JIMO

Sight of artist of the frozen Jupiter moons

Jupiter Icy Moons To orbit (JIMO)

Jupiter Icy Moons Orbiter (JIMO) was a project of space probe conceived to explore the glacial Jupiter moons. The main target was Europa, whose ocean is suspected of being one of the places where the primitive life is a possibility in our solar system. Ganymède and Callisto, which one thinks aujourd' ui that they have oceans liquid and salted under their glacial surfaces, were also targets of interest for the probe.

Because of a change of priorities to NASA, which supported space missions equipped, the project lost its place in 2005, involving the cancellation of the mission of JIMO. The engineers at the laboratory of propulsion of jet connected themselves to JIMO were congédiés or allotted again during the spring and the summer of this year.

The request of the budget 2006 of the President of the United States to the congress primarily cut the placement for JIMO. Between other exits, the nuclear engineering suggested was considered too ambitious, just as the multiple-launching and the architecture of orbital mission. NASA considers in the place a mission of demonstration to a target closer to the Earth, examined out of the rejection of the systems of engine and heat. The spaceship would be probably as well tiny room of its documentary format.

When it was countermanded, the mission of JIMO was with its preliminary stage of planning and launching was not envisaged before 2017. It was to be the first to propose the project of mission Prometheus, a program of NASA to develop nuclear fission by viable means of propulsion of spaceship.

Space probe JIMO

JIMO was to have a great number of revolutionary devices. In all its principal voyage towards the Jupiter moons, it was to be propelled by an ionic propulsion called HiPEP, and actuated by a small engine of fission. A conversion system of power of Brayton would convert the heat of the engine into electricity. Providing thousand times more, one expected that the electric output of the solar feeding system or RTG based conventional, the engine provides possibilities like controlling a complete system probing the ice by radar and providing a strong transmitter of data of high-width of band-width.

To employ the electric propulsion (8 ionic engines, more of the ejectors of Hall of variable sizes) would make it possible to enter in orbit/landing to the Jupiter moons, creating a more complete observation and tracing windows which exist for the spaceship running, which must make savings in operations because of the fuel limited for the operation.

The design required to place the engine at the end of the spaceship behind a strong shield protecting the sensitive equipment from spaceship of the radiation. The engine would be only actuated to the top once the probe was well out of orbit of the Earth, so that the quantity of radionuclides which must be launched in the orbit is to the minimum reduced. This configuration is thought to be less risky than the thermoelectric generators of radioisotope (RTGs) used on preceding missions with the external solar system. RTGs contain the great quantities of strongly radioactive material which produce heat for the thermocouples.

Northrop Grumman was selected on September 20th, 2004 for a preliminary contract of 400 million dollars for the design, identifications beating of Lockheed Martin and Boeing. The contract was to have run around 2008. Separated contracts, covering construction and the various instruments, were to be allotted to a latter date.

Preliminary characteristics of design

* Mass of scientific payload: 1500 kilograms * Electric turboalternators: multiple of 104 kilowatts (a.c. of 440 V) * Spreadable radiator: surface of 422 m ² * Electric ejectors of ions of Herakles: multiple of 30 kilowatts raised output, specific impulse 7000 book-force•s/lb (kN 69•s/kg) * Ejectors of Hall: power raised, higher push * Bond of telecommunications: 10 Mbit/s (4×250 Watt TWTA) * Cut deployed: 58,4 m length × 15,7 m broad * Cut fastened: 19,7 m length × 4,57 m broad * Life of design of mission: 20 years * Launch date: 2017

Text of origin of article JIMO

The Jupiter Icy Moons Orbiter ( JIMO ) has proposed Spacecraft designed to explores the icy moons Jupiter off. The hand target was Europa, the suspected simple ocean off which is one off the places where very alien life has possibility in our solar system. Ganymede and Callisto, which are now thought to cuts liquid, salty oceans beneath to their icy surfaces off, were also targets interest for the honest.

Had to has shift in priorities At NASA that favored manned space missions, the project lost funding in 2005, effectively cancelling the JIMO mission. Source. Engineers At the Jet Propulsion Laboratory connected ugly with JIMO were off gold reassigned during the spring and summer off that year.

US The president' S 2006 budget request to Congress essentially cut funding for JIMO. Among other resulting, the proposed nuclear technology was deemed too ambitious, ace was the multiple-launch and in-orbit assembly mission structures. NASA is instead considering has demonstration mission to has target closer to Earth to test out the reactor and heat rejection systems. The spacecraft would possibly original Be scaled down from its size ace well.

When it was cancelled, the JIMO mission was in its early planning training course and launch wasn' T expected before 2017. It was to Be the first proposed mission off NASA 'S Project Prometheus, has program for developing Nuclear fission into has viable means off Spacecraft propulsion.

The JIMO spacecraft

JIMO was to cuts has broad number off revolutionary features. Throughout its hand travels to the Jupiter moons, it was to Be propelled by year Ion propulsion called HiPEP, and powered by has small fission reactor. With Brayton power conversion system would convert reactor heat into electricity. Providing has thousand times the electrical output off conventional Solar gold RTG based power system, the reactor was expected to open up opportunities like flying has full scale ice-penetrating Radar system and providing has strong, high-bandwidth Data transmitter.

Using electric propulsion (8 ion engines, more Hall thrusters off varying sizes) would make it possible to go into and leave orbits around Jupiter' S let us moons, creating more thorough observation and mapping Windows than exist for the current spacecraft, which must make shorts fly-by maneuvers because off limited fuel for maneuvering.

The design called for the reactor to Be positioned in the tip off the spacecraft behind has strong sensitive radiation shield protecting equipment spacecraft. The reactor would only Be powered up honest ounce the was well out off Earth orbit, so that the amount off Radionuclide S that must Be launched into orbit is minimized. This configuration is thought to Be less risky than the Radioisotope thermoelectric generator S (RTGs) used one previous missions to the outer Solar system. Broad RTGs contain amounts off highly radioactive material which generate heat for the thermoelectric couples.

Northrop Grumman was selected one September 20, 2004 for has $400 million preliminary design contract, beating Lockheed Martin and Boeing IDS. The contract was to cuts run through to 2008. Separate contracts, covering construction and individual instruments, were to Be awarded At has later date.

Preliminary design specifications

Science payload farmhouse: 1500 kg
Electric turboalternators: multiple 104 kw (440 V AC)
Spreadable radiator: 422 m ² surface area
Electric Herakles ion thrusters: multiple 30 kw high efficiency, specific pulse 7000 lbf•s/lb (69 kN•s/kg)
Hall thrusters: high power, higher thrust
Telecommunications link: 10 Mbit/s (4×250 Watt TWTA)
Deployed size: 58.4 m long × 15.7 m wide
Stowed size: 19.7 m long × 4.57 m wide
Mission design life: 20 years
Launch dates: 2017

Source

External bonds

Project Prometheus webpage At NASA

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