Planetary Science Division Status Report Jim Green NASA, Planetary Science Division November 14, 2017 Presentation at VEXAG Planetary Science Missions Events 2016 March – Launch of ESA’s ExoMars Trace Gas Orbiter July 4 – Juno inserted in Jupiter orbit * Completed September 8 – Launch of Asteroid mission OSIRIS – REx to asteroid Bennu September 30 – Landing Rosetta on comet CG October 19 – ExoMars EDM landing and TGO orbit insertion 2017 January 4 – Discovery Mission selection announced February 9-20 - OSIRIS-REx began Earth-Trojan search April 22 – Cassini begins plane change maneuver for the “Grand Finale” August 21 – Solar Eclipse across America September 15 – Cassini end of mission at Saturn September 22 – OSIRIS-REx Earth flyby October 28 – International Observe the Moon night (1st quarter) 2018 May 5 - Launch InSight mission to Mars August – OSIRIS-REx arrival at Bennu October – Launch of ESA’s BepiColombo to Mercury November 26 – InSight landing on Mars 2019 January 1 – New Horizons flyby of Kuiper Belt object 2014MU69 Formulation Implementation Primary Ops BepiColombo Lunar Extended Ops (ESA) Reconnaissance Orbiter Lucy New Horizons Psyche Juno Dawn JUICE (ESA) ExoMars 2016 MMX MAVEN MRO (ESA) (JAXA) Mars Express Mars (ESA) Odyssey OSIRIS-REx ExoMars 2020 (ESA) Mars Rover Opportunity Curiosity InSight 2020 Rover Rover NEOWISE Europa Clipper Discovery Program Discovery Program NEO characteristics: Mars evolution: Lunar formation: Nature of dust/coma: Solar wind sampling: NEAR (1996-1999) Mars Pathfinder (1996-1997) Lunar Prospector (1998-1999) Stardust (1999-2011) Genesis (2001-2004) Comet diversity: Mercury environment: Comet internal structure: Lunar Internal Structure Main-belt asteroids: CONTOUR (2002) MESSENGER (2004-2015) Deep Impact (2005-2012) GRAIL (2011-2012) Dawn (2007-TBD) Exoplanets Lunar surface: ESA/Mercury Surface: Mars Interior: Trojan Asteroids: Metal Asteroids: Kepler (2009-TBD) LRO (2009-TBD) Strofio (2017-TBD) InSight (2018) Lucy (2021) Psyche (2022) NEW Discovery Missions For Flight Launch in 2022 Launch in 2021 14 New Frontiers Program New Frontiers Program 1st NF mission 2nd NF mission 3rd NF mission New Horizons: Juno: OSIRIS-REx: Pluto-Kuiper Belt Jupiter Polar Orbiter Asteroid Sample Return LauncHed January 2006 LauncHed August 2011 LauncHed September 2016 Flyby July 14, 2015 Arrived July 4, 2016 PI: Dante Lauretta (UA) PI: Alan Stern (SwRI-CO) PI: Scott Bolton (SwRI-TX) New Frontiers 4 AO Investigations (listed without priority): – Comet SurFace Sample Return – Lunar South Pole-Aitken Basin Sample Return – Ocean Worlds (Titan, Enceladus) – Saturn Probe – Trojan Tour and Rendezvous – Venus In Situ Explorer 12 Proposals received on …................................ April 28, 2017 Step-1 Selections Announced (target).............. December 2017 Phase A Concept Study Reports due................. January 2019 Downselection for FligHt (target)...................... July 2019 LauncH Readiness Date..................................... NLT Dec. 31, 2025 Mission Studies VEXAG: Venus Bridge • VEXAG was directed by NASA’s Science Mission Directorate Associate Administrator to determine iF useFul Venus eXploration can be perFormed witHin a $200M cost cap, a concept termed Venus Bridge. • SpeciFically, VEXAG will determine if one or more small missions can perForm important science investigations, as deFined in VEXAG Goals, Objectives, and Investigations launch dates in the early-to- mid 2020s • The VEXAG Venus Bridge Focus Group was establisHed (2017) to develop the Venus Bridge concept and determine Feasibility. • Venus Bridge preliminary Findings will be reported later today 8 PSDS3: Venus Studies For SmallSats • Planetary Science Deep Space SmallSat PSDS3 research announcement scope: – Small satellites are deFined as less tHan 180 kilograms in mass (about 400 pounds) – CubeSats are built to standard speciFications oF 1 unit (U), which is equal to 10x10x10 centimeters – LauncHed into orbit as auXiliary payloads, signiFicantly reducing costs. • Four Venus PSDS3 studies were selected PSDS3: Venus Studies For SmallSats PSDS3 Venus (4) studies selected: • Valeria Cottini, University of Maryland, College Park: CubeSat UV Experiment (CUVE), a 12-unit CubeSat orbiter to measure ultraviolet absorption and nigHtglow emissions to understand Venus’ atmospHeric dynamics. • Christophe Sotin, NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Pasadena, California: Cupid's Arrow, a 30-kilogram probe to measure noble gases and their isotopes to investigate tHe geological evolution of Venus and why Venus and EartH Have evolved so diFFerently. • Attila Komjathy, NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Pasadena, California: Seismicity Investigation on Venus Using Airglow Measurements (VAMOS), a SmallSat to