Uranus orbiter

The Uranus orbiter is a concept whose object is to launch an atmospheric probe or an orbiter (possibly both) to the planet Uranus . Such a probe is the subject of several studies.

background

All planets of the solar system have already been visited by space probes, but the outermost planets Uranus and Neptune have so far only been explored by Voyager 2 in flyby, which is why studies on possible further missions to these planets have been ongoing for some time. Because of the even greater distance of Neptune, most of the concepts focus on Uranus. With the new Space Launch System of NASA would be significantly shorter flight times without swing-by possible maneuvers. There are still some unanswered questions about Uranus; For example, it has four magnetic poles, is inclined by almost 90 ° and emits significantly less heat than can currently be explained.

Image of Uranus captured by the Voyager 2 probe

Different concepts

Uranus Orbiter and Probe

NASA's original flagship program concept focuses on a probe set off for Uranus in the 2020s. NASA is considering three different mission concepts.

Possible concepts of the Uranus Orbiter and Probe
	Flyby and atmosphere probe	Orbiter with atmosphere probe	Orbiter
aims	internal structure	Inner structure, moons , ring system , magnetosphere	Inner structure, moons, rings, magnetosphere
Flight time	ten years	15 years	15 years
drive	Solar- electric propulsion in the inner solar system, chemical propulsion in the outer solar system	Chemical drive	Chemical drive

Oceanus

The Oceanus mission was not proposed under the flagship program, but rather under the cheaper New Frontiers program . The mission would perform swing-by maneuvers on Venus , Earth, and Jupiter . The scientific exploration would take at least 14 rounds. On board the probe would include a magnetometer and an atmosphere probe . The mission could start as the fifth of the New Frontiers program in 2030 and enter a highly elliptical orbit around Uranus in 2041.

MUSE

MUSE is an ESA proposal for a mission to Uranus. It is proposed to launch the probe in 2026 with Ariane 6 . After a 16.5 year journey, MUSE would reach the planet. In 2044, an atmospheric probe would immerse itself in its atmosphere. For two years, MUSE would study Uranus in a polar elliptical orbit and then for three years it would go into an orbit that would take the probe past the largest Uranus moons Miranda , Ariel , Umbriel , Titania and Oberon .

Uranus Pathfinder

Uranus Pathfinder is a concept in which NASA and ESA are cooperating. The probe would launch in January 2025 and reach Uranus in 2037. The scientific instruments on board the probe would be primarily of European origin, including a spectrometer , magnetometer and plasma wave detector. Upon arrival at Uranus, Pathfinder would enter a polar orbit with a periapsis very close to the planet .

ODINUS

ODINUS is an ESA concept for researching the planets Uranus and Neptune. The probe should consist of two individual probes that separate and of which one flies to Uranus and one to Neptune. ODINUS was developed by ESA as part of the Cosmic vision program and will - if selected - start in 2034. ODINUS is said to have a camera on board and to map the ice giants with similar accuracy as Jupiter and Saturn . A magnetometer and a mass spectrometer should also be on board. There may also be an accelerometer and some other instruments on board. The moons of the ice giants are also to be mapped and researched in detail.

Current status

The next cheap start windows will not appear again until the 2020s Template: future / in 3 years. NASA commissioned the Jet Propulsion Laboratory to develop a flagship mission to the planet Uranus and initially provided funds for further concretization. It is expected that such a mission could start in the next decade. However, priority in the flagship program is the Mars 2020 Rover Mission and Europa Clipper .