Project Galileo II probe to Jupiter

[Mattyv]

For better protection against the harsh radiations from Jupiter, the landing site will be likely placed at the far side of Europa.

Actually based on what I've read, the best place to go to avoid the radiation is on the leading hemisphere in its orbit. The radiation belts and Europa both orbit in the same direction, but the radioactive particles are trapped inside Jupiter's Magnetosphere and rotate with Jupiter, which rotates a lot faster than Europa orbits. This means Europa's trailing hemisphere is hammered with a ton of radiation, while the leading hemisphere has significantly less radiation (still enough to fry you like your in a microwave, though)

Sorry, that post was more of a lecture than the advice I thought it would be.:facepalm:

 

[K_Jameson]

Actually based on what I've read, the best place to go to avoid the radiation is on the leading hemisphere in its orbit. The radiation belts and Europa both orbit in the same direction, but the radioactive particles are trapped inside Jupiter's Magnetosphere and rotate with Jupiter, which rotates a lot faster than Europa orbits. This means Europa's trailing hemisphere is hammered with a ton of radiation, while the leading hemisphere has significantly less radiation (still enough to fry you like your in a microwave, though)

Sorry, that post was more of a lecture than the advice I thought it would be.:facepalm:

Very interesting.
Thank you for these info; i take note!

And yes, i confirm that the radiation dosage at the Europa's surface is high enough to cause serious illness and, eventually, kill any human... but some simple lifeforms like the bacteria can survive in these conditions... Europa remains a strong target for many exobiologist...

 

[MaverickSawyer]

Not to mention that the ice should dampen most of the radiation and keep it from reaching any ocean below the ice.

 

[Mattyv]

This whole project looks awesome by the way!:thumbup:

 

[K_Jameson]

After a long hiatus, the work begin to resume. After some trouble, the planned dll was postponed, allowing a faster release of the addon.
The subprobe was moved from the side to the back as on the first Galileo; the "Salviati" minilander remains hidden and protected in the interior of the main spacecraft. The main propulsion was splitted in four smaller engines, surrounding the subprobe housing.
In the slot free at the side after the relocation of the subprobe, was placed the microwave radiometer, properly redesigned.

 

[K_Jameson]

Some news after long time. The mission will be splitted in two launches.

News and images in the italian forum: http://orbiteritalia.forumotion.com/t893p225-sonda-galileo-ii

 

[MaverickSawyer]

Looking good! Love the tributes, too.
Now, if I'm I understanding things correctly, you've added an atmospheric probe for Jupiter? Very cool. But how is this going to be split across 2 launches? On-orbit assembly, or a docking between the probe and the Earth Departure Stage?

 

[Pipcard]

Everything's bigger with FOI:

-Bigger launchers (Quasar 452)
-Bigger manned spacecraft (Antares & Arcturus)
-Bigger probes (Galileo II)

 

[SpaceEagle]

Nah,so there will be Cassini II later in 2017 when Cassini is gonna enter Saturn's atmosphere

 

[K_Jameson]

Looking good! Love the tributes, too.
Now, if I'm I understanding things correctly, you've added an atmospheric probe for Jupiter? Very cool. But how is this going to be split across 2 launches? On-orbit assembly, or a docking between the probe and the Earth Departure Stage?

No on-orbit assembly: basically, one mission become two.
We have now two distinct probes: the Galileo II orbiter (with its atmospheric probe) and the Salviati Europa Lander with a new dedicated two-stage carrier. This saves much more propellant in the main orbiter for a longer mission in the Jovian system, and also allows a more focused mission to Europa for the second probe.
The two probes can be launched separately or in a single launch. We have to do some math.

The atmospheric probe can be redirected for Venus instead Jupiter (and released in the atmosphere during the Venus slingshot). This is matter of discussion in the team.

 

[MaverickSawyer]

Personally, a double launch on the same rocket is the way to go, especially with the Quasar. (unless the Galileo II required a Quasar to begin with...) It's a lower cost for the entire program by using a single, larger rocket instead of two smaller, but not quite lower cost, rockets. AKA the total cost of both smaller rocket launches is MORE than that of a single Quasar launch.
Also, maybe you could pack a second atmospheric probe atop Salviati for Jupiter, and use the one on Galileo II for Venus. :2cents:

 

[Pipcard]

Personally, a double launch on the same rocket is the way to go, especially with the Quasar. (unless the Galileo II required a Quasar to begin with...) It's a lower cost for the entire program by using a single, larger rocket instead of two smaller, but not quite lower cost, rockets. AKA the total cost of both smaller rocket launches is MORE than that of a single Quasar launch.
Also, maybe you could pack a second atmospheric probe atop Salviati for Jupiter, and use the one on Galileo II for Venus. :2cents:

Well, you and I don't know what the cost of a Quasar launch is compared to the cost of two Jarvis launches, since they are both virtual rockets. Here's some food for thought (from the Golden Spike thread; bolded for emphasis):

Well, if you have the CM+Lander from LEO on it has a big weight (for example Apollo, CM+Lander=45 mT). So you need a lot of Delta-V to put it into a Trans-Lunar trajectory AND a lot of Delta-V to break this 45 mT-stack to orbital velocity once you arrive at the moon.
But when you launch them seperatly you need less power (but more upper stages).
And since it is more expensive to build huge rockets or upper stages (especially R&D-costs) than build two or three 'normal' rockets (already flown today) commercial spaceflight companies often presents this option. (Comparable to one SLS vs three or four Delta IVs)

Of course you have other problems, what would have happened to Apollo 13 without a lunar module is the most commonly mentioned one...

