Technology needs of future planetary missions

This paper presents the findings of a series of planetary mission studies w hich supported development of the Space Science Strategic Plan. The studies ' evaluated the feasibility, science return, and cost of missions that were candidates for inclusion in the Strategic Plan and also assessed the effec ts of advanced technology on these parameters. The mission set covered incl udes high priority missions to planets and/or comets and asteroids subseque nt to Pluto Express and Europa Orbiter (i.e., launching after 2004) except for missions to Mars (handled by a different office at JPL). A wide range missions were studied with emphasis on nine mission targets in two priority groups identified in the Strategic Plan. The first group are leading candidates for launch slots in the middle of the next decade: a com et nucleus sample return mission, a Jupiter deep multi-probe mission, and a Mercury Orbiter/solar physics mission; These are feasible today but can us e advanced technology to enhance performance and/or reduce cost. The Second group are future technology drivers, high priority science missions that r equire technology breakthroughs' prior to implementation. These include com et deep coring and advanced sampling, Europa Lander, Io Volcano Observer,Ne ptune Orbiter, and investigations of the atmospheres and surfaces of Titan and Venus by aerobots or other means. The paper describes the mission concepts and the enabling and enhancing tec hnologies developments identified for each mission. The current trend towar d miniaturization of avionics will benefit all of the missions. Several wer e found to be enabled or strongly enhanced by advances in low thrust propul sion, either solar electric or solar sail. Another critical area is in-situ technologies, including precision approach; landing; surface mobility; sam ple collection, analyses and packaging; and sample return to Earth. (C) 199 9 Published py Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.