approach
released
during
approach
during
approach
10 INTERIOR STRUCTURE:
KBO:
Dual
DUAL
ORBITER
+
PROBE
- Polar Orbiter
– orbit
outside the ringsorbiters 11 INTERIOR STRUCTURE,
- Polar12
Orbiter
– periapsis
of orbit within
- Two Orbiters
PROB
09
DECADAL
SURVEY:
- Release
“pebbles” (they
orbit) and track them-for
1.5- Multiple
years of
science
- 1.5
years
science
flybys
of satellites
1.1-1.2
Ru of
(inside
the
rings)
- Two
Orbiters
ORBITER
+ PROBE
ORBITER + PROBE
- Possible cruise science
- Orbiter
probe(s)
- Multiple
flybys
of
gravity
science
ORBITER
+satellites
PROBE
- Possible
cruise
science
- Inclined Orbiter with
that transitions
to
- Inclined
Orbiter
that
transitions to
- Orbiter
- 13 instruments- Orbiter
on each orbiter
Possible
cru
- Uranus
tour – possibly orbit multiple satellitesequatorial
- Orbiter
- 13 instruments on each orbiter
equatorial
- ~1500kg
~1500kg
(not including-probe)
- 15 instrum
13 CASSINI CLASS ORBITER +
PROBE + PEBBLES
+ PROBE
er
ellites
ence
t including probe)
ion
be shall be released
- ~1000kg(not including probe)
- Possible cruise science
- Possible cruise
science
- One probe: atmospheric
probe shall
be
- Atmospher
LARGE FLAGSHIP (All on Atlas V 551KBO
LV)
cruise
science
One
probe:
atmospheric probe shall be
- 6 instruments (not including probe)
- 6approach
instruments (not including- Possible
probe- or
SEP
stage)
released during
- Release “pe
- 6 instruments
(not
including
probe)
released
during
approach
- Solar Electric Propulsion
- Solar Electric Propulsion
gravity scie
12 DUAL ORBITER + PROBE- One polar orbiter
13 CASSINI
CLASS
ORBITER +
- Chemical
Propulsion
- One
polar orbiter
- One equatorial- Atmospheric
orbiter
- Atmospheric probe shall be released
probe shall be released
during
- Two Orbiters
- Uranus tou
PROBE
+ PEBBLES
- Atmospheric
probe
shallorbiter
be released
SMALL FLAGSHIP (All on Atlas
V 551 LV)
- One equatorial
Multiple
flybys
of
satellites
- Possible cruise
science
during approach
approach
Orbiter
SEP
during- approach
Multiple
flybys of satellites
- 13 instruments on each orbiter
- Possible
cruise science
- 2 years of science
- 2 years of science
bit outside the rings
satellites
- Polar Orbiter – periapsis of orbit within
1.1-1.2 Ru (inside the rings)
- Multiple flybys of satellites
BITER + PROBE
biter
satellites
- Hibernation during cruise
- 5 instruments
- Chemical Propulsion
DISCOVERY (All on- Atlas
1 year401
of LV)
science
- Polar Orbiter
01 FLYBYpartnership
- High international
- Flyby S/C
02 FLYBY + PASSIVE N
01 FLYBY DISCOVERY (All on Atlas 401 LV)
- ~800kg
Flyby S/C
02 FLYBY
- Flyby S/C
01 FLYBY
- Hibernation during-cruise
- Flyby S/C
- Flyby S/C
~800kg
- ~800kg
- 3 instruments
~800kg
- ~800kg
- Hibernation during-cruise
- Hibernation during cruise
Hibernation
Chemical Propulsion
- Hibernation during -cruise
4
instruments
(added
radar- 4 instrumen
- 3 instruments
- 3 instruments
- 3 months of science
like instrum
- Chemical Propulsion
like instrument)
- Chemical Propulsion
- Passive S/C –
- 3 months of science- North polar flyby
released prio
- North polar
06 ORBITER
07 PROBITER - North polar flyby
08flyby
PROBES ONLY released prior to Uranian
Challenge
Possible Solution
trackedarriv
Flyby
with
- Orbiter
- Orbiter
that enters the
- Carrier S/C
- Chemical Pr
tracked
- 3 months of
~1000kg
atmosphere like a probe at
- ~1000kg?
