Small Next-Generation Atmospheric Probe (SNAP) Concept to Enable Future Multi-Probe Missions: A Case Study for Uranus

Autor: T. R. Spilker, S. J. Horan, R. E. Fairbairn, Kunio M. Sayanagi, L. W. Taylor, S. J. Primeaux, Trevor Grondin, J. Li, D. G. Goggin, Sarag J. Saikia, Ryan M. McCabe, D. Hope, C. Thames, Archit Arora, T. O. Clark, Michael H. Wong, S. C. Bowen, A. D. Scammell, James M. Longuski, L. D. Tran, Ankit Parikh, Amy Simon, D. J. Peterson, K. M. Somervill, H. P. Tosoc, Angela L. Bowes, J. S. Brady, W. C. Edwards, T. E. Marvel, David H. Atkinson, S. I. Infeld, J. P. Leckey, Robert A. Dillman
Rok vydání: 2020
Předmět:
Zdroj: Space Science Reviews. 216
ISSN: 1572-9672
0038-6308
DOI: 10.1007/s11214-020-00686-7
Popis: We present the outcome of a mission concept study that designed a small atmospheric entry probe and examined the feasibility and benefit of a future multi-probe mission to Uranus. We call our design the Small Next-generation Atmospheric Probe (SNAP). The primary scientific objective of a multi-probe mission is to reveal spatial variability of atmospheric conditions. This article first highlights that not all measurements must be repeated by multiple probes; some quantities, notably the noble gas abundances and elemental isotopic ratios, are not expected to be variable, and thus need to be performed only by a single large Primary Probe. Our study demonstrates that, by focusing its measurements on spatially variable quantities including atmospheric vapor concentrations, thermal stratification and wind speed, a viable atmospheric probe design is realized with an entry system with 50-cm heatshield diameter and 30-kg atmospheric entry mass. As a case study, we present a detailed analysis of adding SNAP to a notional Uranus Orbiter with Probe mission, which launches in 2031 and arrives at Uranus in 2043, designed by the NASA-funded Science Definition Team study in 2017. We demonstrate that, with minimal changes to the notional carrier mission, a large Primary Probe and SNAP can be delivered to the winter and summer hemispheres to examine seasonal atmospheric variabilities, and transmit data to the Orbiter, which in turn relays the data to Earth. The additional maneuvers needed to deliver SNAP totals a Delta-V of 84 m/s, and consumes 43 kg of propellant. The addition of SNAP is expected to cost $79.5 million in FY2018 dollars; thus, our study demonstrates that a multi-probe mission can be implemented with a 4% cost increase relative to the $2.0 billion cost estimate of the notional mission designed by NASA’s Ice Giant Flagship Science Definition Team study reported in 2017. The SNAP design incorporates several technologies that are currently under development at various Technology Readiness Levels (TRL) between TRL = 4 and TRL = 6. In particular, our study recommends targeted technology development in Thermal Protection System materials, advanced batteries, and miniaturized instruments to enable and enhance future small atmospheric probes like SNAP.
Databáze: OpenAIRE
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