 SSETI
Moon Orbiter -
Call for Proposals
The SSETI Association - Student Space Exploration and Technology Initiative,
together with ESA - the European Space Agency, have just published a Call
for Proposals for a Moon orbiter mission planned for launch around 2011.
The call is open to any University student or team from one of the ESA
member states or one of the ESA cooperating states. The SSETI ESEO project,
which is currently underway, already has at least three radio amateur
students involved in addition to the AMSAT-UK team so it would be exciting
if amateurs could become involved with the new lunar project.
The ESMO spacecraft would be launched in 2011 as an auxiliary payload
into a highly elliptical, low inclination Geostationary Transfer Orbit
(GTO) on the new Arianespace Support for Auxiliary Payloads (ASAP) by
either Ariane 5 or Soyuz from Kourou.
From GTO, the 200 kg spacecraft would use its on-board propulsion system
for lunar transfer, lunar orbit insertion and orbit transfer to its final
low altitude polar orbit around the Moon.
A 10 kg miniaturised suite of scientific instruments (also to be provided
by student teams) would perform measurements during the lunar transfer
and lunar orbit phases. The core payload would be a high-resolution narrow
angle CCD camera for optical imaging of lunar surface. Optional
payload items being considered include a sub-surface sounding radar for
polar ice detection, and a Cubesat subsatellite for precision gravity
field mapping via accurate ranging of the subsatellite from the main spacecraft.
Two different propulsion designs are being studied in parallel by the
students:
+ one based on a hybrid solid/liquid propulsion system
+ one relying upon solar electric propulsion.
The deadline for submission of proposals to the SSETI association is
15th August 2006. The full document is available for download from the
http://www.sseti.net
website. This gives full details of the planned mission, its scientific
aims and communications needs.
Graham, G3VZV
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