1) Large distance
- Chemical Propulsion
- North polar
probe(s)
- Possible cruise science
the end of life
- Possible cruise science
- 3 months of science
Atlas 401 LV)
a) Long flight -time
Large launch DISCOVERY
vehicle,(All on
Solar
6 instruments
~1000kg
- 3 probes released prior to - North polar flyby
NEW FRONTIERS (All
Atlas V 551 LV)
02onFLYBY
+Uranus
PASSIVE
N S/C
03 K
01 FLYBY
- Solar Electric Propulsion
- Possible cruise science
arrival
NEW FRONTIERS
(All on +Atlas
V 551 LV)
Electric Propulsion
- Flyby05
S/CORBITER
- Flyby
PROBE
06 ORBIT
- Flyby S/C- 6 instruments
- Atmospheric probe (shall) released
- 3 months
of science?
- Orbiter
- Orbiter
~800kg
- ~800k
NEW FRONTIERS (All on Atlas V 551 LV)
- ~800kg
05 ORBITER + PROBE
during approach Radioisotope power
- Chemical Propulsion
- ~1000kg
~1000kg
b) Large Sun distance
- Hibernation
during cruise
- Hiber
- Hibernation during cruise
02
FLYBY
+
PASSIVE
N
S/C
03
KAMIKAZE
04
ORBITER
Possible
cruise
science
Possible
cru
- Orbiter
- 1.5 years of science
- 1.5 years of science
05 ORBITER + PROBE - 4 instruments
06
ORBITER
(added radar- 3 inst
- 3 instruments
- 4 instruments
(not including probe)
- 6 instrumen
OrbiterS/C - Orbiter
- Flyby S/C
- Flyby/Impacter
- Propulsion
Orbiter
Chem
- Orbiter
c) Large Earth- Inclined
distance
Ka
bandto telecommuncation, - Chemical- Polar
DISCOVERY (Alllikeoninstrument)
401
LV) - ~1000kg
Orbiter that
transitions
Orbiter
Propulsion
-Atlas
Chemical
- Solar- Electri
~800kg
- ~800kg
~400kg
- Passive
S/C – -similar
to -“corner
– science
- 3 mon
Possible
cruise
- Atmospheric
probe
shall
be cubes”
- Atmospheri
- 3 months of
science
- ~1000kg
~1000kg
equatorial
released
approach
during
appr
released
prior-during
to
Uranian
and cruise
- Enter
Optical
- North polar
flyby
- Hibernation during
cruise communication
- Hibernation
during cruise
Hibernation
during
01
FLYBY
- 4arrival
instruments
(not including
probe)science
- Possible cruise science
- Possible cruise
- 1.5 years of science
- 1.5 years
of
tracked
atmo
Flyby
S/C
- 4 instruments (not including probe)
6
instruments
Chemical
Propulsion
- 4 instruments (added radar- 3 instruments
5
instruments
- Inclined
Orbiter that transitions to
- Inclined Orb
Chemical
Propulsion
2) Sufficient time
for Aerocapture to achieve orbit
~800kg
Solarbe
Electric Propulsion
equatorial
equatorial
- Atmospheric
like instrument)
- Chemical Propulsion - Chemical Propulsion
- -Chemical
Propulsion probe- shall
- 3 months of science
SEP
- Atmospheric probe (shall) rele
during
cruise
during
approach
Passive S/C – similar to “cornerDISCOVERY
cubes” –
- 3 months of science - Atmospheric probe shall be - North polar flyby
- -1Hibernation
year ofreleased
science
(All on Atlas 401 LV)
SEP
measurements - released
released during approach
3 instruments
- 1.5 years of science during approach
prior to Uranian arrival and
- Enter directed into Uranus
- -Polar
Orbiter
1.5
years
of
science
- 1.5
years
of science
Chemical
Propulsion
Inclined
Orbiter
that
transitions
to
SMALL
FLAGSHIP
(All
on
Atlas
V
551
LV)
02
FLYBY
+
PASSIVE
N S/C
Multiple
flybys
atmosphere
upon arrival
- High international partnership
01
FLYBY
3) Uranian tracked
system 10 INTERIOR STRUCTURE:
NEW FRONTIERS (All on
Atlas
V 551 LV)
- Inclined Orbiter
transitions to STRUCTURE,
