DOCSLIB.ORG

Future Exploration of Venus: Some NASA Perspectives

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
Future Exploration of Venus: Some NASA Perspectives FutureFuture ExplorationExploration ofof Venus:Venus: SomeSome NASANASA PerspectivesPerspectives Adriana Ocampo & Steve Saunders National Aeronautics and Space Administration [email protected] James Cutts & Tibor Balint Jet Propulsion Laboratory / Caltech [email protected] & [email protected] Presented at the Chapman Conference Exploring Venus as a Terrestrial Planet Key Largo, Florida, USA 13-16 February 2006 1 Overview • Brief Summary of Past/Present Venus In-situ Missions • Recent Solar System Exploration Strategic Plans • Next steps 2 Past Missions: Russian Venus Lander Missions (1965-1981) Year Type / Method Comment Method EDL Venus Venera 3 1965 Venus Lander Impacted Venus, Contact Lost Parachute FAILED Venera 4 1967 Venus Probe Failed at altitude 24.96 km Parachute FAILED Venera 5 1969 Venus Probe During parachute descent data was Parachute FAILED transmitted from the atmosphere for 53 minutes before failure Venera 6 1969 Venus Probe During parachute descent data was Parachute FAILED transmitted from the atmosphere for 51 minutes before failure Venera 7 1970 Venus Lander 35 minutes of data during descent, 23 min. Aerobraking then parachute PARTIAL weak signal from the surface (1st man made FAILURE object to return data after landing on another planet) Venera 8 1972 Venus Lander Data during descent, plus 50 minutes after Aerobraking/ D2.5m parachute at 60km landing Venera 9 1975 Venus Orbiter Operated for 53 minutes after landing Protective hemispherical shell/ three parachutes/ disk and Lander shaped drag brake/ metal, compressible doughnut-shaped landing cushion Venera 10 1975 Venus Orbiter Operated for 65 minutes after landing See Venera 9 and Lander Venera 11 1978 Venus Lander Transmitted data after touchdown for 95 Aerodynamic ~/ parachute ~/ atmospheric braking/ soft minutes, until it moved out of range with landing Earth. Venera 12 1978 Venus Lander Worked until out of range , transmitted from See Venera 11 the surface for 110 minutes. Venera 13 1981 Venus Lander The lander survived for 117 minutes. Parachute/ at 47km parachute released/ aerobraking Venera 14 1981 Venus Lander The lander survived for 57 minutes See Venera 13 The longest surface mission survived for almost 2 hours 3 Past Missions: Close-up Surface Features on Venus (USSR) 4 Past Missions: Venus Exploration, VEGA Mission • International project: VEGA 1 & 2 • Was managed by Space Research Institute (IKI) • Combined study of Venus and Halley's comet • Developed by Babakin Space Center • Fabricated by Lavochkin Association (in Khimki, Moscow region) • Flew by Venus on June 11th and 15th, 1985; • Studied the surface & atmosphere of Venus with • 2 balloons with 4 scientific experiments & • 2 landers with 9 experiments • VERY FRUITFUL INTERNATIONAL COOPERATION VEGA Mission Profile VEGA balloon during Earth atmosphere testing 5 Past Missions: US Venus Missions • 1962 - Mariner 2 (U.S.) flew by Venus (12/14/62); Verified high temperatures. • 1974 - Mariner 10 (U.S.) bound for Mercury, flew by Venus (2/5/74); Tracked global atmospheric circulation with visible and violet imagery. • 1978 - Pioneer Venus Orbiter (U.S.) radar mapped Venus (12/78); Pioneer Venus Multiprobe (U.S.) dropped four probes through Venusian clouds. • 1989 - Magellan (U.S.) was launched toward Venus (5/4/89). It arrived at Venus in 1990 and mapped 98% of the planet. Mission ended in 1994. 