Ice Giants Pre-Decadal Survey Mission Study Report

TL;DR

This report reviews mission concepts for Uranus and Neptune, assessing science priorities, technological feasibility, and costs, demonstrating that flagship missions to these ice giants are achievable within budget.

Contribution

It provides a comprehensive assessment of mission architectures and prioritizes science objectives for ice giant exploration in the context of current technology and budget constraints.

Findings

Flagship missions to Uranus and Neptune are feasible within current budgets.

Multiple mission architectures were evaluated and prioritized.

Cost estimates for top concepts are within acceptable budget ranges.

Abstract

The Ice Giants Study was commissioned by NASA to take a fresh look (as of 2017) at science priorities and concepts for missions to the Uranus and Neptune systems in preparation for the third Planetary Science Decadal Survey. This study was led by a Science Definition Team (SDT) and the Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) with participation from Langley Research Center, Ames Research Center, The Aerospace Corporation, Purdue University, and the European Space Agency. The SDT was appointed by NASA and co-chaired by Mark Hofstadter (JPL) and Amy Simon (Goddard Space Flight Center). The Study Manager was Kim Reh (JPL) and the Study Lead was John Elliott (JPL). The study team assessed and prioritized science objectives taking into account advances since the last Decadal Survey, current and emerging technologies, mission implementation techniques and celestial mechanics. This study examined a wide range of mission architectures, flight elements, and instruments. Six of the prioritized concepts were studied via JPL's Team X process and resulting cost estimates were subjected to independent assessment by The Aerospace Corporation. Results presented herein show that high-value flagship-class mission concepts to either Uranus or Neptune are achievable within ground rule budgetary constraints.