Jovian Trojan Asteroid Exploration by Solar Power Sail-craft

抄録

The solar power sail can generate sufficient electric power to drive the high specific ion engine in the outer planetary region by thin-film solar cells attached to the entire surface of the spin-type solar sail. This paper proposes the direct exploration of the outer planetary region using solar power sail-craft. The target is an unexplored D/P-type Jovian Trojan asteroid. A lander is separated from the solar power sail-craft to collect surface and underground samples of the Trojan asteroid and perform in-situ analysis. The lander delivers samples to the solar power sail-craft for sample return to Earth as optional goal. Scientific observations during the interplanetary cruise are also implemented.