6 Past Missions: Pioneer-Venus Probes Large Probe Small Probe Large Probe Large Probe Pressure Vessel Internal Arrangement Separation Sequence Small Probe Pressure Vessel Internal Arrangement Large Probe Design Summary Small Probe Design Summary Mass 302 kg Mass 94 kg Deceleration Module 109 kg Pressure Vessel 193 kg Deceleration Module 33 kg Diameter Pressure Vessel 61 kg Aeroshell 142 cm Diameter Pressure Vessel 78 cm Aeroshell 76 cm Battery 19 cell AgZn Pressure Vessel 47 cm 40 A-h Battery 20 cell AgZn Data Rate 128/256 bps Science Accommodations 7 pressure vessel penetrations 11 A-h 9 windows (8 sapphire, 1 diamond) Data Rate 16/64 bps Science Instruments 35 kg total, 106 W Science Accommodations 3 doors - (LAS) Atmospheric Structures 2 windows (sapphire) - (LN) Nephelometer Science Instruments 4.5 kg total, 10 W - (LCPS) Cloud Particle Size Spectrometer - (LIR) Infrared Radiometer - (SAS) Atmospheric Structures - (LNMS) Neutral Mass Spectrometer - (SN) Nephelometer - (LGS) Gas Chromatograph - (SNFR) Net Flux Radiometer - (LSFR) Solar Flux Radiometer Ref: Bernie Bienstock, Boeing Satellite Systems ©2005 • The Boeing Company • All rights reserved 7 Venus Exploration Analysis Group (VEXAG) • established by NASA in July 2005 • to identify scientific priorities and strategy for exploration of Venus. VEXAG is currently composed of two co-chairs and two focus groups. •The focus groups will actively solicit input from the scientific community. VEXAG will report its findings and provide input to NASA, but will not make recommendations. • Chaired by Sushil Atreya and Janet Luhmann • Next meeting May 1-2, 2006 Pasadena California http://www.lpi.usra.edu/vexag/vexag.html 8 On-going Mission: Venus Express (ESA) • Follow-on to Mars Express • Will study the atmosphere, the plasma environment, and the surface of Venus • Nominal mission: 500 days in Venus orbit • Launch Mass: 1270 kg • Operational orbit: 24-hour elliptical, quasi- polar orbit • Instruments: – ASPERA-4: Analyzer of Space Plasmas and Energetic Atoms – MAG: Magnetometer – PFS: Planetary Fourier Spectrometer – SPICAV: Spectroscopy for Investigation of Characteristics of the Atmosphere of Venus – VeRa: Venus Radio Science – VIRTIS: Visible and Infrared Thermal Imaging Spectrometer Ref: ESA – VMC: Venus Monitoring Camera 9 On-going Mission: Venus Express (ESA) NASA Participation on Venus Express: • 10 Venus Express Participating Scientist (PS) selected (NASA NRA Jan. ‘05; selection July ‘05, 10 selected out of 30 proposals submitted) Charles Acton - JPL NAIF Sushil Atreya - Univ. Michigan,Coupled dynamics and chemistry Kevin Baines - JPL, To the depths of Venus with Venus Express. US Science lead PS. Pontus Brandt - JHU/APL, Aspera-4 investigation David Crisp - JPL, To the depths of Venus with Venus Express Sanjay Limaye - Univ. Wisconsin, Exploration of dynamics and chemistry Janet Luhmann - UC Berkeley, Building on PVO Chris Russell - UCLA, Magnetometer investigation Alan Stern - SwRI, Occultation experiments (SPICAV) Len Tyler - Stanford, Radio science • DSN support (bistatic radar, Venus movie, etc) Tommy Thompson Lead for DSN and Program Support • Educational Outreach Program lead by Rosalyn Pertzborg and Sanjay Limaye ESA Announcement of Opportunity for Interdisciplinary Ref: ESA Scientist is out NASA is considering supporting 1-3 USA VEX IDS 10 Future International Mission: Venus Climate Orbiter – aka Planet-C (JAXA) • The science plan of VCO is complementary with that of the ESA’s Venus Express mission • VCO focuses on global imaging from equatorial orbit • Science Goals: – Atmospheric dynamics Mechanism of super-rotation Meridionalcirculation Meso-scale processes Lightning Cloud physics – Detection of active volcanism – Inhomogeneity of surface material – Zodiacal light • Science Instruments: • Launch / Arrival: June 2010 / Dec 2010 – 1-mm Camera (IR1) • Planned mission lifetime: 2 years – 2-mm Camera (IR2) • S/C mass: 480 kg (including fuel) – Ultraviolet Imager (UVI) • Science payload: 34 kg – Longwave Infrared Camera (LIR) • Attitude