Neptune odyssey: A flagship concept for the exploration of the neptune-triton system

Abigail M. Rymer, Kirby D. Runyon, Brenda Clyde, Jorge I. Núñez, Romina Nikoukar, Krista M. Soderlund, Kunio Sayanagi, Mark Hofstadter, Lynnae C. Quick, S. Alan Stern, Tracy Becker, Matthew Hedman, Ian Cohen, Frank Crary, Jonathan J. Fortney, Janet Vertesi, Candy Hansen, Imke De Pater, Carol Paty, Thomas SpilkerTom Stallard, George B. Hospodarsky, H. Todd Smith, Hannah Wakeford, Sarah E. Moran, Andrew Annex, Paul Schenk, Martin Ozimek, Juan Arrieta, Ralph L. McNutt, Adam Masters, Amy A. Simon, Susan Ensor, Clint T. Apland, Jonathan Bruzzi, D. Alex Patthoff, Christopher Scott, Christian Campo, Christopher Krupiarz, Corey J. Cochrane, Curt Gantz, Dan Rodriguez, Dan Gallagher, Dana Hurley, Doug Crowley, Elizabeth Abel, Elena Provornikova, Elizabeth P. Turtle, George Clark, Jacob Wilkes, Jack Hunt, James H. Roberts, Jeremy Rehm, Kelvin Murray, Larry Wolfarth, Leigh N. Fletcher, Linda Spilker, Emily S. Martin, Marzia Parisi, Mike Norkus, Noam Izenberg, Robert Stough, Ron J. Vervack, Kathleen Mandt, Kevin B. Stevenson, Seth Kijewski, Weilun Cheng, Jay D. Feldman, Gary Allen, Dinesh Prabhu, Soumya Dutta, Cindy Young, Joseph Williams

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

14 Scopus citations

Abstract

The Neptune Odyssey mission concept is a Flagship-class orbiter and atmospheric probe to the Neptune-Triton system. This bold mission of exploration would orbit an ice-giant planet to study the planet, its rings, small satellites, space environment, and the planet-sized moon Triton. Triton is a captured dwarf planet from the Kuiper Belt, twin of Pluto, and likely ocean world. Odyssey addresses Neptune system-level science, with equal priorities placed on Neptune, its rings, moons, space environment, and Triton. Between Uranus and Neptune, the latter is unique in providing simultaneous access to both an ice giant and a Kuiper Belt dwarf planet. The spacecraft - in a class equivalent to the NASA/ESA/ASI Cassini spacecraft - would launch by 2031 on a Space Launch System or equivalent launch vehicle and utilize a Jupiter gravity assist for a 12 yr cruise to Neptune and a 4 yr prime orbital mission; alternatively a launch after 2031 would have a 16 yr direct-to-Neptune cruise phase. Our solution provides annual launch opportunities and allows for an easy upgrade to the shorter (12 yr) cruise. Odyssey would orbit Neptune retrograde (prograde with respect to Triton), using the moon's gravity to shape the orbital tour and allow coverage of Triton, Neptune, and the space environment. The atmospheric entry probe would descend in ~37 minutes to the 10 bar pressure level in Neptune's atmosphere just before Odyssey's orbit-insertion engine burn. Odyssey's mission would end by conducting a Cassini-like "Grand Finale,"passing inside the rings and ultimately taking a final great plunge into Neptune's atmosphere.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Article number184
JournalPlanetary Science Journal
Volume2
Issue number5
DOIs
StatePublished - Oct 2021

All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes

  • Astronomy and Astrophysics
  • Geophysics
  • Earth and Planetary Sciences (miscellaneous)
  • Space and Planetary Science

Keywords

  • Extrasolar ice giants
  • Neptune
  • Neptunian satellites
  • Ocean planets
  • Planetary magnetosphere
  • Planetary polar regions
  • Planetary rings
  • Planetary surfaces
  • Pluto
  • Surface ices
  • Uranus
  • Van Allen radiation belt

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