Publication Date:
2019-07-13
Description:
Europa's tantalizing allure as a possible haven for life comes cloaked in a myriad of challenges for robotic spacecraft exploration. Not only are the propulsive requirements high and the solar illumination low, but the radiation environment at Jupiter administers its inexorable death sentence on any electronics dispatched to closely examine the satellite. So to the usual trades of mass, delta-V, and cost, we must add radiation dose, which tugs the trajectory solution in a contrary direction. Previous studies have concluded that adding radiation shielding mass is more efficient than using ?V to reduce the exposure time, but that position was recently challenged by a study focusing on delivering simple landers to the Europa surface. During this work, a new trajectory option was found to occupy a strategic location in the delta-V/radiation continuum - we call it the "Banzai pipeline" due to the visual similarity with the end-on view down a breaking wave, as shown in the following figures.
Keywords:
Lunar and Planetary Science and Exploration; Spacecraft Design, Testing and Performance
Type:
AIAA Guidance, Navigation, and Control Conference; Aug 13, 2012 - Aug 16, 2012; Minneapolis, MN; United States|AIAA Atmospheric Flight Mechanics Conference; Aug 13, 2012 - Aug 16, 2012; Minneapolis, MN; United States|AIAA Modeling and Simulation Technologies Conference; Aug 13, 2012 - Aug 16, 2012; Minneapolis, MN; United States|AIAA/AAS Astrodynamics Specialist Conference; Aug 13, 2012 - Aug 16, 2012; Minneapolis, MN; United States
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