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    Contour 110517125801 Phpapp02

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    Habib Ur Rahman
    The CONTOUR mission will study the nuclei of two comets, Encke in 2003 and Schwassmann-Wachmann 3 in 2006. It will obtain high-resolution images and spectral maps of the nuclei to learn about their composition and how comets have evolved over billions of years. CONTOUR will fly within 100 km of the nuclei and analyze gases, dust, and particles around them. It is a low-cost Discovery mission led by Cornell University and the Applied Physics Laboratory to provide new insights into the early solar system.

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    Contour 110517125801 Phpapp02

    Uploaded by

    Habib Ur Rahman
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    The CONTOUR mission will study the nuclei of two comets, Encke in 2003 and Schwassmann-Wachmann 3 in 2006. It will obtain high-resolution images and spectral maps of the nuclei to learn about their composition and how comets have evolved over billions of years. CONTOUR will fly within 100 km of the nuclei and analyze gases, dust, and particles around them. It is a low-cost Discovery mission led by Cornell University and the Applied Physics Laboratory to provide new insights into the early solar system.

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    The CONTOUR mission will study the nuclei of two comets, Encke in 2003 and Schwassmann-Wachmann 3 in 2006. It will obtain high-resolution images and spectral maps of the nuclei to learn about their composition and how comets have evolved over billions of years. CONTOUR will fly within 100 km of the nuclei and analyze gases, dust, and particles around them. It is a low-cost Discovery mission led by Cornell University and the Applied Physics Laboratory to provide new insights into the early solar system.

    Copyright:

    Attribution Non-Commercial (BY-NC)
    Download as PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd
    Download as pdf or txt
    25 views2 pages

    Contour 110517125801 Phpapp02

    Uploaded by

    Habib Ur Rahman
    The CONTOUR mission will study the nuclei of two comets, Encke in 2003 and Schwassmann-Wachmann 3 in 2006. It will obtain high-resolution images and spectral maps of the nuclei to learn about their composition and how comets have evolved over billions of years. CONTOUR will fly within 100 km of the nuclei and analyze gases, dust, and particles around them. It is a low-cost Discovery mission led by Cornell University and the Applied Physics Laboratory to provide new insights into the early solar system.

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    CONTOUR Tour Comet Nucleus


    Earth

    Sun

    www.contour2002.org

    A Mission to Study the Diversity of Comet Nuclei


    MISSION PROFILE

    The CONTOUR mission is our most detailed look yet at the heart of a comet its nucleus. CONTOUR will fly to within 100 kilometers (about 60 miles) of at least two comet nuclei, assessing their diversity and discovering how these primitive building blocks of the solar system have evolved since forming more than 4.5 billion years ago. Key Measurements Detailed imaging of the nucleus (4-meter resolution) Spectral mapping of the nucleus (100- to 200-meter resolution) Analysis of gas and dust surrounding the nucleus

    Launch: July 2002 from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Florida, aboard a Delta II (7425) launch vehicle. Innovative Launch Concept: CONTOUR orbits Earth for several weeks after launch, moving into position for maneuver sending it into a solar orbit on Aug. 15, 2002. Close-up Encounters: Fly past and collect data on comets Encke (Nov. 2003) and SchwassmannWachmann 3 (June 2006). Mission Flexibility: Earth swingbys (gravity-assist maneuvers) refine trajectory for comet encounters or retarget spacecraft toward a new comet. Swingbys occur Aug. 2003; Aug. 2004; Feb. 2005; Feb. 2006. Minimal Operations Support: Spacecraft spends 65% of flight in unattended, spin-stabilized hibernation.
    CONTOUR Remote Imager/Spectrograph (CRISP) Takes high-resolution photos of nucleus Maps ice and rock types on surface Mass: 26.7 kg (59 pounds) Power: 45 watts (average) Supplier: Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory
    Dust Shield

