Enceladus Orbilander Flagship Mission

The second-highest priority new Flagship mission in Origins, Worlds, and Life: A Decadal Strategy for Planetary Science and Astrobiology 2023-2032 is the Enceladus Orbilander [1].

The committee also included the Enceladus Multiple Flyby (EMF) mission theme in the New Frontiers target list, “should budgetary constraints not permit initiation of Orbilander”, as an alternative pathway “for progress this decade on the crucial question of ocean world habitability”, “albeit with greatly reduced sample volume, higher velocity of sample acquisition and associated degradation, and a smaller instrument component to support life-detection.” Because Enceladus is roughly between 9 and 10 AU away from the Sun, Radioisotope Thermoelectric Generators (RTGs) are an attractive power source.

However, based on current best estimates, the inventory of RTGs is likely to be limited in the future, driving a desire to reduce power demand and the number of RTGs required while maintaining flagship-worthy science and the earliest possible launch date that budget profiles will allow.

Therefore, to maximize science return within the decade, study of lower Size, Weight, and Power (SWaP) and Cost (SWaP-C) concepts than the Decadal Enceladus Orbilander concept is warranted.

Astrobiology