I don't know which method will be more efficient until the calculations are done.

ASVI doesn't really seem to care a lot about cost (they can do a manned fly-by of Venus, and develop a 233 mT launcher, without economic/political issues), but some fictional space agencies might take hypothesized costs into account, though.

 

[K_Jameson]

Personally, a double launch on the same rocket is the way to go, especially with the Quasar. (unless the Galileo II required a Quasar to begin with...) It's a lower cost for the entire program by using a single, larger rocket instead of two smaller, but not quite lower cost, rockets. AKA the total cost of both smaller rocket launches is MORE than that of a single Quasar launch.
Also, maybe you could pack a second atmospheric probe atop Salviati for Jupiter, and use the one on Galileo II for Venus. :2cents:

Costs are an aspect considered in the developing of the FOI rockets, although only at a superficial level. For example, scalability and reuse of the same elements (stages, boosters) in different rockets are elements taken in account.

But i think that Quasar 452 could be VERY expensive in the real world, principally because of the dimensions of the core stage (manufacturing difficulties) and the very low flight rate, although some elements are low-cost (the RS-68 engine), others are Jarvis-derived (the upper stage), and still others are used in higher flight rate vehicles (Quasar 220 / Eridanus). Even the Jarvis M should be expensive for this task.

IMHO, the best low-cost superheavy is the Jarvis H, that is entirely made of elements from smaller rockets (and, individually, with an high flight rate).

Anyway... with a VEEGA trajectory (Venus-Earth-Earth Gravity Assist), a mere Jarvis E is sufficient for the Galileo II. For the Salviati probe (that, even with its carrier, is considerably lighter than Galileo II), the same launch can be achieved with an even smaller Jarvis C, with some margin.

A Jarvis H should be sufficient for a single launch of the two probes together.

 

[Pipcard]

What are the masses for Galileo II and Salviati?

 

[K_Jameson]

Galileo II weighs 12050 kg with full tanks.
The atmospheric probe weighs 325 kg (140 kg the heat shield). This data is subject to change in case of a modification of the probe for Venus instead Jupiter.
Salviati Europa Lander weighs 175 kg; the entire Salviati probe (lander plus the two-stage carrier) weighs some 6000 kg (this must be calculated with more precision).

---------- Post added 03-17-13 at 02:00 PM ---------- Previous post was 03-16-13 at 11:49 PM ----------

Testing the descent in the Venus atmosphere.







The atmospheric drag in this atmosphere is so high that the probe touch the ground at a velocity under 10 m/sec even without the opening of the parachute. The entire descent, from the atmospheric entry to the landing, lasts some 50 minutes.

---------- Post added 03-18-13 at 10:22 AM ---------- Previous post was 03-17-13 at 02:00 PM ----------

The adaption of the atmospheric probe for Venus begins. Firstly, we have to discard the mini-RTG, because in the hot venusian environment, the cooling isn't effective. In second instance, we have to replace the balloon with a very small parachute and add a simple landing structure.
Later, the scientific instruments will be modified.

 

[K_Jameson]

The Salviati lander (inside the protective cover) with its carrier spacecraft (design not definitive). This time, solar panels (stowed here):



Testing the integration with the Jarvis H upper stage and fairings (the payload adapter is only a sketch):



---------- Post added at 09:16 PM ---------- Previous post was at 07:49 PM ----------

Testing the Salviati lander animations at KSC:

 

[K_Jameson]

Further tests.

The atmospheric probe at Venus: parachute deployed. The vehicle now has four petals that open immediately before the landing, for stabilization at ground.


Testing the Salviati Europa Lander with its EOI stage (Europa Orbit Insertion).


---------- Post added at 08:31 PM ---------- Previous post was at 05:26 PM ----------

The probe on the surface of Venus. On the background, the discarded heat shield.

 

[Kyle]

 

[K_Jameson]

Phases of the atmospheric descent:

 

[K_Jameson]

The atmospheric probe is now complete. Added an anemometer :lol:



The definitive list of the instruments is the following:

- Radar altimeter
- Nephelometer
- Lightning detector
- Net-flux radiometer
- Gas-Chromatograph/Mass Spectrometer
- Stereoscopic cameras
- Near IR spectrometer
- Temperature and pressure probe
- Anemometer

---------- Post added at 11:01 PM ---------- Previous post was at 07:37 PM ----------

Testing the Europa landing site in the simulation.
The coloration of the surface must be fine tuned.