New Frontiers Mission Concept Study to Explore Oort Cloud Comets

Benjamin Donitz,Kimberly M Moore,Karen J Meech,Samuel W Courville,Kristie Llera,Julie Castillo-Rogez,Sierra Ferguson,Tibor Balint

doi:10.3847/25c2cfeb.d7cfcc43

Abstract

Whitepaper #344 submitted to the Planetary Science and Astrobiology Decadal Survey 2023-2032. Topics: primitive bodies; solar system formation, dynamics processes, and chronology; technology development

Highlights

Oort Cloud Comets (OCCs) are fossil records of the origin of the Solar System
We propose to develop mission concepts to encounter a pristine OCC, with near-surface ices preserved from the solar system’s formation and primordial isotopic markers
OCC exploration has potential to address many key questions identified in the Planetary Science Decadal Survey (Vision and Voyages)(National Research Council, 2011), from understanding the initial stages of planet formation, to the origin of water on Earth, and planet migration and being responsive to NASA’s strategic goal to understand “How did our solar system form and evolve?” Specific questions targeted by this concept include: Q1

Summary

Introduction

Oort Cloud Comets (OCCs) are fossil records of the origin of the Solar System. Occasionally, a passing star or rogue planet disrupts the tenuous bond that ties an OCC to its faraway orbit in the Oort Cloud, sending it on a sometimes million year journey towards the inner solar system. OCC exploration has potential to address many key questions identified in the Planetary Science Decadal Survey (Vision and Voyages)(National Research Council, 2011), from understanding the initial stages of planet formation, to the origin of water on Earth, and planet migration and being responsive to NASA’s strategic goal to understand “How did our solar system form and evolve?” Specific questions targeted by this concept include: Q1. Highlighting the exploration of OCCs—one of the last unexplored classes of solar system objects— in the decadal survey’s New Frontiers program is the natural step in the long-term roadmap for deciphering the solar system origins contained in comets. It is the logical and necessary mission after the recent exploration of 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko by the Rosetta mission. We request that the Decadal Committee recommends funding of a mission concept study that would inform the mission portfolio for the 2023-2032 survey

Oort Cloud Comet Science

Mission Concept Study Motivation

Scope of Mission Concept Study

Rapid Response Mission Architectures

Findings

Conclusion