Browse and search white papers and mission & technology studies received by the Planetary Science Decadal Survey. Click here for basic user instructions.

Total results: 31

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Authors	Title	Summary	Panel Selection	Institution	Download/ Details
Erik Asphaug	Near Earth Asteroid Trajectory Opportunities in 2020–2024	Near Earth objects (NEOs) are attractive targets for spacecraft missions with the purpose of obtaining greater insight to the nature of the original bodies from which the terrestrial planets formed, without having to visit the Main Belt itself. Greater knowledge of NEOs directly sheds light on the origin and evolution of the asteroid belt, the formation of planets, and the history of the solar system.	Primitive Bodies	University of California, Santa Cruz	Download File More Details
Joe Veverka	Cryogenic Comet Nucleus Sample Return (CNSR) Mission Technology Study	This report documents the results of a study commissioned by the 2012 Decadal Report Primitive Bodies Panel to provide inputs to six key technological issues that need to be addressed to facilitate a Cryogenic Nucleus Sample Return (CNSR) mission and that will likely not be solved by other primitive bodies missions.	Primitive Bodies	Cornell University	Download File More Details
Joe Veverka	Comet Surface Sample Return (CSSR) Mission	The National Academy of Science''s Decadal Survey (New Frontiers in the Solar System: An Integrated Exploration Strategy, 2003) recommended that NASA develop a medium-class mission to return a comet surface sample to Earth for laboratory analysis. NASA tasked the Applied Physics Laboratory to refine the concepts described in the Decadal Survey.	Primitive Bodies	Cornell University	Download File More Details
Marc Buie Co-Author: Joe Veverka	Chiron Orbiter Mission	The National Research Council''s Planetary Science Decadal Survey: Primitive Bodies Panel has commissioned NASA''s Goddard Space Flight Center (GSFC) with a rapid architecture study conducted under NASA Headquarters leadership. The purpose of the study is to determine whether a mission to orbit the Centaur Object Chiron can be achieved within a New Frontiers cost range with a limited supply of Advanced Stirling Radioisotope Generators (ASRGs).	Primitive Bodies	Southwest Research Institute Cornell University	Download File More Details
J. Hunter Waite	JPL Team X Titan Lake Probe Study Final Report	This study focused on an in-situ examination of a hydrocarbon lake on the Saturnian moon Titan -- a target that presents unique scientific opportunities as well as several unique engineering challenges (e.g., submersion systems and cryogenic sampling) to enable those measurements. Per direction from the National Research Council (NRC) 2012SS Planetary Decadal Survey Satellites Panel, and after an initial trade-space examination, study architectures focused on three possible New Frontiers'' class missions and a more ambitious Flagship-class lander intended as a contributed portion of a larger collaborative mission.	Satellites	Southwest Research Institute	Download File More Details
John Spencer	Jupiter Europa Orbiter Component of EJSM	Some 400 years ago, discovery of the four large moons of Jupiter by Galileo Galilei changed our view of the universe forever. Today Jupiter is the archetype for the giant planets of our solar system, and for the numerous giant planets now known to orbit other stars, and Jupiter''s diverse Galilean satellites -- three of which are believed to harbor internal oceans -- are central to understanding the habitability of icy worlds.	Satellites	Southwest Research Institute	Download File More Details
Krishan Khurana	Ganymede Orbiter	As part of NASA''s support to the National Research Council (NRC) and its current Planetary Decadal Survey, JPL was assigned the task of developing a mission and flight system architecture suitable to perform a scientifically viable Ganymede Orbiter (GO) mission responsive to science traceability matrix (STM) requirements formulated by NASA''s science panel. This report documents the results of that study.	Satellites	University of California, Los Angeles	Download File More Details
Elizabeth Turtle	Io Observer	The Jovian moon Io is likely the most geologically active body in the solar system, offering insight into tidal heating, volcanic processes, and other phenomena. However, its location within Jupiter''s radiation belt presents significant engineering challenges that must be addressed to enable future missions to Io. Under the direction of NASA, and with direct guidance from the National Research Council''s (NRC''s) Satellites Panel, the Jet Propulsion Laboratory''s (JPL''s) Advanced Project Design Team (Team X) looked at the feasibility of a remote observational mission to Io as a possible future New Frontiers concept.	Satellites	Johns Hopkins University/ Applied Physics Laboratory	Download File More Details
John Spencer	Enceladus Orbiter	The Enceladus Orbiter (EO) mission would explore Saturn''s moon Enceladus, investigating the following in order of priority: -The nature of Enceladus''s cryovolcanic activity -The internal structure and chemistry of Enceladus -The geology of Enceladus -The interaction of Enceladus with the Saturn system -The surfaces and interiors of Saturn''s moons Rhea, Dione and Tethys -Preparation for potential future landing on Enceladus	Satellites	Southwest Research Institute	Download File More Details
John Spencer	JPL Rapid Mission Architecture (RMA) Enceladus Study Final Report	At the request of the Satellites Panel of the Planetary Science Decadal Survey, a Rapid Mission Architecture (RMA) study of possible missions to Saturn''s moon Enceladus was conducted at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) in January and February of 2010. Fifteen mission architectures were examined that spanned a broad range of potential science return and total estimated mission cost. This report documents the findings of that study.	Satellites	Southwest Research Institute	Download File More Details
John Spencer	Titan Saturn System Mission	Titan is a high priority for exploration, as recommended by NASA''s 2006 Solar System Exploration (SSE) Roadmap (NASA 2006), NASA''s 2003 National Research Council (NRC) Decadal Survey (NRC Space Studies Board 2003) and ESA''s Cosmic Vision Program Themes. Recent revolutionary Cassini-Huygens discoveries have dramatically escalated interest in Titan as the next scientific target in the outer solar system.	Satellites	Southwest Research Institute	Download File More Details

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These documents have been prepared in coordination with the National Academies of Science in support of the National Academies Planetary Science Decadal Survey. These documents are being made available for information purposes only, and any views and opinions expressed herein do not necessarily state or reflect those of NASA, JPL, or the California Institute of Technology.