DESTINY MISSION OVERVIEW: A SMALL SATELLITE MISSION FOR DEEP SPACE EXPLORATION TECHNOLOGY DEMONSTRATION

摘要

DESTINY which stands for “Demonstration and Experiment of Space Technologyrnfor INterplanetary voYage” is a mission candidate for the third missionrnof ISAS small science satellite series. DESTINY is launched by an Epsilonrnlaunch vehicle, JAXA’s next-generation solid fuel rocket, and is firstly placedrninto a low elliptical orbit. It raises its altitude by the use of ion engine andrnreaches the Moon. Then, it is injected into transfer orbit for L_2 Halo orbit ofrnthe Sun-Earth system by using lunar gravity assist. On the way to L_2 Halo orbit,rnDESTINY conducts demonstration and experiment on key advanced technologyrnfor future deep space missions. This paper presents the overview ofrnDESTINY mission as well as its importance and significance in Japanese spacernscience program.