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Vision and Voyages for Planetary Science in the - Solar System ...

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Titan Orbiter + In Situ Elements<br />

SOURCE: NASA Mission Study (transmitted from Curt Niebur, NASA SMD/<strong>Planetary</strong><br />

<strong>Science</strong> Division)<br />

Scientific Objectives<br />

• Explore Titan as an Earth‐like system<br />

• Exam<strong>in</strong>e <strong>the</strong> organic chemistry of Titan’s atmosphere<br />

• Explore Enceladus <strong>and</strong> Saturn’s magnetosphere <strong>for</strong> clues<br />

to Titan’s orig<strong>in</strong> <strong>and</strong> evolution<br />

• Key science <strong>the</strong>mes:<br />

– Explor<strong>in</strong>g organic‐rich environments<br />

– Orig<strong>in</strong> <strong>and</strong> evolution of satellite systems<br />

– Underst<strong>and</strong><strong>in</strong>g dynamic planetary processes<br />

Key Parameters<br />

• Model Payload<br />

– High Resolution Imager <strong>and</strong> Spectrometer<br />

– Titan Penetrat<strong>in</strong>g Radar <strong>and</strong> Altimeter<br />

– Polymer Mass Spectrometer, Sub‐Millimeter<br />

Spectrometer, Thermal Infrared Spectrometer<br />

– Magnetometer, Energetic Particle Spectrometer,<br />

Langmuir Probe, Plasma Spectrometer<br />

– Radio <strong>Science</strong> <strong>and</strong> Accelerometers<br />

• In Situ Elements: Balloon <strong>and</strong> Lake L<strong>and</strong>er<br />

• Radioisotope Power Sources: 5 ASRGs + 1 MMRTG<br />

• Launch Mass: 6203 kg<br />

• Launch Date: 2020 (on Atlas V 551) gravity assist SEP<br />

• Orbit: 1500 km Titan orbit + Saturn tour <strong>in</strong>clud<strong>in</strong>g<br />

Enceladus flybys<br />

Titan Saturn <strong>System</strong> Mission<br />

Key Challenges<br />

• In Situ ESA‐supplied Elements<br />

– Uncerta<strong>in</strong>ty <strong>in</strong> accommodation, pend<strong>in</strong>g element<br />

maturation<br />

– Element operations <strong>and</strong> communications relay us<strong>in</strong>g<br />

Orbiter<br />

• Mass<br />

– Uncerta<strong>in</strong>ty <strong>in</strong> <strong>in</strong>strument mass<br />

– Low launch marg<strong>in</strong> <strong>for</strong> this development phase<br />

• Power<br />

– Battery recharge time <strong>in</strong> Titan orbit<br />

– Impact of switch<strong>in</strong>g to MMRTGs from ASRGs<br />

Key Cost Element Comparison<br />

Cost Risk Analysis S‐Curve<br />

PREPUBLICATION COPY—SUBJECT TO FURTHER EDITORIAL CORRECTION<br />

C-18

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