control: – Lightning and Airglow Camera (LAC) Pointing accuracy 0.1° / Stability 0.01° – Sensor Digital Electronics Unit (DE) • Orbit: Periapsis 300 km / Apoapsis 13 Rv – Radio Science (RS) / Period 30 hours Ref: Takeshi Imamura, JAXA’s Venus Climate Orbiter (Planet-C) Overview 11 Recent NASA Solar System Exploration Strategic Plans 1. NRC Decadal Survey – 2002 “New Frontiers in the Solar System, an Integrated Exploration Strategy”. Technical Report, Space Studies Board, National Research Council, Washington, D.C. http://www.nap.edu 2. Solar System Exploration Roadmap – 2003 The 2003 Solar System Exploration Roadmap is available on line at http://solarsystem.nasa.gov/multimedia/download-detail.cfm?DL_ID=3 3. Strategic Road Map for Solar System Exploration – 2005 Available from the Outer Planets Assessment Group (OPAG) website: http://www.lpi.usra.edu/opag/announcements.html 1. 2. 3. 12 Solar System Exploration Decadal Survey – 2002 Integrated Exploration Strategy • Presents key scientific questions • Ranked list of conceptual missions • Recommendations for the decade 2003-2013 • A set of “deferred high priority flight missions for decades beyond that” • Recommended significant investments in advanced technology to enable high priority flight missions Implementation Approach • Discovery Program (<$350M) PI-led and competitively selected (6 to 7 per decade) • New Frontiers Program (<$650M) PI-led and competitively selected, but to a specified set of targets (4 per decade) – Jupiter Orbiter w/ Probe, Lunar Sample Return, Comet Sample Return and Venus In Situ Explorer • Flagship missions (>$650M) – directed missions http://www.nap.edu – like Cassini Huygens, 1 per decade 13 SSE Decadal Survey: Inner Solar System: Keys to Habitable Worlds Exploration Strategy • Sample Return Missions from targets of increasing difficulty – Moon first – Mars next – Mercury-Venus • In-Situ Exploration of Venus – Investigate surface and atmospheric chemistry – Demonstrate key technologies for sample return •Network Scienceat Venus and Mercury – Seismology and magnetic fields – Heat flow – Atmospheric circulation
Load more

Recommended publications
  • Appendix 1: Venus Missions
    Appendix 1: Venus Missions Sputnik 7 (USSR) Launch 02/04/1961 First attempted Venus atmosphere craft; upper stage failed to leave Earth orbit Venera 1 (USSR) Launch 02/12/1961 First attempted flyby; contact lost en route Mariner 1 (US) Launch 07/22/1961 Attempted flyby; launch failure Sputnik 19 (USSR) Launch 08/25/1962 Attempted flyby, stranded in Earth orbit Mariner 2 (US) Launch 08/27/1962 First successful Venus flyby Sputnik 20 (USSR) Launch 09/01/1962 Attempted flyby, upper stage failure Sputnik 21 (USSR) Launch 09/12/1962 Attempted flyby, upper stage failure Cosmos 21 (USSR) Launch 11/11/1963 Possible Venera engineering test flight or attempted flyby Venera 1964A (USSR) Launch 02/19/1964 Attempted flyby, launch failure Venera 1964B (USSR) Launch 03/01/1964 Attempted flyby, launch failure Cosmos 27 (USSR) Launch 03/27/1964 Attempted flyby, upper stage failure Zond 1 (USSR) Launch 04/02/1964 Venus flyby, contact lost May 14; flyby July 14 Venera 2 (USSR) Launch 11/12/1965 Venus flyby, contact lost en route Venera 3 (USSR) Launch 11/16/1965 Venus lander, contact lost en route, first Venus impact March 1, 1966 Cosmos 96 (USSR) Launch 11/23/1965 Possible attempted landing, craft fragmented in Earth orbit Venera 1965A (USSR) Launch 11/23/1965 Flyby attempt (launch failure) Venera 4 (USSR) Launch 06/12/1967 Successful atmospheric probe, arrived at Venus 10/18/1967 Mariner 5 (US) Launch 06/14/1967 Successful flyby 10/19/1967 Cosmos 167 (USSR) Launch 06/17/1967 Attempted atmospheric probe, stranded in Earth orbit Venera 5 (USSR) Launch 01/05/1969 Returned atmospheric data for 53 min on 05/16/1969 M.
