A new spacecraft mission concept combining the first exploration of the Centaurs and an astrophysical space telescope for the outer solar system

Singer, K. N.; Stern, S. A.; Elliott, John; Karimi, Reza; Stern, Daniel; Chimelewski, Arthur B.; Fong, Michael; Andrews, John P.; Bottke, W. F.; Olkin, C. B.; Propster, Paul; Thurman, S. W.

doi:10.1016/j.pss.2021.105290

Cited by 2 publications

(2 citation statements)

References 36 publications

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“…At diameters D 1-2 km, the data are consistent with a slope q ≈ 3 from the knee down to these sizes. For D 1-2 km, the SFD appears to break again at the "elbow" to an even shallower slope, q = 1.7 ± 0.3, betraying a relative dearth of small TNOs with 0.1 < D < 1 km, compared with an extrapolation from larger bodies (Greenstreet et al , 2016Singer et al 2019;Parker 2021;Robbins and Singer 2021;Singer et al 2021). A robust explanation of the change in the slope of the SFD near 1 km remains unavailable.…”

Section: Size Distributions Of Tnos Centaurs and Jfcsmentioning

confidence: 97%

The Transition from the Kuiper Belt to the Jupiter-Family (Comets)

Fraser¹,

Dones²,

Volk³

et al. 2022

Preprint

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Kuiper Belt Objects, or more generally Trans-Neptunian Objects (TNOs), are planetesimals found beyond the orbit of Neptune. Some TNOs evolve onto Neptune-crossing orbits and become Centaurs. Many Centaurs, in turn, reach Jupiter-crossing orbits and become Jupiterfamily comets (JFCs). TNOs are the main source of the JFCs. TNOs offer a different window than the JFCs, of more primordial bodies and over a different size and temperature range. It is in that context that this chapter is written. Here we discuss the dynamical pathways taken from the trans-Neptunian region to the JFCs, and the most important properties of TNOs that relate to the JFC population, including considerations of their origins, compositions, morphologies, and size distributions. We relate these properties to the JFCs whenever possible. We reflect on a few key outstanding issues regarding our incomplete knowledge of TNOs as they pertain to the Centaurs and JFC populations. We finish with a short discussion of notable new and upcoming facilities and the impacts they will have regarding these outstanding questions.

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Section: Size Distributions Of Tnos Centaurs and Jfcsmentioning

confidence: 97%

The Transition from the Kuiper Belt to the Jupiter-Family (Comets)

Fraser¹,

Dones²,

Volk³

et al. 2022

Preprint

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…Feasible mediumsized missions have been proposed (e.g., Harris et al 2019) for flyby or rendezvous with 29P/Schwassmann-Wachmann 1, which has a relatively circular orbit just beyond that of Jupiter, and is particularly interesting as it is likely in the process of transitioning from a Centaur to a JFC (Sarid et al 2019). More distant Centaurs, e.g., the large (∼200 km diameter) ringed worlds Chariklo or Chiron, with orbits between 8 and 18 au from the Sun, have been proposed as mission targets as more accessible Kuiper Belt Objects, rather than due to their relationship with comets as such, but would be more costly: e.g., NASA Frontiers class for a Deep Impact-style flyby and impactor combination (Howell et al 2018) or multi-Centaur tour (Singer et al 2021).…”

Section: Jupiter Family Comets and Centaursmentioning

confidence: 99%

Past and Future Comet Missions

Snodgrass¹,

Feaga²,

Jones³

et al. 2022

Preprint

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We review the history of spacecraft encounters with comets, concentrating on those that took place in the recent past, since the publication of the Comets II book. This includes the flyby missions Stardust and Deep Impact, and their respective extended missions, the Rosetta rendezvous mission, and serendipitous encounters. While results from all of these missions can be found throughout this book, this chapter focuses on the questions that motivated each mission, the technologies that were required to answer these questions, and where each mission opened new areas to investigate. There remain a large number of questions that will require future technologies and space missions to answer; we also describe planned next steps and routes forward that may be pursued by missions that have yet to be selected, and eventually lead to cryogenic sample return of nucleus ices for laboratory study.

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A new spacecraft mission concept combining the first exploration of the Centaurs and an astrophysical space telescope for the outer solar system

Cited by 2 publications

References 36 publications

The Transition from the Kuiper Belt to the Jupiter-Family (Comets)

The Transition from the Kuiper Belt to the Jupiter-Family (Comets)

Past and Future Comet Missions

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