Mitigating Extreme Environments for In-Situ Jupiter and Venus Missions
- Paper number
IAC-06-C2.P.2.07
- Author
Dr. Tibor S. Balint, Jet Propulsion Laboratory, United States
- Coauthor
Dr. Elizabeth A. Kolawa, Jet Propulsion Laboratory, United States
- Coauthor
Dr. James A. Cutts, Jet Propulsion Laboratory, United States
- Year
2006
- Abstract
In response to the recommendations by the National Research Council (NRC), NASA’s Solar System Exploration (SSE) Roadmap identified the in-situ exploration of Venus and Jupiter as high priority science objectives. For Jupiter, deep entry probes are recommended, which would descend to ∼250 km - measured from the 1 bar pressure depth. At this level the pressure would correspond to ∼100 bar and the temperature would reach ∼500 ∘C. Similarly, at the surface of Venus the temperature and pressure conditions are ∼460 ∘C and ∼90 bar. Lifetime of the Jupiter probes during descent can be measured in hours, while in-situ operations at and near the surface of Venus are envisioned over weeks or months. In this paper we discuss technologies, which share commonalities in mitigating these extreme conditions over proposed mission lifetimes, specifically focusing on pressure and temperature environments. Pressure vessel designs are evaluated from the current State of Practice (SoP) to advanced concepts proposed for next decade missions and beyond. Thermal designs, both active and passive, are also addressed for the two target destinations. In addition, we briefly discuss other enabling technologies, such as high temperature electronics and power storage. It is expected that the findings from these assessments would help NASA with identifying future technology investment areas, and in turn enable or enhance planned SSE missions, while reducing mission cost and risk.
- Abstract document
- Manuscript document
IAC-06-C2.P.2.07.pdf (🔒 authorized access only).
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