 | |
| Mission type | Reconnaissance |
|---|---|
| Operator | NASA/JPL |
| Mission duration | ≥1.5 years[1] |
| Spacecraft properties | |
| Launch mass | ≈3,939 kg |
| BOL mass | ≈2,000 kg[1] |
| Dry mass | ≈1,110 kg |
| Power | 290 W[1] |
| Start of mission | |
| Launch date | 2030 (suggested) |
| Rocket | Atlas V 511 or SLS |
| Uranus orbiter | |
| Orbital insertion | 2041 |
| Orbits | ≥14 (proposed)[1] |
OCEANUS (Origins and Composition of the Exoplanet Analog Uranus System) is a mission concept conceived in 2016 and presented in 2017 as a potential future contestant as a New Frontiers program mission to the planet Uranus.[2][1] The concept was developed in a different form by the astronautical engineering students of Purdue University during the 2017 NASA/JPL Planetary Science Summer School. OCEANUS is an orbiter, which would enable a detailed study of the structure of the planet's magnetosphere and interior structure that would not be possible with a flyby mission.[2]
Because of the required technology development and planetary orbital dynamics, the concept suggests a launch in August 2030 on an Atlas V 511 rocket and entering Uranus' orbit in 2041.[1]
- ^ a b c d e f Bramson, A. M; Elder, C. M; Blum, L. W; Chilton, H. T; Chopra, A; Chu, C; Das, A; Delgado, A; Fulton, J; Jozwiak, L; Khayat, A; Landis, M. E; Molaro, J. L; Slipski, M; Valencia, S; Watkins, J; Young, C. L; Budney, C. J; Mitchell, K. L (2017). "OCEANUS: A Uranus Orbiter Concept Study from the 2016 NASA/JPL Planetary Science Summer School". 48th Lunar and Planetary Science Conference. 48 (1964): 1583. Bibcode:2017LPI....48.1583B.
- ^ a b Elder, C. M; Bramson, A. M; Blum, L. W; Chilton, H. T; Chopra, A; Chu, C; Das, A; Davis, A; Delgado, A; Fulton, J; Jozwiak, L; Khayat, A; Landis, M. E; Molaro, J. L; Slipski, M; Valencia, S; Watkins, J; Young, C. L; Budney, C. J; Mitchell, K. L (2017). "New Frontiers-Class Missions to the Ice Giants". Planetary Science Vision 2050 Workshop. 1989: 8147. Bibcode:2017LPICo1989.8147E.