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<p>This paper presents the 2024 Mars-Earth Gravity Assist (MEGA) reference Interplanetary Trajectory for Europa Clipper, NASA’s next flagship mission, which was launched on October 14, 2024. The MEGA interplanetary trajectory was pivotal in NASA’s selection of Falcon Heavy as Clipper’s launch vehicle, since it is an option that both 1) avoids the problematic thermal environment at Venus, and 2) does not require a kick-stage like the <InlineEquation ID="IEq1"> <EquationSource Format="TEX">\(\Delta \)</EquationSource> </InlineEquation>VEGA option. The paper explains the process used to compute several interplanetary trajectory options that led to the MEGA design, as well as the optimization of the MEGA launch period in a high-fidelity model. The optimization requires custom constraints to include a demo maneuver and to guarantee a low probability of impact at Mars and Earth, given a flight system failure. Finally, the paper describes the iterative process of launch and interplanetary trajectory design, as well as the backup interplanetary trajectories for launches in 2025 and 2026.</p>

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Europa Clipper Mission Design: Interplanetary Trajectory Mission Analysis

  • 期刊论文

  • 发表日期：

    2026年2月17日

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  • Juan S. Senent,
  • Stefano Campagnola,
  • Etienne Pellegrini,
  • Brent B. Buffington,
  • Troy Goodson

摘要

This paper presents the 2024 Mars-Earth Gravity Assist (MEGA) reference Interplanetary Trajectory for Europa Clipper, NASA’s next flagship mission, which was launched on October 14, 2024. The MEGA interplanetary trajectory was pivotal in NASA’s selection of Falcon Heavy as Clipper’s launch vehicle, since it is an option that both 1) avoids the problematic thermal environment at Venus, and 2) does not require a kick-stage like the \(\Delta \) VEGA option. The paper explains the process used to compute several interplanetary trajectory options that led to the MEGA design, as well as the optimization of the MEGA launch period in a high-fidelity model. The optimization requires custom constraints to include a demo maneuver and to guarantee a low probability of impact at Mars and Earth, given a flight system failure. Finally, the paper describes the iterative process of launch and interplanetary trajectory design, as well as the backup interplanetary trajectories for launches in 2025 and 2026.