Geoscience Reference
In-Depth Information
Those activities might be connected to 'Exploration' regime (see
Sec. 3.2.5).
3.2.3. Initiation of the surveys of the outer solar system
One candidate in this category is the Solar Sail project ocially proposed
in 2004, for proofing “Solar Sail” technologies in deep space exploration. It
is also expected to act as a multi-scientific platform, including (a) cosmic
IR background survey, (b) gamma-ray burst detection, (c) dust measure-
ment with huge-sized counter, (d) main-belt and Torojan asteroid flyby,
and (e) Jupiter system observation. For the last objectives, the mother
spacecraft will carry the daughter “orbiter” and small-sized “entry-probe”.
In the base plan, the launch is expected in early 2010s.
Although the payload capability in this project is much limited, they
will lead to the outer planet exploration by JAXA. In the decade 2015-
2025, we will expect a full-scale mission to Jupiter and the Jovian system,
for the study of the largest planets and most complex satellites system, and
the multiple sample return mission to the asteroids and comets in outer
solar system to unveil the primitive materials of the life precursors.
3.2.4. Small spacecraft
Even though ISAS and ISAS/JAXA has been developing only medium size
science spacecraft in recent years, there are many requests from university
scientists that JAXA develops common small satellite bus systems for quick
and focused science. The first good example was the piggy-back mission
“Reimei”.
Such request is urgent because the medium class science spacecraft is
launched only once every 1.5-2 years after 5-10 years of preparation. Such
cycle does not match well the life cycle of the scientists. In 2005, JAXA
sent out questionnaires to the space communities on the kinds of common
bus needed. There were 23 responses. Most of them were categorized into
the class of 50-100 kg science payload. The accuracy and stability require-
ment for the attitude control is not very severe, such as 0.01 s 1 .We
believe that it is not dicult to design and build such a bus. However, the
question is what kind of launcher should be assumed for the design. And
human and financial resource to start and keep small satellite programs
is not resolved yet. It will likely take some time before we can come to a
conclusion.
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