Catalog And Characterization Of Science Orbit Configurations For An Enceladus Orbiter

Saturn’s moon Enceladus is an exciting destination for future exploration missions due to the scientifically interesting geyser region located on its South pole.

In this work, we compile the different types of science orbit configurations that have been proposed in the literature and present numerical methods to compute each of them in the Saturn-Enceladus circular restricted three-body problem (CR3BP).

In addition, we explore the utility of the higher period dynamical structures found in the CR3BP. Figures of merit such as the observational properties and geometries for each family of orbits are presented.

By providing a consistent analysis of potential Enceladus science orbits, this work can serve as a baseline for future mission designs.

Spencer Boone, Joan Pau Sanchez Cuartialles, Stéphanie Lizy-Destrez

Subjects: Earth and Planetary Astrophysics (astro-ph.EP); Instrumentation and Methods for Astrophysics (astro-ph.IM); Dynamical Systems (math.DS)
Cite as: arXiv:2510.12421 [astro-ph.EP] (or arXiv:2510.12421v1 [astro-ph.EP] for this version)
https://doi.org/10.48550/arXiv.2510.12421
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Submission history
From: Spencer Boone
[v1] Tue, 14 Oct 2025 11:58:16 UTC (6,192 KB)
https://arxiv.org/abs/2510.12421

Astrobiology,