A novel orbiter mission concept for venus with the envision proposal
File(s)
Accepted version
Author(s)
De Oliveira, MRR
Gil, PJS
Ghail, RC
Type
Conference Paper
Abstract
In space exploration, planetary orbiter missions are essential to gain insight into planets as a whole,
and to help uncover unanswered scientific questions. In particular, the planets closest to the Earth
have been a privileged target of the world’s leading space agencies. EnVision is a mission proposal
with the objective of studying Earth’s closest neighbor. Designed for Venus and competing for ESA’s
next launch opportunity, the proposal already went through the selective technical review for the M4
launch opportunity, and was submitted to the M5 call, incorporating feedback from ESA. The main
goal is to study geological and atmospheric processes, namely surface processes, interior dynamics and
atmosphere, to determine the reasons behind Venus and Earth’s radically different evolution despite the
planets’ similarities. To achieve these goals, the operational orbit selection is a fundamental element
of the mission design process. The design of an orbit around Venus faces specific challenges, such as
the impossibility of choosing Sun-synchronous orbits. In this paper, an innovative genetic algorithm
optimization was applied to select the optimal orbit based on the parameters with more influence in the
mission planning, in particular the mission duration and the coverage of sites of interest on the Venusian
surface. After summarizing the EnVision proposal’s mission concept for Venus, the optimization and
innovation of the operational orbit design will be analyzed in terms of its benefits to the mission.
and to help uncover unanswered scientific questions. In particular, the planets closest to the Earth
have been a privileged target of the world’s leading space agencies. EnVision is a mission proposal
with the objective of studying Earth’s closest neighbor. Designed for Venus and competing for ESA’s
next launch opportunity, the proposal already went through the selective technical review for the M4
launch opportunity, and was submitted to the M5 call, incorporating feedback from ESA. The main
goal is to study geological and atmospheric processes, namely surface processes, interior dynamics and
atmosphere, to determine the reasons behind Venus and Earth’s radically different evolution despite the
planets’ similarities. To achieve these goals, the operational orbit selection is a fundamental element
of the mission design process. The design of an orbit around Venus faces specific challenges, such as
the impossibility of choosing Sun-synchronous orbits. In this paper, an innovative genetic algorithm
optimization was applied to select the optimal orbit based on the parameters with more influence in the
mission planning, in particular the mission duration and the coverage of sites of interest on the Venusian
surface. After summarizing the EnVision proposal’s mission concept for Venus, the optimization and
innovation of the operational orbit design will be analyzed in terms of its benefits to the mission.
Date Issued
2017-09-25
Date Acceptance
2017-02-27
Citation
Acta Astronautica
ISSN
0074-1795
Publisher
Elseiver
Journal / Book Title
Acta Astronautica
Source
International Astronautical Congress, IAC
Publication Status
Accepted
Start Date
2017-09-25
Finish Date
2017-09-29
Coverage Spatial
Adelaide, Australia