Performance Benefit of Aerocapture for the Design Reference Mission Set

TL;DR

Aerocapture, using atmospheric drag for orbit insertion, offers significant propellant and cost savings across various planetary missions, especially for small satellites and ice giant explorations.

Contribution

This study quantifies the performance benefits of aerocapture for multiple Solar System missions, demonstrating its potential to enable new mission profiles and reduce costs.

Findings

Venus: 92% mass increase with aerocapture

Earth: 108% mass increase with aerocapture

Titan: 614% mass increase with aerocapture

Abstract

Aerocapture is a maneuver which uses aerodynamic drag to slow down a spacecraft in a single pass through the atmosphere. All planetary orbiters to date have used propulsive orbit insertion. Aerocapture is a promising alternative, especially for small satellite missions and missions to the ice giants. The large {\Delta}V requirement makes it practically impossible for small satellites to enter low circular orbits. Aerocapture can enable insertion of low-cost satellites into circular orbits around Mars and Venus. For ice giant missions, aerocapture can enable orbit insertion from fast arrival trajectories which are impractical with propulsive insertion. By utilizing the atmospheric drag to impart the {\Delta}V, aerocapture can offer significant propellant mass and cost savings for a wide range of planetary missions. The present study analyzes the performance benefit offered by aerocapture for a set of design reference missions and their applications to future Solar System exploration from Venus to Neptune. The estimated performance benefit for aerocapture in terms of delivered mass increase are: Venus (92%), Earth (108%), Mars (17%), and Titan (614%), Uranus (35%), and Neptune (43%). At Uranus and Neptune, aerocapture is a mission enabling technology for orbit insertion from fast arrival interplanetary trajectories.