An Impacting Descent Probe for Europa and the Other Galilean Moons of Jupiter
- Wurz, Peter
- Lasi, Davide
- Thomas, Nicolas
- Piazza, Daniele
- Galli, André
- Jutzi, Martin
- Barabash, S.
- Wieser, M.
- Magnes, W.
- Lammer, H.
- Auster, U.
- Gurvits, L. I.
- Hajdas, W.
DOIAbstract
We present a study of an impacting descent probe that increases the science return of spacecraft orbiting or passing an atmosphere-less planetary bodies of the solar system, such as the Galilean moons of Jupiter. The descent probe is a carry-on small spacecraft (<100 kg), to be deployed by the mother spacecraft, that brings itself onto a collisional trajectory with the targeted planetary body in a simple manner. A possible science payload includes instruments for surface imaging, characterisation of the neutral exosphere, and magnetic field and plasma measurement near the target body down to very low-altitudes (~1 km), during the probe’s fast (~km/s) descent to the surface until impact. The science goals and the concept of operation are dis...
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