AAS 97-613
EARTH-JUPITER-EARTH TRAJECTORIES AND THE EUROPA ICE CLIPPER MISSION
D.F. Bender - Jet Propulsion Laboratory
Abstract
The purpose of the Earth-Jupiter-Earth trajectories considered here is to penetrate the Jupiter space to the region of the Galilean satellites and to return to Earth with a minimum approach speed in order to allow for capture of a sample in the Earth's atmosphere. Trajectories of three to ten years duration are considered, the longer being required if the motion around Jupiter is to be in the same direction at that of the Galilean satellites. It will be shown that in order to reach Europa at least ten year flights are required and are available in several of the sequence of eleven year cycle from 2000 to 2012 for three, four, seven, eight, nine, and ten year trajectories. Europa Ice-Clipper trajectories will be discussed and examples shown for departures in 2002, 2003, and 2005.