Uranus orbiter and probe

A Uranus orbiter and probe is a proposed mission to probe Uranus, its atmosphere, rings, and moons, was recommended to NASA in 2011 by its Planetary Science Decadal Survey 2013–2022.^[1] A mission study^[2] was conducted which also considered Neptune; however, for feasibility reasons Neptune was dropped in favor of Uranus. Two white papers on Uranus exploration were also submitted to the decadal survey.^[3][4] The survey listed the Uranus orbiter and probe as the third priority for a flagship mission after the MAX-C rover and the JEO component of the Europa Jupiter System Mission.

Although a chemical propulsion mission to Uranus is possible, solar-powered electric propulsion is preferred because it allows a larger spacecraft mass. The proposed mission would launch in the years 2020–2023. Travel time to Uranus with solar-electric propulsion would be 13 years, with one Earth-flyby gravity-assist, with launch-windows from Earth of 21 days every year.^[2]

In early 2012, because of the FY2013 budget proposal, NASA flagship-class planetary missions were put on hold.^[5][6] U.S. plans to develop more planetary flagships beyond the $2.5 billion Mars Science Laboratory (MSL) are waiting until the budget situation changes.^[6] A cheaper mission might happen as a medium-class mission.^[6] There is also a study that recommended a New Frontiers orbiter for Uranus.^[3]

See also

• Uranus Pathfinder
• Planetary Science Decadal Survey

References

v t e Spacecraft missions to Jupiter Orbiters Galileo Juno (en route) Descent probes Galileo Probe Flybys Pioneer 10 Pioneer 11 Voyager 1 Voyager 2 Ulysses Cassini–Huygens New Horizons Planned missions Jupiter Icy Moon Explorer (2022) Proposed flybys Argo New Horizons 2 Innovative Interstellar Explorer Uranus Orbiter Jupiter and Trojan asteroid exploration Proposed missions Europa Clipper Europa Jupiter System Mission-Laplace Jupiter Europa Orbiter Jupiter Ganymede Orbiter Jupiter Magnetospheric Orbiter Europa Lander Io Volcano Observer Cancelled missions Europa Orbiter Jupiter Icy Moons Orbiter Neptune Orbiter Jovian Europa Orbiter Pioneer H Tsiolkovsky mission Related topics Deep Space Network Exploration of Io Moons of Jupiter Italics indicates active missions, even if they passed Jupiter already.

v t e Uranus Geography Atmosphere Climate Dark Spot Magnetosphere Rings Moons Ariel Miranda Oberon Puck Titania Umbriel Astronomy Discovery Gerard Kuiper James L. Elliot William Herschel William Lassell General 15 Orionis Uranus-crossing minor planets Trojans 2011 QF99 Exploration Voyager 2 (1986 flyby) Uranus orbiter and probe (proposed) Uranus Pathfinder (proposed) Related Fiction Uranus portal