SYSTEM CONCEPTS AND ENABLING TECHNOLOGIES FOR AN ESA LOW-COST MISSION TO JUPITER/EUROPA

摘要

The European Space Agency is currently studying the Jovian Minisat Explorer (JME), as part of itsrnTechnology Reference Studies (TRS). TRS are model science-driven studies contributing in the ESA strategicrndevelopment plan of technologies that will enable future scientific missions.rnThe JME focuses on the exploration of the Jovian system and particularly the exploration of its moonrnEuropa. The Jupiter Minisat Orbiter (JMO) study, which is the subject of the present paper, concerns the firstrnmission phase of JME that counts up to three missions spaced in time by 6 years using pairs of minisats. Thernscientific objectives are the investigation of Europa's global topography, the composition of its (sub)surfacernand the demonstration of existence of a subsurface ocean below Europa's icy crust.rnThe present paper describes the candidate JMO system concept, based on a Europa Orbiter (JEO) supportedrnby a communications relay satellite (JRS), and its associated technology development plan. It summarizes anrnanalysis performed in 2004 jointly by ESA and the EADS-Astrium Company in the frame of an industrialrntechnical assistance to ESA.rnIt addresses the interplanetary transfer, the hostile radiation environment, the power generation issue, therncommunication system, as well as the need for high autonomy on-board.