Author/Authors :
Santo، نويسنده , , Andrew G and Gold، نويسنده , , Robert E and McNutt Jr.، نويسنده , , Ralph L and Solomon، نويسنده , , Sean C and Ercol، نويسنده , , Carl J and Farquhar، نويسنده , , Robert W and Hartka، نويسنده , , Theodore J and Jenkins، نويسنده , , Jason E and McAdams، نويسنده , , James V and Mosher، نويسنده , , Larry E and Persons، نويسنده , , David F and Artis، نويسنده , , David A and Bokuli، نويسنده ,
Abstract :
A Mercury orbiter mission is challenging from thermal and mass perspectives. The Mercury Surface, Space Environment, Geochemistry, and Ranging (MESSENGER) mission overcomes these challenges while avoiding esoteric technologies by using an innovative approach with commonly available materials, minimal moving parts, and maximum heritage. This approach yields a spacecraft with good margins in all categories and low technical risk. The key concepts are a ceramic-cloth sunshade, an integrated lightweight structure and high- performance propulsion system, and a solar array incorporating optical solar reflectors (OSRs). The sunshade maintains the spacecraft at room temperature. The integrated structure and propulsion system provides ample mass margin. The solar array with OSRs, which has already undergone significant testing, provides thermal margin even if the panels are inadvertently pointed directly at the Sun at 0.3 AU. 0.3 AU.
