Persistent Identifier
|
hdl:2014/46132 |
Publication Date
|
2016-08-06 |
Title
| Sylph - a SmallSat probe concept engineered to answer Europa's big question |
Author
| Imken, Travis (Pasadena, CA: Jet Propulsion Laboratory, National Aeronautics and Space Administration, 2016)
Sherwood, Brent (Pasadena, CA: Jet Propulsion Laboratory, National Aeronautics and Space Administration, 2016)
Elliott, John (Pasadena, CA: Jet Propulsion Laboratory, National Aeronautics and Space Administration, 2016)
Frick, Andreas (Pasadena, CA: Jet Propulsion Laboratory, National Aeronautics and Space Administration, 2016)
McCoy, Kelli (Pasadena, CA: Jet Propulsion Laboratory, National Aeronautics and Space Administration, 2016)
Oh, David (Pasadena, CA: Jet Propulsion Laboratory, National Aeronautics and Space Administration, 2016)
Kahn, Peter (Pasadena, CA: Jet Propulsion Laboratory, National Aeronautics and Space Administration, 2016)
Karapetian, Arbi (Pasadena, CA: Jet Propulsion Laboratory, National Aeronautics and Space Administration, 2016)
Polit-Casillas, Raul (Pasadena, CA: Jet Propulsion Laboratory, National Aeronautics and Space Administration, 2016)
Cable, Morgan (Pasadena, CA: Jet Propulsion Laboratory, National Aeronautics and Space Administration, 2016)
Lunine, Jonathan (Pasadena, CA: Jet Propulsion Laboratory, National Aeronautics and Space Administration, 2016)
Kempf, Sascha (Pasadena, CA: Jet Propulsion Laboratory, National Aeronautics and Space Administration, 2016)
Southworth, Ben (Pasadena, CA: Jet Propulsion Laboratory, National Aeronautics and Space Administration, 2016)
Tucker, Scott (Pasadena, CA: Jet Propulsion Laboratory, National Aeronautics and Space Administration, 2016)
Waite, J. Hunter (Pasadena, CA: Jet Propulsion Laboratory, National Aeronautics and Space Administration, 2016) |
Point of Contact
|
Use email button above to contact.
Imken, Travis |
Description
| Europa, the Galilean satellite second from Jupiter, contains a vast, subsurface ocean of liquid water. Recent observations indicate possible plume activity. If such a plume expels ocean water into space as at Enceladus, a spacecraft could directly sample the ocean by analyzing the plume’s water vapor, ice, and grains. Due to Europa’s strong gravity, such sampling would have to be done within 5 km of the surface to sample ice grains larger than 5 μm, expected to be frozen ocean spray and thus to contain non-volatile species critical to a biosignature-detection mission. By contrast, the planned Europa Multiple Flyby Mission’s closest planned flyby altitude is 25 km. Sylph is a concept for a SmallSat free-flyer probe that, deployed from the planned Europa Mission, would directly sample the large grains by executing a single ~2-km altitude plume pass. The 40-kg probe would be deployed by the Europa mission just before it executes a plume fly-through. Within the probe’s 16-hour lifespan, it would autonomously navigate to perform a parallel, simultaneous pass at the lower altitude. The Sylph flight system design concept combines SmallSat technologies with robust traditional components and advanced manufacturing technologies. Its payload would comprise Mini-SUDA (SUrface Dust Mass Analyzer), a dual-channel, miniature impact ionization mass spectrometer. Sylph represents a novel type of SmallSat concept: purpose-built configuration, optimized for the harsh environment at Europa and for planetary-protection requirements, and hybridized from both mainstream and SmallSat components. |
Subject
| Other |
Production Date
| 2016-08-06 |