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Completed TRL 5 (started at 2, targeting 5)
The objective of this IRAD project was to improve GSFC’s ability to design two key aspects of planetary science missions: atmospheric entry and missions to moons of giant planets. This was to be done by exploiting and expanding on the capabilities of GSFC’s Evolutionary Mission Trajectory Generator (EMTG). Two primary improvements were made to EMTG. First, the ability to model aerodynamic drag was added. The other crucial enhancement was a refactoring of EMTG’s propagation code.
The work performed under this IRAD helps provide a fast design framework for the optimization of current and future spacecraft trajectories for planetary science missions. Challenging, exciting missions involving atmospheric entry and missions to moons of giant planets were specifically targeted and will benefit directly from the work funded by this IRAD.
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