Interplanetary small mission studies

Abstract

Small missions can play a large role in future robotic space exploration. While these missions cannot accomplish the vast scope of science objectives achieved by large missions such as Mars Sample Return or Cassini, they offer opportunities to explore smaller, but pertinent, science goals for significantly reduced total mission cost. The Jet Propulsion Laboratory's Advanced Projects Design Team (Team X) has conducted several mission studies to explore the feasibility of scientifically significant small interplanetary missions. These mission studies encompassed various targets (Mars, Earth's Moon, Venus, the Sun) using several scientific payloads (radar, imagers, radiometers). These missions can also perform other functions such as probe/balloon delivery or communications relay for landed missions. The studies considered a range of secondary payload launch vehicle options. This paper will highlight the results from these studies and discuss how the concurrent engineering environment of Team X lends itself to pre-phase A concept investigations.