Future thrusts in the U.S. planetary program

Abstract

The aim of the U.S. deep space program concept is to complete the reconnaissance of the solar system and to transfer to the era of space utilization. Such spacecraft as the Voyager Jupiter-Saturn and the Pioneer Venus will be used to visit all the planets and smaller bodies of the solar system by the year 2000. In the present paper, some missions, still in the early planning stage and requiring Congressional approval are discussed, and the enormous capabilities of Solar Electric Propulsion (SEP) and Solar Sailing are pointed out. The advantages of such low-thrust propulsion systems in performance, mission design, and operations flexibility are noted.