Entry System Technology Readiness for Ice-Giant Probe Missions

Venkatapathy, Ethiraj; Ellerby, Don; Gage, Peter; Prabhu, Dinesh K.; Gasch, Matthew J.; Kazemba, Cole; Kellerman, Charles; Langston, Sarah; Libben, Benjamin; Mahzari, Milad; Milos, Frank S.; Murphy, Alexander; Nishioka, O.; Peterson, Keith; Poteet, Carl C.; Splinter, Scott C.; Stackpoole, Mairead; Williams, Joseph D.; Young, Z.

doi:10.1007/s11214-020-0638-2

Cited by 23 publications

(14 citation statements)

References 9 publications

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“…Heatshield for Extreme Entry Environment Technology (HEEET) would be enabling for the entry conditions of probes at both Uranus and Neptune. The development of HEEET is complete, and has achieved Technical Readiness Level 6 (Gage et al 2019;Venkatapathy et al 2020). The eMMRTG would provide a significant improvement in specific power over the existing MMRTG technology at beginning of life but, more importantly, a much larger gain at end of life, which is critical, given the duration of an icy giant planet mission.…”

Section: Technology Considerationsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Deep Atmosphere Composition, Structure, Origin, and Exploration, with Particular Focus on Critical in situ Science at the Icy Giants

Atreya

Hofstadter

et al. 2020

Space Sci Rev

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Core accretion is the conventional model for the formation of the gas giant planets. The model may also apply to the icy giant planets, Uranus and Neptune, except that it may take upward of 50 Myr for them to form at their present orbital distances, which is beyond the maximum 5 Myr lifetime of the solar nebula. A plausible alternative is formation in the region of the gas giants, followed by migration to their present locations at 20 and 30 AU. Another alternative is the gravitational instability model, which is much faster and does not require the formation of a core first. In either scenario, heavy elements (mass > helium) provide the critical observational constraints. Additionally, helium and neon abundances in the observable troposphere are indicators of the interior processes in the megabar region. We investigate the atmospheric regions most suitable for accessing the above elements. Volatiles containing some of the elements (C, N, S, O) undergo condensation on the icy giants. On the other hand, noble gases (He, Ne, Ar, Kr, Xe), which are chemically inert, non-condensible, and uniform all over the planet, can provide the best constraints to the formation and migration models of Uranus and Neptune. Only entry probes are capable of measuring the key elements and isotopic ratios. They are accessible at 5-10 bars, except for the condensibles. Data from an orbiter on gravity, magnetic field, upper atmospheric composition and the maps of ammonia and water with depth would be a valuable complement to in situ measurements.

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Section: Technology Considerationsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Deep Atmosphere Composition, Structure, Origin, and Exploration, with Particular Focus on Critical in situ Science at the Icy Giants

Atreya

Hofstadter

et al. 2020

Space Sci Rev

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“…Ice Giants missions, due to the large ΔV required for orbit insertion, require a combination of ablative and insulative TPS that can endure high heat rate, stagnation pressure, and heat load for mass efficient design. Heatshield for Extreme Entry Environment Technology (HEEET) is a new mass efficient and robust TPS that is capable of supporting Ice Giants Missions [14]. HEEET was developed with Ice Giants probe missions in mind, as heritage carbon phenolic used for missions like Jupiter Galileo is no longer available and would not be as mass efficient as HEEET.…”

Section: Capability 1 New Tps Materials Have Been Developed Which Meet Requirements For Uranus and Neptune Aerocapturementioning

confidence: 99%

Aerocapture as an Enhancing Option for Ice Giants Missions

Dutta

Pérez-Ayúcar²,

Fedele

et al. 2021

Bulletin of the AAS

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“…The HEEET dual-layer design, shown in Fig. 1 (x-ray computerized tomography (CT) scan), is a 3-D woven material [3] and is more mass efficient than HCP for missions that use high speed entry to deliver landers, probes, aerial platforms, higher speed skimmers, and aerocapture.…”

Section: Capabilitymentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The maturation of Heatshield for Extreme Entry Environments Technology (HEEET) and upgrades to ground based test facilities and analysis techniques have addressed the key limitations identified in the previous decadal survey Outer Planet and Venus white papers [1,2](Venus has relevant entry conditions to OP missions). Mission studies [3,4] have shown that these new capabilities can support missions to each of the OP destinations. However, known technology and testing limitations are identified in this paper, along with recommendations to mitigate mission constraints.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

TPS and Entry Technologies for Future Outer Planet Exploration

Ellerby

Hwang

Gasch

et al. 2021

Bulletin of the AAS

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The lack of knowledge about the Ice Giants (Voyager being the only probe to briefly visit them) and literally narrow window of planetary alignment for pragmatic missions to the Ice Giants, make them high priority targets in the next decade. The purpose of this white paper is to provide an overview to the NRC Decadal Survey on thermal protection system (TPS) technologies required for future Outer Planet exploration missions. A prime conclusion is that several of the most significant recommendations made during the last decadal survey were addressed positioning the TPS community to better support missions to the Outer Planets. These include maturation of the Heatshield for Extreme Entry Environment Technology (HEEET) to TRL 6 as replacement for Carbon Phenolic (that requires requalification itself), TPS test facility upgrades, and design tool improvements. These new materials and test methods are enabling for Outer Planet missions. However, there are limitations in the HEEET technology and available ground based test facilities that could become mission constraints depending on the science objectives. This white paper discusses opportunities to mitigate those constraints. In addition, if a mission is not scheduled in the near future, these new developments are at risk of becoming unavailable. Therefore, we recommend that NASA invest in a cross-cutting technology program that focuses on sustainment of relevant TPS materials, entry systems, test facilities, design tools, and flight instrumentation.

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Entry System Technology Readiness for Ice-Giant Probe Missions

Cited by 23 publications

References 9 publications

Deep Atmosphere Composition, Structure, Origin, and Exploration, with Particular Focus on Critical in situ Science at the Icy Giants

Deep Atmosphere Composition, Structure, Origin, and Exploration, with Particular Focus on Critical in situ Science at the Icy Giants

Aerocapture as an Enhancing Option for Ice Giants Missions

TPS and Entry Technologies for Future Outer Planet Exploration

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