- Inclined Orbiter that transition
- -3 Flyby
months
of science
11that
INTERIOR
KBO:
equatorial
- Chemical Propulsion
S/C
- Flyby S/C
09 DECADAL
SURVEY:
equatorial
equatorial
North
polar
flyby
characteristics - 3 months of scienceORBITER + PROBE
ORBITER06+ORBITER
PROBE
05 ORBITER + PROBE
07 PR
~800kg
ORBITER
+ PROBE
- ~800kg
- Orbiter
- Orbiter
- Orbite
- Orbiter
- Orbiter
- Orbiter
polar flyby
- Hibernation during cruise
- Hibernation
- ~1000kg during cruise
~1000kg
atmo
- ~1000kg
a) Extended - North
atmos- Orbit
~1500kg farther out
- ~1500kg
- 4 science
instruments (added radar- Possible
- 3 instruments
- Possible cruise science
- Possible
cruisecruise
science
the en
SMALL
(Alllike
on instrument)
Atlas V 551
- Possible cruise science
- Possible
cruise FLAGSHIP
- 6 instruments
(not
including
probe)LV)
KBO
- 4 instruments
(not
including probe)
-science
6 instruments
~1000k
phere
SMALL
FLAGSHIP
(All on Atlas V 551 LV)
- Chemical
Propulsion
- Chemical Propulsion
- 6 instruments (not including probe)
- 6 instruments (not
including
probe
or
SEP
stage)
- Chemical Propulsion
- Solar
Electric Propulsion
Possib
- Passive
– similar to “corner cubes” –
- Atmospheric
probe shallS/C
be released
months
of science
- Atmospheric probe shall be
- Atmospheric
probe (shall)
- 6 inst
Solar Electric Propulsion
- Solar
Electric Propulsion
09released
DECADAL
SURVEY:
b) Rings
orbit to avoid rings-- 3North
during approach
09 DECADAL
SURVEY:
released
priorONLY
to Uranian
arrival and 10 INTER
06 ORBITER-- “Shape”
07
PROBITER
08
PROBES
polar
flyby
released
during
approach
during
- Chem
FRONTIERS
(All
onbe
Atlas
V 551 during
LV)ORBITER
- 2 approach
years
of
science
Atmospheric probe shall be released
- NEW
Atmospheric
probe
shall
released
+ PROBE
Flagship
ORBITER
+
PROBE
ORBI
tracked
Orbiter
- Carrier
- Polar
– orbit S/C
outside the rings
years of- Orbiter
science that enters the
- 1.5 years
ofOrbiter
science
- 1.5 ye
c) Pole tilted -~1000kg
Arrival
date, propulsion to -- 1.5
during approach
approach
- Orbiterto + PROBE
SEP
- Multiple
of
satellites
- Orbiter
- Orbiter
05
ORBITER
Inclined Orbiter
that transitions
- Inclined
Orbiter
transitions
- Polar
atmosphere
like atoprobe
at
-flybys
~1000kg?
-that
Chemical
Propulsion
- 2 years of science
- ~1000kg
Orbiter
with - 2 years of scienceequatorial - -Possible
equatorial the end
- ~1000kg
- ~1500kg
Orbiter
- Possible cruise science
of life
cruise
science
change
orbit
inclination
3
months
of
science
- Polar Orbiter – periapsis of orbit within
- Polar
Orbiter – periapsis of orbit
within
1.1-1.2
Ru science
- Possible
cruise
Possible
cruise
science
Possible
cru
~1000kg
- 6 instruments
~1000kg
- 3- probes
released
prior to
North
flyby
probe(s)
- 6polar
instruments
1.1-1.2 Ru (inside
the rings)
(inside
the rings)
(not
including
probe)
Possible
cruise
science(not including probe) - 6 instrume
FLAGSHIP
(All on Atlas V 551 -Uranus
LV)
4) Budget
Novel
flyby,
orbiter,
probe,
- Solar Electric Propulsion
- Possible cruise science- 6 instrumentsLARGE
arrival
Chemical
Propulsion
- Multiple flybys of satellites
- Multiple flybys of satellites - 4 instruments (not including probe)
- Chemical Propulsion
- Solar Electr
- Atmospheric probe (shall) released
- 6 instruments
- 3 ORBITER
months
of+science?
