Trident (spacecraft)

Trident
Comparison of two designs for Trident
Mission typeReconnaissance, flyby of outer planets
OperatorNASA
Mission duration13 years (planned)
Start of mission
Launch dateProposed: 25 October 2025
(with a backup in October 2026)[1]
Flyby of Earth (gravity assist)
Closest approach28 October 2026[2]
Flyby of Venus (gravity assist)
Closest approach25 March 2027[2]
Flyby of Earth (gravity assist)
Closest approach7 February 2028[2]
Flyby of Earth (gravity assist)
Closest approach7 February 2031[2]
Flyby of Jupiter, Io (gravity assist)
Closest approach28 June 2032[2]
Distance1.24 RJ or 88,650 km (55,080 mi)
Flyby of Neptune, Triton
Closest approach28 June 2038[2]
← Psyche

Trident is a space mission concept to the outer planets proposed in 2019 to NASA's Discovery Program.[3][4] The concept includes flybys of Jupiter and Neptune with a focus on Neptune's largest moon Triton.

In 2020, Trident was selected along with three other Discovery proposals for further study, with two expected to be selected to fly as Discovery 15 and 16.[5] On 2 June 2021, NASA selected the Venus missions DAVINCI+ and VERITAS over Trident and the Io Volcano Observer.[6]

  1. ^ Cite error: The named reference Triton 2025 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  2. ^ a b c d e f Cite error: The named reference Trident_Details was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  3. ^ NASA proposes mission to Neptune moon Triton. Paul Scott Anderson, EarthSky 28 March 2019.
  4. ^ Cite error: The named reference Trident_Description was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  5. ^ "NASA Selects Four Possible Missions to Study the Secrets of the Solar System". NASA. 13 February 2020. Public Domain This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
  6. ^ Potter, Sean (2 June 2021). "NASA Selects 2 Missions to Study 'Lost Habitable' World of Venus" (Press release). NASA. Retrieved 2 June 2021.