Pluto Express: Advanced Technologies Enable Lower Cost Missions to the Outer Solar System and Beyond

Abstract

Missions to Pluto and the outer Solar System are typically driven by factors which tend to increase cost, such as: long life, high radiation exposure, a large power source, high (delta)V requirements, difficult telecommunications links, low solar illumination at the destination, and demanding science measurements. Advanced technology is a central part of responding to such challenges in a manner which permits the cost of development and operations to be an order of magnitude less than for prior outer planet missions...This paper summarizes the curent technology development plan which is tightly coupled to the New Millenium Program (NMP) Deep Space 1 technology validation flight. Specific details will be presented about advanced microelectronics technology.