SMALL
FLAGSHIP
(All on Atlas V 551 LV)
PROBE
- Atmospheric
probe
shall be released - Atmospher
- Atmospheric -probe
shall be
released12
SEP stage
continues
on DUAL
to flyby
a Kuiper
Belt
Object
(KBO)
and daughter
nanosat
archi- Chemical
Propulsion
during approach
- Chemical Propulsion during approach
- Two Orbiters
NEW FRONTIERS
(All on Atlas V 551 LV)
during
approach
during app
- Atmospheric
probe
shall be
Possible
cruise
science
- 1.5 years of science
- 1.5 years
of science
SEP- 2 years of s
09 DECADAL
SURVEY:
10onINTERIOR
STRUCTURE:
tectures
of science
- 2 during
years
science
- 13 instruments
each
orbiter of
released
approach
with
05 ORBITEROrbiter
+ PROBE - 2 years
06
ORBITER
e
ch orbiter
)
eric
probe shall be
SURVEY:
oach
ence
n each orbiter
obe)
spheric probe shall be
pproach
- Hibernation during cruise
- 3 instruments
- Chemical Propulsion
- 3 months of science
- Enter directed into Uranus
DISCOVERY
(All upon
on Atlas
401 LV)
atmosphere
arrival
SEP
ng cruise
ence
outside the rings
t including probe)
ellites
ion
be shall be
pproach
ce
hat transitions to
To meet the challenges, novel architectures might
be required in the future. These architectures span the
trade space from flyby missions to multiple orbiters
and probes to mothership with many daughter
nanosats. The most promising are discussed along with
03
KAMIKAZE
04 ORBITERof exhow
each does or does not meet the challenges
- Flyby/Impacter S/C
- Orbiter
- ~800kg
- ~400kg
ploring Uranus.
- 3 months of science
PROBE
hall be
oach
2030.pdf
13 CASSINI CLASS ORBITER +
PROBE + PEBBLES
(c)
including probe)
09 (not
DECADAL
SURVEY:
- One probe: atmospheric probe shall be
ORBITER
+ PROBE
released
during approach
- Orbiter
- One polar orbiter
- One equatorial orbiter
- ~1000kg
- Multiple flybys of satellites
- Possible
cruise science
- 6 instruments (not including probe)
- Chemical Propulsion
- Atmospheric probe shall be released
during approach
- 2 years of science
- Polar Orbiter – orbit outside the rings
- Multiple flybys of satellites
10 INTERIOR
STRUCTU
- 15within
instruments
(not including
probe)
- Polar Orbiter – periapsis of orbit
1.1-1.2
- Polar
Orbiter
–probe
orbitRu
outside
the rings
- Atmospheric
shall
be released
during approach
ORBITER
+ PROBE
(inside the rings)
- Multiple
of satellites
- Releaseflybys
“pebbles”
(they orbit) and track them for
- Orbiter
- Multiple flybys of satellites
gravity science
- SEP stage continues on to flyby
a Kuiper
Object
(KBO)
- Uranus
tourBelt
– possibly
orbit
multiple satellites
- ~1500kg
- 2 years of science
- Possible cruise science
- 6 instruments (not including pro
- Solar Electric Propulsion
12
DUAL
ORBITER
+ PROBEprobe shall be rele
- Atmospheric
14 RING HOVER
Two
Orbiters
during approach
- Hover S/C
- Possible cruise science
- Possible cruise science
- 2 years of science
- 13 instruments on each orbiter
- 4 instruments
- Polar Orbiter – periapsis of orbit
(not including probe)
- Hover 3 km above the rings and
1.1-1.2
(inside
- One probe: atmospheric
probeRu
shall
be the rings)
move in toward Uranus
- Multiple flybys of satellites
released during approach
LARGE FLAGSHIP (All on Atlas V 551 LV)
- Orbiter
- Possible cruise science
- 15 instruments (not including probe)
- Atmospheric probe shall be released during approach
2014- Release
California
of track
Technology.
Government sponsorship acknowledged
“pebbles”Institute
(they orbit) and
them for
gravityPre-decisional
science
For Planning and Discussion Purposes Only
- Uranus tour – possibly orbit multiple satellites
LARGE FLAGSHIP (All on Atlas V 551 LV)
12 DUAL ORBITER + PROBE
- Two Orbiters
- One polar orbiter
- One equatorial orbiter
- Multiple flybys of satellites
13 CASSINI CLASS ORB
PROBE + PEBBLES