    [Show full text]
  • THE LANDSCAPE of COMET HALLEY Hungarian Academy of Sciences CENTRAL RESEARCH INSTITUTE for PHYSICS
    KFKI 1939-35/C E. MERÉNYI L. FÖLDY K. SZEGŐ I. TÓTH A. KONDOR THE LANDSCAPE OF COMET HALLEY Hungarian Academy of Sciences CENTRAL RESEARCH INSTITUTE FOR PHYSICS BUDAPEST KFKI-1989-35/C PREPRINT THE LANDSCAPE OF COMET HALLEY E. MERÉNYI, L. FÖLDY, K. SZEGŐ. I. TÓTH', A. KONDOR Central Research Institute for Physics H-1626 Budapest 114, P.O.B. 49 'Konkoly Thege Observatory H-1625 Budapest, P.O.B. 67 Comets in Post Hal ley area Bamberg (FRG). 24 28 April 1989 HU ISSN 0368 6330 E. Merényi, L. Földy. К. Szegő, I. Tóth. A. Kondor: The landscape of cornel Halley KFKM989 35/C ABSTRACT In this paper the three dimensional model of P/Halley's nucleus is constructed based on the results of the imaging experiments It has the following major characteristics: the overai' sizes are 7 2 km, 722 km, 15.3 km, its volume is 365 km3, the ratios of the inertfal momenta are 34:33:1, the longest Inorttal axis is siiyhlly inclined to the geometrical axis of the body. 3 3° in latitude and 1.1° In longitude if the geometrical axis is at zero latitude and longitude The shape is very irregular, it is not close to any regular body e g to a tri axial ellipsoid Several features on the images are interpreted as local slope variations of the nucleus. Э. Мерени; Л. Фёлди, К. Сегё, И. Тот, Л. Кондор: Форма и поверхность ядра кометы Галлея. КГКТ-198<?-35/С АННОТАЦИЯ Описывается трехмерная модель ядра кометы Галлея, основывающаяся на резуль­ татах телевизионного эксперимента КА "Вега".
    [Show full text]
  • Solar System Solar System
    Delta Science Reader SolarSolar SystemSystem Delta Science Readers are nonfiction student books that provide science background and support the experiences of hands-on activities. Every Delta Science Reader has three main sections: Think About . , People in Science, and Did You Know? Be sure to preview the reader Overview Chart on page 4, the reader itself, and the teaching suggestions on the following pages. This information will help you determine how to plan your schedule for reader selections and activity sessions. Reading for information is a key literacy skill. Use the following ideas as appropriate for your teaching style and the needs of your students. The After Reading section includes an assessment and writing links. OVERVIEW Students will: discover facts about the Solar System In the Delta Science Reader Solar System, students take a tour of the Sun and the explore the planets and other objects in the planets. Other space objects such as dwarf Solar System planets, comets, asteroids, and meteoroids discuss the function of a table of contents, are explored. Students read about the headings, and a glossary rotation and revolution of the planets and interpret photographs and graphics to the causes of night and day, seasonal answer questions changes, and the phases of the Moon. The book describes the work of a planetary complete a KWL chart geologist. In addition, students discover organize information in a variety of ways how telescopes work. delta science modules Solar System 119 © Delta Education LLC. All rights reserved.