    THE SPACECRAFT

    Simple and compact, CONTOUR has few hinged and movable parts; a body-mounted solar array; and a mission geometry suitable for fixed, passive antennas. Operators point the instruments and antennas by moving the spacecraft. A layered shield of Nextel and Kevlar protects CONTOUR from speeding dust and particles near the nucleus. 8-sided body; 2 meters (6 feet) tall; 2 meters wide Total weight: 970 kilograms (2,138 pounds) Dry spacecraft: 387 kilograms Solid rocket motor: 503 kilograms Hydrazine fuel: 80 kilograms Two modes of operation Spin-stabilized cruise mode Precision, 3-axis stabilized encounter mode Designed for solar distance up to 195 million kilometers (about 121 million miles). Two, 5-gigabit solidstate data recorders
    Thruster Pods (2 of 4) CONTOUR Forward Imager (CFI) Locates comet on approach Snaps color pictures of gas, dust jets near nucleus Mass: 9.7 kg (21 pounds) Power: 10 watts (average) Supplier: Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory

    Neutral Gas and Ion Mass Spectrometer (NGIMS) Counts and analyzes atoms, molecules and ions around nucleus Mass: 13.5 kg (30 pounds) Power: 47 watts (average) Supplier: NASA/ Goddard Space Flight Center Comet Impact Dust Analyzer (CIDA) Determines composition of dust surrounding nucleus Mass: 10.5 kg (23 pounds) Power: 13 watts (average) Supplier: von Hoerner & Sulger, GmbH

    THE COMETS
    CONTOURs target comets have diverse physical characteristics and will be relatively close to Earth during each encounter. Evolved yet active, Encke has been observed at more apparitions (57) than any other comet, even Halley. Encke takes about 3 years to orbit the Sun. Encke has traveled this orbit for thousands of years, so its continued activity is rather puzzling. Schwassmann-Wachmann 3 was discovered in 1930. Its activity was predictable until the mid-1990s, when it split into several pieces. When CONTOUR reaches SW3 in 2006, it could see relatively fresh, unaltered surfaces and evidence of materials inside the nucleus. A New Comet Should a new, scientifically appealing comet reach the inner solar system during the mission, CONTOUR can change its path (after the Encke encounter) to study it. The potential target should be active and bright much like comet Hale-Bopp, which was prominent in 1997.
    1 astronomical unit (AU) is the average distance between Earth and the Sun, about 150 million kilometers (93 million miles).

    THE ENCOUNTERS
    CONTOUR first sees the target comet several days before each encounter, while the nucleus is still thousands of kilometers away. The mission team then directs the craft toward the comet and prepares to gather data. Timeline 48 seconds (1,350 kilometers)
    60 to 10 days before encounter: The mission team determines the spacecrafts position and checks out its systems and instruments. 10 days to 12 hours before: CONTOUR snaps pictures and makes spectral observations of the coma. The images also help operators navigate the spacecraft. 12 hours before to 12 hours after: CONTOUR is in full encounter mode; all instruments are turned on and programmed to fill the spacecrafts data recorders. 12 hours to 15 days after: CONTOUR sends data back to Earth, and the mission team verifies the spacecrafts orbit.

    20 seconds (475 kilometers)

    THE CAMERA EYE


    8 seconds (260 kilometers)
    Flyby Speed (km/sec) 28.2 14.0

    A simulated look at Enckes nucleus through CRISP, noting time and distance to closest approach.

    Encounter Date Encke, 11/12/03 SW3, 6/19/06

    Sun Distance (AU) 1.08 0.96

    Earth Distance (AU) 0.27 0.32

    A NASA DISCOVERY MISSION


    CONTOUR is the sixth mission in NASAs innovative Discovery Program of low-cost, highly focused scientific exploration projects. Other Discovery missions to small bodies include Near Earth Asteroid Rendezvous (NEAR) the first mission to orbit and land on an asteroid the Stardust and Deep Impact comet studies, and the Dawn asteroid-orbiter mission. For more information visit http://discovery.nasa.gov.

    MISSION MANAGEMENT
    Principal Investigator: Dr. Joseph Veverka, Cornell University Project Management, Spacecraft Development and Mission Operations: The Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory Navigation and Deep Space Network (DSN) Support: NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory Science Team: 18 co-investigators from universities, industry and government agencies in the U.S. and Europe

    EDUCATION AND PUBLIC OUTREACH


    The missions comprehensive Education and Public Outreach efforts are designed to bring students, teachers and the public along on CONTOURs amazing ride of scientific discovery. The program brings the thrill and wonder of exploring comets into classrooms and homes through Web sites, teacher and student workshops, educational programs, electronic materials, professional and amateur astronomer involvement and media events.

    Visit CONTOUR on the Web: www.contour2002.org


    02- 0279

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