At 500 kilometres (310 miles) in diameter, Enceladus is the sixth largest moon of Saturn and the 19th largest in the solar system.[3]
Enceladus has been visited and imaged in detail by three other probes: the twin Voyager spacecraft, and the Saturn orbiting Cassini spacecraft. Out of these, Cassini investigated Enceladus in the most detail and contributed the most to the current scientific understanding of Enceladus. Cassini's 23 targeted close flybys[4] helped discover that Enceladus is a geologically active world, with young (recently formed/solidified) terrain. The flybys also showed active, warm water plumes, along with evidence hinting at a subsurface ocean.[5] Cassini also provided evidence of hydrothermal processes driving both the geysers and Enceladus' active geology, making the moon one of the most attractive places to find life within the solar system.
The Enceladus Orbilander proposal was created by a team led by Shannon MacKenzie to support the Planetary Science Decadal Survey.[11] While previous mission studies had investigated multiple flybys to study Enceladus, MacKenzie's team, studying a Flagship mission architecture with a greater budget cap, decided to study an orbiter, lander, or a combination thereof.[12] Ultimately, the decision to combine the orbiter and lander into one spacecraft was informed by Enceladus' small size and negligible gravity, which results in trivial delta-v to land.[13]
In the 2022-2032 Planetary Decadal Survey, the Enceladus Orbilander was recommended as the third highest priority new flagship mission.[14] The selection was motivated by proposal's exobiology and planetary habitability focus.[15]
Spacecraft design and instrumentation
Due to Enceladus's small size, the amount of energy required to land compared to capturing into orbit is negligible. Therefore, the Enceladus Orbilander is envisioned uniquely combine both the functions of an orbiter and a lander into a single spacecraft.[16]
Scientific instruments
The proposed spacecraft will carry three separate instrument suites and a sampling system. Each instrument suite is tailored towards a different regime of science operations.
Additionally, three separate sampling systems are proposed for each stage of flight: a 1 square meter funnel to passively collect particles, a scoop for active particle collection on the surface, and a gas inlet for gas emissions.[1]: 10, B11
Mission profile
The Enceladus Orbilander is proposed to be launched in October 2038.[1]: 4 The spacecraft is proposed to be launched by a Space Launch System Block II variant with a Castor 30B upper stage, although a Falcon Heavy has also been considered but would require the spacecraft to launch on a slower trajectory with flybys of Venus.[1]: 7 The spacecraft's proposed launch is timed so that a Jupiter gravity assist can be performed in October 2040 to save propellant for Saturn orbital insertion in August 2045.[1]: 19 In Saturn orbit, the spacecraft will embark on a complex, 4.5 year long tour of the moons of Saturn, using gravity assists off moons such as Titan, Rhea, Dione, and Tethys to lower the orbital inclination of the spacecraft.[1]: 21-22 After a series of flybys with Enceladus itself, the spacecraft will enter Enceladus orbit.
The spacecraft will spend 1.5 years in a 12 hours long elliptical orbit around Enceladus.[1]: 20 The closest point of the orbit to the surface will pass over the south polar tiger stripes to collect plume particles and remote sensing data. Whilst orbiting Enceladus, mission planners will use high resolution images and other data to determine a safe landing ellipse.[13] When mission planners decide to land the spacecraft, the Enceladus Orbilander will lower its orbit and begin a powered descent towards the surface. The spacecraft will use terrain-relative navigation similar to systems used on OSIRIS-REx to avoid hazards during the descent.[16] When the spacecraft is 10 metres (33 ft) above the surface, the main engine shuts off to avoid contaminating the area, and the spacecraft pitches to its side before soft landing.[1]: 16
^MacKenzie, Shannon M.; Neveu, Marc; Davila, Alfonso F.; Lunine, Jonathan I.; Craft, Kathleen L.; Cable, Morgan L.; Phillips-Lander, Charity M.; Hofgartner, Jason D.; Eigenbrode, Jennifer L.; Waite, J. Hunter; Glein, Christopher R.; Gold, Robert; Greenauer, Peter J.; Kirby, Karen; Bradburne, Christopher; Kounaves, Samuel P.; Malaska, Michael J.; Postberg, Frank; Patterson, G. Wesley; Porco, Carolyn; Núñez, Jorge I.; German, Chris; Huber, Julie A.; McKay, Christopher P.; Vera, Jean-Pierre de; Brucato, John Robert; Spilker, Linda J. (27 April 2021). "The Enceladus Orbilander Mission Concept: Balancing Return and Resources in the Search for Life". The Planetary Science Journal. 2 (2): 77. Bibcode:2021PSJ.....2...77M. doi:10.3847/PSJ/abe4da. ISSN2632-3338.
^ abStrauss, Mark (19 June 2023). "Diamond in the Dark". Air & Space Quarterly. Smithsonian Institution. Retrieved 1 May 2024.{{cite magazine}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
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