    [Show full text]
  • Jjmonl 1603.Pmd
    alactic Observer GJohn J. McCarthy Observatory Volume 9, No. 3 March 2016 GRAIL - On the Trail of the Moon's Missing Mass GRAIL (Gravity Recovery and Interior Laboratory) was a NASA scientific mission in 2011/12 to map the surface of the moon and collect data on gravitational anomalies. The image here is an artist's impres- sion of the twin satellites (Ebb and Flow) orbiting in tandem above a gravitational image of the moon. See inside, page 4 for information on gravitational anomalies (mascons) or visit http://solarsystem. nasa.gov/grail. The John J. McCarthy Observatory Galactic Observer New Milford High School Editorial Committee 388 Danbury Road Managing Editor New Milford, CT 06776 Bill Cloutier Phone/Voice: (860) 210-4117 Production & Design Phone/Fax: (860) 354-1595 www.mccarthyobservatory.org Allan Ostergren Website Development JJMO Staff Marc Polansky It is through their efforts that the McCarthy Observatory Technical Support has established itself as a significant educational and Bob Lambert recreational resource within the western Connecticut Dr. Parker Moreland community. Steve Barone Jim Johnstone Colin Campbell Carly KleinStern Dennis Cartolano Bob Lambert Mike Chiarella Roger Moore Route Jeff Chodak Parker Moreland, PhD Bill Cloutier Allan Ostergren Cecilia Dietrich Marc Polansky Dirk Feather Joe Privitera Randy Fender Monty Robson Randy Finden Don Ross John Gebauer Gene Schilling Elaine Green Katie Shusdock Tina Hartzell Paul Woodell Tom Heydenburg Amy Ziffer In This Issue "OUT THE WINDOW ON YOUR LEFT" ............................... 4 SUNRISE AND SUNSET ...................................................... 13 MARE HUMBOLDTIANIUM AND THE NORTHEAST LIMB ......... 5 JUPITER AND ITS MOONS ................................................. 13 ONE YEAR IN SPACE ....................................................... 6 TRANSIT OF JUPITER'S RED SPOT ....................................
    [Show full text]
  • Investigating Mineral Stability Under Venus Conditions: a Focus on the Venus Radar Anomalies Erika Kohler University of Arkansas, Fayetteville
    University of Arkansas, Fayetteville ScholarWorks@UARK Theses and Dissertations 5-2016 Investigating Mineral Stability under Venus Conditions: A Focus on the Venus Radar Anomalies Erika Kohler University of Arkansas, Fayetteville Follow this and additional works at: http://scholarworks.uark.edu/etd Part of the Geochemistry Commons, Mineral Physics Commons, and the The unS and the Solar System Commons Recommended Citation Kohler, Erika, "Investigating Mineral Stability under Venus Conditions: A Focus on the Venus Radar Anomalies" (2016). Theses and Dissertations. 1473. http://scholarworks.uark.edu/etd/1473 This Dissertation is brought to you for free and open access by ScholarWorks@UARK. It has been accepted for inclusion in Theses and Dissertations by an authorized administrator of ScholarWorks@UARK. For more information, please contact [email protected], [email protected]. Investigating Mineral Stability under Venus Conditions: A Focus on the Venus Radar Anomalies A dissertation submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in Space and Planetary Sciences by Erika Kohler University of Oklahoma Bachelors of Science in Meteorology, 2010 May 2016 University of Arkansas This dissertation is approved for recommendation to the Graduate Council. ____________________________ Dr. Claud H. Sandberg Lacy Dissertation Director Committee Co-Chair ____________________________ ___________________________ Dr. Vincent Chevrier Dr. Larry Roe Committee Co-chair Committee Member ____________________________ ___________________________ Dr. John Dixon Dr. Richard Ulrich Committee Member Committee Member Abstract Radar studies of the surface of Venus have identified regions with high radar reflectivity concentrated in the Venusian highlands: between 2.5 and 4.75 km above a planetary radius of 6051 km, though it varies with latitude.
