NASA Uranus orbiter and probe

Uranus imaged by Voyager 2

A Uranus orbiter and probe is a mission concept for study of the planet Uranus. It was first recommended to NASA in 2011 by its Planetary Science Decadal Survey 2013–2022.[1]

NASA evaluated in 2017 twenty different mission designs submitted by the scientific community, considering mission trades, trajectories, and the technology required for specific objectives. Because of planet position and alignments, Neptune was dropped in favor of Uranus.[2] If funded, the proposed mission would launch in the 2020s with launch-windows of 21 days every year.[2]

Overview

The survey listed the Uranus orbiter and probe as the third priority for a Flagship mission class after the Mars 2020 rover and an orbiter to Europa, the Europa Clipper. The SLS rocket has been proposed by Boeing as a launch vehicle for the Uranian probe.[3][4]

Although a chemical propulsion mission to Uranus is possible, solar electric propulsion (the NEXT ion engine) is an option for the first portion of the journey because it allows a larger spacecraft mass. The committee narrowed the mission concepts to three scenarios.[5][6][7]

Flyby and
atmospheric probe		Orbiter and
atmospheric probe		Orbiter without
atmospheric probe
Science goalsInterior structure and compositionInterior structure, composition,
rings moons, magnetospheres		Interior structure, composition,
rings moons, magnetospheres
Science payload3 instruments (50 kg)3 instruments (50 kg)15 instruments (50 kg)
PropulsionChemical and solar electric propulsion
within the inner Solar System region		ChemicalChemical
Flight time10 years15 years15 years
Time in orbitFlyby3 years3 years
Power4 MMRTG
425 W		4 MMRTG
376 W		5 MMRTG
470 W

The atmospheric probe element of this mission would study the vertical distribution of cloud-forming molecules, thermal stratification, and wind speed as a function of depth.[8] The probe would be 30 kg in mass and about 0.5m in diameter.

There is also a study that recommended a medium-class concept for the New Frontiers program to develop such an orbiter for Uranus.[9]

See also

Uranus mission proposals

References

  1. ↑ Vision and Voyages for Planetary Science in the Decade 2013–2022 Archived 2012-09-05 at WebCite
  2. 1 2 Uranus and Neptune Orbiter and Probe Concept Studies, Ice Giants Decadal Study
  3. ↑ Chris Gebhardt (20 November 2013). "New SLS mission options explored via new Large Upper Stage". NASASpaceFlight.
  4. ↑ "Space Launch System Exploration, Science, Security" (PDF). Boeing.com. Archived from the original (PDF) on September 23, 2015. Retrieved March 30, 2017.
  5. ↑ It’s time to explore Uranus and Neptune again — and here's how NASA could do it. Loren Grush, The Verge. 16 June 2017.
  6. ↑ Revisiting the ice giants: NASA study considers Uranus and Neptune missions. Jason Davis. The Planetary Society. 21 June 2017.
  7. ↑ NASA Completes Study of Future ‘Ice Giant’ Mission Concepts. NASA TV. 20 June 2017.
  8. ↑ Small Next-generation Atmospheric Probe (SNAP) Concept. (PDF). K. M. Sayanagi, R. A. Dillman, A. A. Simon, et al. NASA, 2017.
  9. ↑ THE CASE FOR A URANUS ORBITER, Mark Hofstadter et al.
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