AAS 98-187

MISSION DESIGN FOR THE DEEP SPACE 4/CHAMPOLLION COMET SAMPLE RETURN MISSION

G. H. Tan-Wang, J. A. Sims - Jet Propulsion Laboratory

Abstract

The Deep Space 4/Champollion mission will be the first to land a spacecraft on the surface of a comet, collect a subsurface sample, and return the sample to Earth for analysis. This paper describes the trade studies resulting in the current reference mission, which uses solar electric propulsion to rendezvous with the comet Tempel 1 in December 2005 after launching in April 2003. An option which uses a chemical propulsion system to return to Earth is discussed.

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