    [Show full text]
  • Jjmonl 1710.Pmd
    alactic Observer John J. McCarthy Observatory G Volume 10, No. 10 October 2017 The Last Waltz Cassini’s final mission and dance of death with Saturn more on page 4 and 20 The John J. McCarthy Observatory Galactic Observer New Milford High School Editorial Committee 388 Danbury Road Managing Editor New Milford, CT 06776 Bill Cloutier Phone/Voice: (860) 210-4117 Production & Design Phone/Fax: (860) 354-1595 www.mccarthyobservatory.org Allan Ostergren Website Development JJMO Staff Marc Polansky Technical Support It is through their efforts that the McCarthy Observatory Bob Lambert has established itself as a significant educational and recreational resource within the western Connecticut Dr. Parker Moreland community. Steve Barone Jim Johnstone Colin Campbell Carly KleinStern Dennis Cartolano Bob Lambert Route Mike Chiarella Roger Moore Jeff Chodak Parker Moreland, PhD Bill Cloutier Allan Ostergren Doug Delisle Marc Polansky Cecilia Detrich Joe Privitera Dirk Feather Monty Robson Randy Fender Don Ross Louise Gagnon Gene Schilling John Gebauer Katie Shusdock Elaine Green Paul Woodell Tina Hartzell Amy Ziffer In This Issue INTERNATIONAL OBSERVE THE MOON NIGHT ...................... 4 SOLAR ACTIVITY ........................................................... 19 MONTE APENNINES AND APOLLO 15 .................................. 5 COMMONLY USED TERMS ............................................... 19 FAREWELL TO RING WORLD ............................................ 5 FRONT PAGE ...............................................................
    [Show full text]
  • Long-Term Venus Lander
    Western Michigan University ScholarWorks at WMU Honors Theses Lee Honors College 4-20-2021 Long-Term Venus Lander Scott Miller Western Michigan University, [email protected] Follow this and additional works at: https://scholarworks.wmich.edu/honors_theses Part of the Space Vehicles Commons Recommended Citation Miller, Scott, "Long-Term Venus Lander" (2021). Honors Theses. 3383. https://scholarworks.wmich.edu/honors_theses/3383 This Honors Thesis-Open Access is brought to you for free and open access by the Lee Honors College at ScholarWorks at WMU. It has been accepted for inclusion in Honors Theses by an authorized administrator of ScholarWorks at WMU. For more information, please contact [email protected]. Long-Duration Venus Explorer Aidan Wales, Ethan Reid, and Scott Miller Group #04-21-01 Faculty Advisor: Dr. Kristina Lemmer Western Michigan University College of Engineering and Applied Sciences Table of Contents Abstract .............................................................................................................. pg. 1 Disclaimer .......................................................................................................... pg. 1 Introduction ....................................................................................................... pg. 2 Methodology ...................................................................................................... pg. 2 Preliminary Research ............................................................................. pg. 2 Decision Matrices
    [Show full text]
  • Twelve Ideas Years, After She Resided in Holland and Then Back to the United States
    El personaje Febrero 2014 Adapted by Ingenio Adriana Ocampo was born in Barranquilla, Studied aerospace Engineering in the State University of Colombia, his dad is Colombian and her California, Los Angeles, and then she fulfilled a postgraduate in 1 mom Argentine, she grew in Buenos Aires 7 Planetary Geology, after seeing a few images of the planet Mars and then she lived in the United States for 30 that, according to her, were looking like the terrestrial deserts. TWELVE IDEAS years, after she resided in Holland and then back to the United States. Ocampo has received many prizes among them: the Woman You of the Year of the Science of the Feminine Commission in The MUST KNOW ABOUT When she was a girl did not like to play 8 Angels in 1992 and Science and Technology of the Federation with dolls, she preferred rising to her Chicano in 1997. house terrace with “Taurus”, her dog ADRIANA C. OCAMPO URIA María Camila Arbeláez Ilustración: 2 and observing the stars from there, she felt a Adriana is compared with Marie Curie (A rewarded Nobel prize Our guess in this occasion is the Colombian researcher that is the great curiosity to know why those dots in the of physics and chemistry), for her tenacity and for her exploits in closest to the Moon person, because she lives literally looking at the sky were shining differently from one another. 9 the space like: the Voyager, Viking, Mars Observer and Express. sky and the stars. She works for the division of Planetary Sciences She wished to have a telescope to But the most important is the Mission Juno, which was sent at NASA, where she is in charge of missions that include the study of observe the stars closely so that her in August, 2011 towards Jupiter in the rocket Atlas V551.
