Jovian Orbiter to Europa Bringing Landers
Click for design report. The goal of the mission is to characterize the ice layer of Europa to plan a follow-up mission that accesses its ocean.
Highlights include the low power electric propulsion system, solar panels, antenna, and lander payload.
The spacecraft is designed to launch on an Atlas V 401.
Click for design report. The goal of the mission is to characterize the ice layer of Europa to plan a follow-up mission that accesses its ocean.
J.O.E.B.L.
2015
J.O.E.B.L. is a concept mission to Europa to characterize its ice layer for a follow-up mission that explores its ocean. To do so, J.O.E.B.L.. is a multi-spacecraft mission that includes an orbiter, large lander, and three small landers. The orbiter carries the landers and acts as a relay station when the landers are deployed.
The orbiter includes a suite of payload instruments:
-
Framing Camera: Take high quality images of Europa
-
Thermal Imager: Identify points of interest on Europa for landing or drilling
-
Ice Penetrating Radar: Measure the thickness of the ice layer
-
Infrared Spectrometer: Determine the composition of the Europa surface
-
Quadrupole Spectrometer: Determine the composition of water plumes as the orbiter flies through them
-
Magnetometer: Measure the conductivity of the ocean
The main lander includes the following instruments:
-
Imaging and Descent Camera
-
Core Sampler with Microscopic Imager
-
Seismometer
The small landers are equipped with only seismometers and work in conjunction with the main lander and orbiter to triangulate seismic activity on Europa.
To accomplish the objectives and house the payloads, the following subsystem designs were necessary:
-
Structures: Box structure consisting of graphite and aluminum honeycomb panels, using the cylindrical fuel tank as structural support
-
Power: Ultraflex arrays coupled with batteries and an RTG. The solar arrays provide solar electric propulsion power during transfer while the RTG supplements the arrays during Europa operations and keeps the spacecraft warm.
-
Propulsion: High power NEXT 9a electric thruster during transfer and low power BHT-600 electric thruster during mission operations.
-
Thermal: MLI with heaters and louvers. The RTG provides heat during mission operations.
-
AODCS: 3-axis stabilized spacecraft for advanced mission operations and communication.
-
Communication: 1.5m diameter high-gain antenna, as well as low gain antennas.
-
C&DH: BAE RAD750 avionics
Design documentation is included if you click on the image. I was directly responsible for the power subsystem, structures subsystem, and CAD.