measure Venusian seismic activity by observing variations in tHe Venusian nigHtglow. • Tibor Kremic, NASA’s Glenn Research Center, Cleveland, OH: Seismic and Atmospheric Exploration oF Venus (SAEVe), an ESPA-class lander to study conditions in tHe deep atmospHere, surFace, and interior oF Venus. Venus Gravity Assist Science Opportunities (VEGASO) • The VEGASO panel was cHaired by Marcelo Coradini and Sanjay Limaye • The study was conducted From Oct. 2014 to Feb. 2015 to identiFy opportunistic Venus science tHat could be done during mission related gravity assist. • Study Goals: • MaXimized mission science return. And, • “Cross-discipline interaction among scientists From solar and planetary communities will produce greater insigHts into tHe sun’s inFluences on planetary environments, and observing planets as systems inFluenced by the space environment in wHicH they live.” • 15 gravity assist fly-bys oF Venus will occur by 3spacecraFt to be launcHed during 2018-2028: • BepiColombo (2 VGA) • Parker Solar Probe (7 VGA) • Solar Orbiter (6 VGA) • VEGASO report is at: • http//www.lpi.usra.edu/veXag/reports/VEGASO-04-24-15.pdF High Operating Temperature Technology (HOTTecH) • The Hot Operating Temperature Technology (HOTTech) research announcement supports the advanced development of technologies for the robotic exploration of high-temperature environments, such as the Venus surface, Mercury, or the deep atmosphere of Gas Giants. – Goal: to develop and mature technologies that will enable, significantly enhance, or reduce tecHnical risk For in-situ missions to HigH-temperature environments (500 Celsius or higher). – HOTTech call was limited to HigH temperature electrical and electronic systems applicable to in-situ missions. • The HOTTech selection completed by December 2016 – 13 Selections were made (solar cells, power systems, motor, attenuators, electronics, motor, etc.) – The Glenn Extreme Environment Rig (GEER) will aid in evaluation and test many of these tecHnologies 4 GEER: Glenn EXtreme Environment Chamber • NASA Glenn Extreme Environments Rig (GEER) is a unique and world class ground-based test rig that can accurately simulate atmospHeric conditions For any planet or moon in tHe solar system. • GEER enables science investigations and pre-fligHt development and validation of spacecraFt systems and instrumentation at extreme environments. • GEER is a 28 cubic ft. (800 L) chamber and is able to simulate tHe eXtreme temperatures up to 500°C (932° F) and pressure (from near vacuum to over 90 times the Earth’s surFace pressure). • GEER has gas miXing capabilities to reproduce unique planetary environments, sucH as the very caustic sulfuric acid Found in Venus’ atmospHere, or hydrocarbons like metHane found in tHe atmospHere oF Jupiter and Saturn. Venera-D Joint Science DeFinition Team (JSDT) Background: NASA and IKI/Roscosmos established a Venera-D Joint Science Definition Team (JSDT) in 2015. Study Goal: • Refine the Venera-D mission science goals, priorities, and architecture • Evaluate the Venera-D concept and study possible NASA contributed element to enhance and complement the mission. Study Reports: • Phase I report was completed on January 31, 2017 • Phase II report is due on January 31, 2019 Venus Sponsored Activities and Venera D Schedule Activity• Calendar Year 2016 2017 2018 2019 Venera-D JSDT JSDT Report Mission Design Payload DeFinition Contributed Element Analysis Risk Assessment Final Report HOT Tech program Venus Aerial PlatForms Venus Bridge Study PSDS3 Akatsuki PS/ PICASSO, MATISSE ResearcH/GEER 12 NAS Studies for Planetary Science Timeline of Studies • 1st Planetary decadal: 2002-2012 • 2nd Planetary decadal: 2013-2022 • Cubesat Review: Completed June 2016 • Extended Missions Review: Completed Sept 2016 • R&A Restructuring Review: Completed June 2017 • SearcHing For LiFe Across Space & Time Sept 2017 • Large Strategic NASA Science Missions – Tasked December 23, 2015 – Report to NASA August 24, 2017 • Midterm evaluation: – Tasked August 26, 2016 – Cubesats, EX Missions, R&A Restructuring & Large Strategic Missions will be input – Expect report to NASA due March 2018 • Sample Analysis Investment Strategy (to start soon) • 3rd Planetary Decadal: 2023-2032 – To be tasked before October 2019 – Expect report to NASA due 1st quarter 2022 • CAPS reviewed completed studies and recommended several more to be completed Mission Studies Completed THus Far • Mars orbiter – 2015 MEPAG’s NeXt Orbiter Science Analysis Group • Uranus and Neptune (Ice Giants) system missions – 2017 NASA science deFinition team report • Europa lander – 2017 NASA science deFinition team report • Venus orbiter and lander (Venera-D) – 2017 joint U.S.-Russian science deFinition team report CAPS Priority Areas Candidates for Large or Medium Class Mission Studies