    [Show full text]
  • Technologies for Future Venus Exploration
    September 9, 2009 WHITE PAPER TO THE NRC DECADAL SURVEY INNER PLANETS SUB–PANEL ON TECHNOLOGIES FOR FUTURE VENUS EXPLORATION by Tibor Balint1 & James Cutts1 (818) 354-1105 & (818) 354-4120 [email protected] & [email protected] and Mark Bullock2, James Garvin3, Stephen Gorevan4, Jeffery Hall1, Peter Hughes3, Gary Hunter4, Satish Khanna1, Elizabeth Kolawa1, Viktor Kerzhanovich1, Ethiraj Venkatapathy5 1Jet Propulsion Laboratory, California Institute of Technology; 2Southwest Research Institute; 3NASA–Goddard Space Flight Center; 3Honeybee Robotics; 4NASA–Glenn Research Center; 5NASA–Ames Research Center ABSTRACT The purpose of this white paper is to provide an overview to the NRC Decadal Survey Inner Planets Sub–Panel on key technologies required for future Venus exploration missions. It covers both heritage technologies and identifies new technologies to enable future missions in all three mission classes. The technologies will focus on mission enabling and enhancing capabilities for in situ missions, because most orbiter related sub–systems are considered heritage technologies. This white paper draws heavily on the recently completed Venus Flagship Mission study that identified key technologies required to implement its Design Reference Mission and other important mission options. The highest priority technologies and capabilities for the Venus Flagship Design Reference mission consist of: surface sample acquisition and handling; mechanical implementation of a rotating pressure vessel; a rugged–terrain landing system; and a large scale environmental test chamber to test these technologies under relevant Venus–like conditions. Other longer–term Venus Flagship Mission options will require additional new capabilities, namely a Venus–specific Radioisotope Power System; active refrigeration, high temperature electronics and advanced thermal insulation.
    [Show full text]
  • 18Th Meeting of the Venus Exploration Analysis Group (Vexag)
    18TH MEETING OF THE VENUS EXPLORATION ANALYSIS GROUP (VEXAG) Program and Abstracts LPI Contribution No. 2356 18th Meeting of the Venus Exploration Analysis Group November 16–17, 2020 Institutional Support Lunar and Planetary Institute Universities Space Research Association Convener Noam Izenberg Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Laboratory Darby Dyar Mount Holyoke College Science Organizing Committee Darby Dyar Planetary Science Institute, Mount Holyoke College Noam Izenberg JHU Applied Physics Laboratory Megan Andsell NASA Headquarters Natasha Johnson NASA Goddard Jennifer Jackson California Institute of Technology Jim Cutts Jet Propulsion Laboratory Tommy Thompson Jet Propulsion Laboratory Lunar and Planetary Institute 3600 Bay Area Boulevard Houston TX 77058-1113 Compiled in 2020 by Meeting and Publication Services Lunar and Planetary Institute USRA Houston 3600 Bay Area Boulevard, Houston TX 77058-1113 This material is based upon work supported by NASA under Award No. 80NSSC20M0173. Any opinions, findings, and conclusions or recommendations expressed in this volume are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration. The Lunar and Planetary Institute is operated by the Universities Space Research Association under a cooperative agreement with the Science Mission Directorate of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration. Material in this volume may be copied without restraint for library, abstract service, education, or personal research purposes; however, republication of any paper or portion thereof requires the written permission of the authors as well as the appropriate acknowledgment of this publication. ISSN No. 0161-5297 Abstracts for this meeting are available via the meeting website at https://www.hou.usra.edu/meetings/vexag2020/ Abstracts can be cited as Author A.
