Exploring Europa with an RPS-powered orbiter spacecraft

The National Research Council's solar system exploration decadal survey identified Jupiter's moon Europa as its highest-priority destination for near-term exploration. Voyager and Galileo missions to the Jupiter system provided evidence consistent with a subsurface ocean on Europa, which is of great interest as a potential abode for extraterrestrial life. This paper describes a conceptual flagship-class Europa orbiter concept that was assumed to launch as early as 2012, arriving at Europa approximately 8 years later using inner solar system gravity assists to reach Jupiter. Jupiter's intense radiation environment limits the mission duration at Europa to 30 days for this study, though the duration is a result of multiple trades and is by no means fixed. The Europa subgroup of the outer planets assessment group identified six primary science objectives for this concept. An /spl sim/150-kg instrument suite selected for the study addresses those objectives. Large heliocentric distances, high power levels required, and especially the harsh Jovian radiation environment drove the selection of radioisotope thermoelectric generators (RTGs) for all onboard electrical power, with the excess heat aiding spacecraft thermal control. Mass and architecture trades were performed using different spacecraft trajectories, launch vehicle types, radioisotope power systems, and mission durations. The study shows that new mission constraints allow a scientifically compelling Europa orbiter mission that might also deliver a Europa lander.