LIFE: Traceability Matrix

1. LIFE – Life Investigation For Enceladus MISSION CONCEPT EXECUTIVE SUMMARY Science Goals Science Objectives 1. Collect Enceladus plume volatiles and solids in freezing temperature. 2. Collect Saturn E Ring materials in freezing temperature. 3. Collect Titan upper atmospheric samples. 4. Make in situ measurements of encountered materials. 5. Make Enceladus/Titan surface measurements 6. Determine the flux of impacts during encounters and cruise. Technical Approach - Use STARDUST designs as much as possible. Unlike STARDUST, aerogel collector would be kept below freezing to preserve samples in solid phase at all times and, in parallel, an active volatiles trapper to capture and seal volatiles in continuous stream of depositions. - LIFE spacecraft would fly to Jupiter for a gravity assist to Saturn; then would multiple fly through Saturn E Ring, Enceladus south pole and upper Titan atmosphere by autonomous optical navigation; would return samples by a direct Earth sample capsule like STARUST. Proper orbit design would enable Enceladus plume encounter speed as low as ~3 km/s. Opportunity: • LIFE is a Discovery Class mission concept following STARDUST heritage. • LIFE will collect Enceladus plume, Saturn E Ring & Titan upper atmospheric samples and return to Earth for analysis in search for biomarkers as evidence of past or present life within the subsurface of Enceladus & upper atmospheric chemistry of Titan. - Launch before 2016 to make use of Jupiter for gravity assist. Challenges: • Long mission time (14 years or less) - Keeping the cost within Discovery cost cap. (LIFE’s cost is likely to fit within twice the cost of STARDUST in FY10$). Team Members JPL: P. Tsou, I. Kanik NASA Ames: C. McKay UoW: D. Brownlee Mission Cost Since formal costing is yet to be performed, a scope costing showed LIFE would remain 2.1 X of STARDUST cost at FY10$ and fit within the Discovery cost cap with ASRG and launch vehicle GFE. 1) Bulk of the STARDUST flight hardware would be replicated. Duplications cost much less than new designs. 2) Modifications in at least power, communication, s/c and sample thermal, and dust shield systems will be needed for a 10 AU mission with improved avionics if needed. Modifications generally cost less than new designs. 3) LIFE will follow the “design to cost” as was perfected on STARDUST including a hiatus mode during cruise. STARDUST has twice gone ~1 year without contact. 4) Key STARDUST participants are still available to contribute their skills. 6/1/10 LIFE: Traceability Matrix