Pluto Research Orbiter Studying Experimental Rocket Propulsion for Improving trans-Neptunian Exploration University of Kansas Team: AstroHawks Jordan Alonzo Frank Bonet III Jack Cozzi Taylor George Miranda Myer James Peters Nathaniel Routh Bradley Schroeder Joseph Vincent Luke Wehrkamp University of Kansas Team: Supervisor Dr. Mark Ewing May 10, 2018 Acknowledgements Firstly, the AstroHawks would like to express their gratitude to the people who were consulted and who provided invaluable help throughout the design process of PROSERPINE. University of Kansas • George Blake • Dr. Steve Hawley • Dr. Crag McLaughlin • Bailey Miller • Arno Prinsloo • Alex Sizemore • Sam Yang Industry • Michael Altenhofen (SpaceX) • Tiffany Finley (Southwest Research Institute) • Steve Mance (SpaceX) • Dr. Jerry Manwiler (Fundamental Technologies) • Adam Sexton (Ball Aerospace) • Dr. Kelsi Singer (Southwest Research Institute) Secondly, the AstroHawks would like to express their gratitude to the families, friends, and significant others who provided much-needed support throughout the design process of PROSERPINE. Thirdly, the AstroHawks would like to express their gratitude to Piper. Continuously brightening everyone’s day, your puppy-dog eyes, generous amounts of kisses, and contagious energy were fundamental to the success of PROSERPINE. Department of Aerospace Engineering i University of Kansas Team: AstroHawks Department of Aerospace Engineering ii Table of Contents 1. MISSION DESCRIPTION ................................................................................................................................. 1 2. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY ................................................................................................................................ 2 3. HISTORY ........................................................................................................................................................... 5 4. SCIENTIFIC OBJECTIVES AND INSTRUMENTS ........................................................................................ 8 4.1 Downselection ............................................................................................................................................. 8 4.2 Scientific Objectives .................................................................................................................................... 8 4.2.1 Terrain of Pluto ..................................................................................................................................... 8 4.2.2 Atmosphere of Pluto ........................................................................................................................... 10 4.2.3 Orbital Mechanics of Pluto-Charon System ....................................................................................... 11 4.2.4 Moons of Pluto ................................................................................................................................... 12 4.2.5 Planetary Flybys en Route to Pluto .................................................................................................... 13 4.3 Science Instruments ................................................................................................................................... 14 4.3.1 Europa Imaging System ...................................................................................................................... 14 4.3.2 Radar for Europa Assessment and Sounding: Ocean to Near-Surface ............................................... 14 4.3.3 Submillimeter Wave Array Spectrometer ........................................................................................... 15 4.3.4 Magnetometers ................................................................................................................................... 15 4.3.5 Solar Wind Ion Analyzer .................................................................................................................... 16 4.3.6 Mass Spectrometer for Planetary Exploration .................................................................................... 17 4.3.7 Ultraviolet Imaging Spectrometer/Spectrograph ................................................................................ 17 4.3.8 Europa Thermal Emission Imaging System ....................................................................................... 17 4.4 Summary .................................................................................................................................................... 18 5. TRAJECTORY ................................................................................................................................................. 19 5.1 Launch ....................................................................................................................................................... 19 5.2 Interplanetary Flight Path .......................................................................................................................... 21 5.2.1 Downselection .................................................................................................................................... 21 5.2.2 Simulation ........................................................................................................................................... 23 5.2.3 Results ................................................................................................................................................ 24 5.3 Deceleration ............................................................................................................................................... 25 5.4 Mission Operations .................................................................................................................................... 28 5.4.1 Circularization .................................................................................................................................... 28 5.4.2 Mapping .............................................................................................................................................. 28 5.4.3 Moon Rendezvous .............................................................................................................................. 28 5.4.4 End-of-Life ......................................................................................................................................... 29 5.4.5 Simulation and Results ....................................................................................................................... 29 6. PROPULSION SYSTEM ................................................................................................................................. 30 Department of Aerospace Engineering iii 6.1 Limiting Factors ......................................................................................................................................... 30 6.2 Possibilities ................................................................................................................................................ 30 6.2.1 Chemical Propulsion ........................................................................................................................... 30 6.2.2 Nuclear Thermal Propulsion ............................................................................................................... 31 6.2.3 Electric Propulsion ............................................................................................................................. 31 6.3 Downselection ........................................................................................................................................... 33 6.3.1 Criteria ................................................................................................................................................ 33 6.3.2 Results ................................................................................................................................................ 34 6.4 Configuration ............................................................................................................................................. 36 6.4.1 Xenon Storage .................................................................................................................................... 36 6.4.2 Ion Thruster ........................................................................................................................................ 37 6.4.3 Power System ..................................................................................................................................... 37 6.4.4 System Layout .................................................................................................................................... 37 7. POWER SYSTEM ............................................................................................................................................ 39 7.1 Power Budget ............................................................................................................................................ 39 7.2 Downselection ........................................................................................................................................... 41 7.3 Kilopower Reactor Using Stirling Technology (KRUSTY) ...................................................................... 41 7.4 Batteries ....................................................................................................................................................