A Notional Mission Architecture for Enabling Near-Term Scientific Ocean Access Missions on Icy Worlds
Abstract
Recent Planetary Science Decadal Surveys have placed a high priority on the science exploration of our solar system's Ocean Worlds such as Europa and Enceladus. To pursue the development of an overarching science-driven mission framework for a series of potential Ocean Worlds access mission concepts, new robotic system capabilities will need to be established. One such capability under consideration is a cryobot capable of rapid penetration and scientific sampling of thick ice shells down to the ice-ocean interface where it would deliver an autonomous explorer payload. Past [Zimmerman 1998, 2001; Di Pippo, 1999] and more recent efforts [Cwik 2018] aimed at identifying key concepts of operations and technologies trades for accelerating the landing and deployment of a cryobot capability have highlighted the need for developing a comprehensive set of end-to-end mission architectures. Our common approach is for a totally self-contained radioisotope thermoelectric generator-powered descent probe with thermal and mechanical ice penetration capabilities that carries a full suite of sensors, on-board computing/control, and in situ science instrument suite.
Some critical drivers that we have studied include: 1) Compliance of radioisotope thermal & electrical power systems throughout all mission phases; 2) Meeting planetary protection requirements; 3) Ability to operate across a wide range of extreme environments, from 100 K in vacuum to 100's of bars pressure; 4) Active thermal control for collection and distribution of the large heat inventory to the cryobot head and body; 5) Start-up penetration phase on cryogenic ice surface, potentially in high radiation environment; 6) Detecting/avoiding in-ice hazards; 7) Reliable anchoring at ice/ocean interface and deployment of ocean explorer; 8) Effective communication architecture; and 9) Decommissioning at end of mission. We will discuss an initial definition of a path forward to successfully develop viable near-term solutions.- Publication:
-
AGU Fall Meeting Abstracts
- Pub Date:
- December 2019
- Bibcode:
- 2019AGUFM.P51B..09F
- Keywords:
-
- 0728 Ice shelves;
- CRYOSPHERE;
- 6221 Europa;
- PLANETARY SCIENCES: SOLAR SYSTEM OBJECTS;
- 6282 Enceladus;
- PLANETARY SCIENCES: SOLAR SYSTEM OBJECTS;
- 6297 Instruments and techniques;
- PLANETARY SCIENCES: SOLAR SYSTEM OBJECTS