    [Show full text]
  • Planetary Exploration : Progress and Promise
    PLANET ARY EXPLORATION PROGRESS AND PROMISE CONTENTS: NASA PLANETARY EXPLORATION PLANS: SIGNIFICANT EVENTS PLANETARY EXPLORATION PROGRESS-1978 NASA SPACE SCIENCE PROGRAM FUNDING: 5 -YEAR PLAN NASA OSS 5-YEAR PLAN: PLANETARY PROGRAM FUNDING REFERENCE COP'I PLEASE DO NOT REMOVE compiled by Dr. Leonard Srnka, Staff Scientist Lunar and Planetary Institute 3303 NASA Road One Houston, Texas 77058 Lunar and Planetary Institute Contribution No. 297 (June 1978 update> NASA PLANETARY EXPLORATION PLANS SIGNIFICANT EVENTS MISSION EVENTS PIONEER VENUS ORBITER ORBIT INSERTION, DECEMBER 1978 PIONEER VENUS MULTIPROBE VENUS ENCOUNTER/ENTRY, DECEMBER 1978 PIONEER 11 SATURN ENCOUNTER, SEPTEMBER 1979 VOYAGER 1 JUPITER ENCOUNTER, MARCH 1979 SATURN ENCOUNTER, NOVEMBER 1980 VOYAGER 2 JUPITER ENCOUNTER, JULY 1979 SATURN ENCOUNTER, AUGUST 1981 URANUS ENCOUNTER, JANUARY 1986 SOLAR MAXIMUM MISSION LAUNCH, OCTOBER 1979 VENUS ORBITAL IMAGING RADAR VENUS ENCOUNTER, SPRING 1985 SOLAR POLAR MISSION JUPITER ENCOUNTER, 1984 SOLAR POLES PASSAGE, 1986 GALILEO MISSION MARS FLYBY, APRIL 1982 JUPITER ENCOUNTER (ORBIT INSERTION/ PROBE ENTRY), 1985 COMET HALLEYlTEMPEL, . 2'J MISSION• HALLEY ENCOUNTER, NOVEMBER 1985 TEMPEL 2 ENCOUNTER, JULY 1988 or COMET ENCKE RENDEZVOUS ENCKE ENCOUNTER, 1987 MARS GEOCHEMICAL ORBITER MARS ENCOUNTER, 1987 MARS SAMPLE RETURN MARS ENCOUNTER, 1989 EARTH RETURN, 1991 SATURN ORBITER DUAL PROBE SATURN ENCOUNTER, 1992 from NASA Headquarters 5-year plan May 1978 PLANETARY EXPLORATION -- PROGRESS AND PROMISE CONTENT S: Planetary exploration progress - 1977 fig. 1 The future fig. 2 Inner planets plan fig. 3 Outer planets plan fig. 4 Small bodies plan fig. 5 compiled by Dr. Leonard Srnka, Staff Scientist LUNAR SCIENCE INSTITUTE 3303 NASA Road One Houston, TX 77058 September 1977 LUNAR SCIENCE INSTITUTE CONTRIBUTION No.
    [Show full text]
  • Terrestrial Planets 1- 4 from the Sun Mercury in Sight
    Terrestrial Planets 1- 4 from the Sun Image courtesy: http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Image:Terrestrial_planet_size_comparisons_edit.jpg First ever ‘whole Earth’ picture from deep space, taken by Bill Anders on Apollo 8 Apollo 8 crew, Bill Anders centre: courtesy Nasa Mercury, Venus, Earth and Mars are four The Earth is just a planet astonishingly different planets Mercury and Venus have only been seen in any detail within the last 30 years Mercury in sight Mercury Mercury is like the Earth inside and the Moon outside Courtesy NASA (Mariner 10) Mercury has had a cooling and bombardment history Mercury is visible only soon after the setting similar to the moon sun or shortly before dawn It appears as cratered lava the Mariner 10 probe (1974/75) is the source of most information about Mercury – Messenger, launched 2004, with scarps first flypast in 2008 and orbit Mercury in 2011. ESA’s Its rocks are Earth-like BepiColombo, to be launched in 2013 Mariner 10 image Messenger images Messenger image ↑ Double-ringed crater – a Mercury feature courtesy: http://messenger.jhuapl.edu/gallery/sciencePhotos/pics/S trom02.jpg ← Courtesy: http://messenger.jhuapl.edu/gal lery/sciencePhotos/pics/EN010 8828161M.jpg Courtesy: http://messenger.jhuapl.edu/gallery/sciencePhotos/pics/Prockter06.jpg Messenger image Mercury Close-up Mercury’s topography was formed under stronger The gravity than on the Moon caloris The Caloris basin is an impact crater ~1400 km across, basin is the beneath which is thought to be a dense mass large 2 Mercury’s rotation period is exactly /3 of its orbital circular period of 87.97 days.
    [Show full text]