ADEPT Drag Modulation Aerocapture: Applications for Future Titan Exploration

TL;DR

This paper explores the use of drag modulation aerocapture technology for a cost-effective Titan orbiter, enabling comprehensive global studies that complement in-situ missions like Dragonfly within the New Frontiers budget.

Contribution

It introduces a novel application of drag modulation aerocapture for Titan orbiters, demonstrating a feasible mission concept within existing cost constraints.

Findings

Drag modulation aerocapture enables Titan orbit insertion within budget.

Combined lander and orbiter can achieve Flagship-class science return.

The approach reduces mission costs compared to traditional orbiters.

Abstract

The Cassini-Huygens mission has transformed our understanding of Titan from a hazy veiled moon to a place surprisingly like the Earth, with terrestrial physical processes such as wind, rainfall, and erosion shaping the landscape albeit with entirely different chemistry and temperatures. Dragonfly, a single element mission which fits within the New Frontiers cost cap will arrive at Titan in 2034, and perform in-situ investigations of the organic materials on the surface. However, its detailed investigations will be limited to region within its short flight range. The big gaps in our understanding of Titan global topography, climate, and upper atmospheric chemistry which can only investigated from an orbiter around Titan will remain to be addressed by a future orbiter mission. Due to the challenges of attaining orbit, past Titan orbiter concepts have been beyond the New Frontiers cost cap. The present study explores the use of drag modulation aerocapture for a Titan Orbiter which fits within New Frontiers. The study shows how a Dragonfly-like lander, and a Titan orbiter which each individually fit within the New Frontiers cost cap, when combined together can provide the science data return equivalent to a Flagship-class mission.