THE JUPITER MICROSAT EXPLORER PROGRAMME, A TECHNOLOGY REFERENCE MISSION

摘要

ESA's Science Payload & Advanced Concepts Office has started a combination of activities under the name Technology Reference Missions (TRMs). The scope of the TRMs is to identify and develop critical technologies that will be required for future scientific missions. The Jupiter Microsat Explorer Programme (JMEP) is one of these TRMs and aims to study the Jovian system, and especially the smallest of the four Galilean moons, Europa. This paper provides an overview of the top-level scientific objectives, the mission concept as well as the main challenges addressed in this TRM. The identified critical technologies will help to prepare a technical roadmap for future mission requirements.