On the Feasibility of a New Frontiers Class Saturn Probe Mission
This presentation focuses strictly on science goals and strawman payload, trajectories, telecom/attenuation, atmospheric entry, descent and TPS issues, and communications.
probes↗
Engineering topics
Balint, Tibor S.
Publications and source records attributed to Balint, Tibor S..
Exploring Triton with multiple landers
In our pathway for Outer Planetary Exploration several mission concepts were considered, based on the proposed JIMO mission architecture. This paper describes a JIMO follow-on mission concept to Neptunes largest moon. Triton is a target of interest for outer solar system studies. It has a highly inclined retrograde orbit, suggesting that it may have been a Kuiper Belt object captured by Neptune. Given this assumption its composition, which may include organic materials, would be of significant scientific interest.
Jupiter Icy Moons↗
RPS strategies to enable NASA's next decade robotic Mars missions
This study examines the available power system options and power selection strategies in line with the proposed mission lineup, and identifies the benefits and utility of the various options for each of the next decade launch opportunities.
Mars↗
Validation database based thermal analysis of an advanced RPS concept
Explore the source record for details and available documents.
thermal analysis↗
Small power system trade options for advanced Mars mission studies
In this study, mission trades, scaling relationships and point designs are used to evaluate both power systems for proposed next decade landed missions.
solar panels↗
Enabling exploration with small radioisotope power systems
The purpose of this report is to provide an initial reference document to support further definition of science community needs for small-RPS flight systems. It describes the most recent results of the ongoing NASA/DOE studies, and provides information for review by potential users that might take advantage of these types of power systems. This is extremely important since any future decision to proceed with the development of such units will require a strong identified need from the space science community and a well-defined set of power and operational requirements. NASA and DOE intend to use this document as a basis for soliciting information on additional small-RPS-enabled mission concepts, along with their respective power and operational requirements. This report is a first step in fleshing out a roadmap for potential future development and acquisition.
Shirley, James H.↗
Small-RPS Enabled Mars Rover Concept
Both the MER and the Mars Pathfinder rovers operated on Mars in an energy-limited mode, since the solar panels generated power during daylight hours only. At other times the rovers relied on power stored in batteries. In comparison, Radioisotope Power Systems (RPS) offer a power-enabled paradigm, where power can be generated for long mission durations (measured in years), independently from the Sun, and on a continuous basis. A study was performed at PL to assess the feasibility of a small-RPS enabled MER-class rover concept and any associated advantages of its mission on Mars. The rover concept relied on design heritage from MER with two significant changes. First, the solar panels were replaced with two single GPHS module based small-RPSs. Second, the Mossbauer spectroscope was substituted with a laser Raman spectroscope, in order to move towards MEPAG defined astrobiology driven science goals. The highest power requirements were contributed to mobility and telecommunication type operating modes, hence influencing power system sizing. The resulting hybrid power system included two small-RPSs and two batteries. Each small-RPS was assumed to generate 50We of power or 62OWh/sol of energy (BOL), comparable to that of MER. The two 8Ah batteries were considered available during peak power usage. Mission architecture, power trades, science instruments, data, communication, thermal and radiation environments, mobility, mass issues were also addressed. The study demonstrated that a new set of RPS-enabled rover missions could be envisioned for Mars exploration within the next decade, targeting astrobiology oriented science objectives, while powered by 2 to 4 GPHS modules.
Mars exploration↗