Persephone: A Pluto-system Orbiter and Kuiper Belt Explorer
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Published:2021-04-01
Issue:2
Volume:2
Page:75
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ISSN:2632-3338
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Container-title:The Planetary Science Journal
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language:
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Short-container-title:Planet. Sci. J.
Author:
Howett Carly J. A.ORCID, Robbins Stuart J.ORCID, Holler Bryan J.ORCID, Hendrix AmandaORCID, Fielhauer Karl B., Perry Mark E.ORCID, Siddique Fazle E., Apland Clint T., Leary James C., Stern S. AlanORCID, Elliott HeatherORCID, Nimmo FrancisORCID, Porter Simon B.ORCID, Protopapa SilviaORCID, Singer Kelsi N.ORCID, Tucker Orenthal J.ORCID, Verbiscer Anne J.ORCID, Andrews Bruce B., Bushman Stewart S., Crifasi Adam V., Crowley Doug, Edwards Clint L., Ernst Carolyn M.ORCID, Fonville Blair D., Frankford David P., Gallagher Dan T., Holdridge Mark E., Hunt Jack W., Kavelaars J. J.ORCID, Krupiarz Chris J., Kuhn James S., McKinnon WilliamORCID, Nair HariORCID, Napolillo David H., Pineau Jon P., Radebaugh JaniORCID, Sholder Rachel O., Spencer John R., Thodey AdamORCID, Walters Samantha R., Williams Bruce D., Wilson Robert J.ORCID, Young Leslie A.ORCID
Abstract
Abstract
Persephone is a NASA concept mission study that addresses key questions raised by New Horizons’ encounters with Kuiper Belt objects (KBOs), with arguably the most important being, “Does Pluto have a subsurface ocean?” More broadly, Persephone would answer four significant science questions: (1) What are the internal structures of Pluto and Charon? (2) How have the surfaces and atmospheres in the Pluto system evolved? (3) How has the KBO population evolved? (4) What are the particles and magnetic field environments of the Kuiper Belt? To answer these questions, Persephone has a comprehensive payload, and it would both orbit within the Pluto system and encounter other KBOs. The nominal mission is 30.7 yr long, with launch in 2031 on a Space Launch System Block 2 rocket with a Centaur kick stage, followed by a 27.6 yr cruise powered by existing radioisotope electric propulsion and a Jupiter gravity assist to reach Pluto in 2058. En route to Pluto, Persephone would have one 50–100 km class KBO encounter before starting a 3.1-Earth-year orbital campaign of the Pluto system. The mission also includes the potential for an 8 yr extended mission, which would enable the exploration of another KBO in the 100–150 km size class. The mission payload includes 11 instruments: Panchromatic and Color High-Resolution Imager, Low-Light Camera, Ultra-Violet Spectrometer, Near-Infrared (IR) Spectrometer, Thermal IR Camera, Radio Frequency Spectrometer, Mass Spectrometer, Altimeter, Sounding Radar, Magnetometer, and Plasma Spectrometer. The nominal cost of this mission is $3.0 billion, making it a large strategic science mission.
Funder
National Aeronautics and Space Administration Southwest Research Institute
Publisher
American Astronomical Society
Subject
Space and Planetary Science,Earth and Planetary Sciences (miscellaneous),Geophysics,Astronomy and Astrophysics
Cited by
7 articles.
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