Uranus and/or Neptune Exploration |
Uranus and/or Neptune Exploration |
Jul 20 2016, 05:29 PM
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#1
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Newbie Group: Members Posts: 15 Joined: 26-March 12 From: San Antonio, Texas Member No.: 6368 |
I'm 49 and will be 50 in January. With the success of New Horizons, being the first humans to ever see Pluto is mind blowing, I was wondering if I/we will ever see a probe or exploration of Uranus and Neptune? Are there any plans for exploring these two planets in the near future?
Thanks, James Sontag -------------------- Axes Grind and Maces Clash!
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Jul 26 2016, 08:52 PM
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#2
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Senior Member Group: Members Posts: 2542 Joined: 13-September 05 Member No.: 497 |
Are there any plans for exploring these two planets in the near future? Depends on your definitions of "plans" and "near". There are always plans. See, for example, "Uranus and Neptune Orbiter and Probe Concept Studies", http://sites.nationalacademies.org/cs/grou.../ssb_059323.pdf In the last decadal survey (for missions through 2022), a Uranus orbiter and probe mission was ranked third after a Mars sample return cacher and a Europa orbiter/multiple flyby mission. Given budget realities, I think it's very unlikely that a Uranus mission will happen in that time period, and after that, who knows? -------------------- Disclaimer: This post is based on public information only. Any opinions are my own.
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Jul 27 2016, 07:00 PM
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#3
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Newbie Group: Members Posts: 15 Joined: 26-March 12 From: San Antonio, Texas Member No.: 6368 |
Depends on your definitions of "plans" and "near". There are always plans. See, for example, "Uranus and Neptune Orbiter and Probe Concept Studies", http://sites.nationalacademies.org/cs/grou.../ssb_059323.pdf In the last decadal survey (for missions through 2022), a Uranus orbiter and probe mission was ranked third after a Mars sample return cacher and a Europa orbiter/multiple flyby mission. Given budget realities, I think it's very unlikely that a Uranus mission will happen in that time period, and after that, who knows? Thank you for the link for the Uranus and Neptune Orbiter and Probe Concept Studies. It is fascinating reading. -------------------- Axes Grind and Maces Clash!
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Jul 27 2016, 08:59 PM
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#4
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Member Group: Members Posts: 655 Joined: 22-January 06 Member No.: 655 |
Thank you for the link for the Uranus and Neptune Orbiter and Probe Concept Studies. It is fascinating reading. Fascinating indeed. I think Uranus has more chance of a green flag of the two, as the proposed mission has a similar launch/cruise timescale to New Horizons (NH). Interesting that 50% of the instruments proposed have NH heritage too, and that the proposed orbiter itself looks superficially like New Horizons. Aerocapture seems to be a serious consideration, albeit with a $150-$200 million price tag for development. Science priorities are focussed on atmosphere/magnetosphere/gravity and thermal emission science with satellite imagery taking a back seat. Without wanting to be controversial, I wonder how memorable to the general public the Cassini mission would have been had the satellite observations been descoped due to costs.... That said, I'm all for a mission of any description to an ice giant, I just hope I'm around to marvel at the results. |
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