• Home
  • Current congress
  • Public Website
  • My papers
  • root
  • browse
  • IAC-09
  • A3
  • 5
  • paper
  • feasibility of a mission to the trojan asteroids from a technological perspective

    Paper number

    IAC-09.A3.5.7

    Author

    Mr. Pierre W. Bousquet, Centre National d'Etudes Spatiales (CNES), France

    Coauthor

    Dr. Benoît Meyssignac, Centre National d'Etudes Spatiales (CNES), France

    Coauthor

    Mr. Philippe Lamy, Laboratoire d'Astrophysique de Marseille, France

    Coauthor

    Dr. Antonella Barucci, Observatoire de Paris, France

    Year

    2009

    Abstract
    The Jovian Trojan asteroids are confined to two swarms at the L4 and L5 Lagrange points of the Sun - Jupiter system. They form a very puzzling population: their very existence and their dynamical and physical evolutions represent major challenges. They put very strong constraints on any theory of the formation and evolution of the solar system. A detailed in-situ investigation of these bodies, beside their unprecedented characterisation, would be likely to raise vital clues in our understanding of the solar system. 
    
    
    A reconnaissance mission to the Jupiter Trojan asteroids, aiming at a first characterisation of these populations of objects, was proposed at a seminar for prospective scientific missions organised by CNES in the spring of 2009. A technical evaluation had to be carried out to determine which options were possible amongst a large number of possibilities: 
    
    - visit velocity (high velocity fly-by or insertion in the Trojan cloud),
    
    - transfer strategy (either direct or using Jupiter Gravity assist, with or without early auxiliary gravity assists),
    
    - launcher choice (Soyouz or Ariane 5 in our case), and injection strategy (high earth orbit or escape trajectory with required velocity), 
    
    - propulsion technology (chemical, solar electrical or radio-isotopic electrical).
    
    
    The paper will present the conclusion of this evaluation. In particular, the potential of each propulsion type will be identified, making assumptions on possible mid-term technological improvements. The main characteristics of the two most promising spacecraft configurations will also be described.
    
    
    The contents of this paper correspond to a feasibility study performed at CNES in 2008 – 2009. They have not previously been presented at a conference. The participation of the main author in the 2009 IAC has been budgeted by CNES. 
    
    Abstract document

    IAC-09.A3.5.7.pdf

    Manuscript document

    (absent)