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Uranus Orbiter and Probe

The Uranus Orbiter and Probe (UOP) is a proposed NASA flagship-class mission designed to conduct the first orbiter exploration of the ice giant planet Uranus, deploying an atmospheric probe to directly sample its upper atmosphere while the orbiter performs a multi-year tour of the planet, its rings, moons, and magnetosphere.^[1] As the highest-priority large mission recommended in the 2023–2032 Planetary Science and Astrobiology Decadal Survey by the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine, UOP addresses fundamental questions about ice giant formation, evolution, and habitability, providing insights applicable to the over 30% of known exoplanets that are similar in size.^[2] The mission's primary objectives include characterizing Uranus's interior structure, atmospheric composition (including noble gases and isotopes), thermal and wind profiles, magnetic field generation, ring dynamics, and the geology and potential subsurface oceans of its major moons, such as Titania and Oberon.^[1] The orbiter, approximately 7 meters tall and powered by a radioisotope thermoelectric generator, will carry a suite of instruments for remote sensing, including visible and infrared imagers, spectrometers for composition analysis, magnetometers, particle detectors, and radio science tools for gravity measurements.^[2] The probe, released prior to orbit insertion, will descend via parachute to measure in situ properties down to pressures of about 10 bars, using sensors for temperature, pressure, winds, and chemical abundances.^[1] UOP's baseline architecture targets a launch in the June 2031 primary window (with alternatives in 2032–2038), utilizing a gravity-assist trajectory for a 13-year cruise to arrive around 2044, in the years leading up to Uranus's 2050 equinox for optimal ring and moon illumination.^[1] Recent studies, including those from 2024, explore aerocapture techniques to enhance orbital insertion efficiency and enable more comprehensive science during the prime mission phase, which extends several years beyond arrival.^[3] As of 2025, NASA continues pre-Phase A concept maturation, with community workshops emphasizing international collaboration, such as potential European Space Agency contributions to the probe, to realize this long-awaited exploration of an underrepresented solar system giant.^[4]^[5]

History and Development

Proposal and Selection

Following the Voyager 2 flyby's groundbreaking discoveries in 1986, which revealed Uranus's unusual axial tilt, faint ring system, and diverse moons but left many questions unanswered about its interior and atmosphere, interest in a dedicated return mission grew. In the 1990s and 2000s, NASA and the planetary science community developed preliminary concepts for Uranus exploration, including orbiter and probe missions aimed at in-depth study of the ice giant's system, though these ideas faced competition from other high-priority targets and did not advance due to funding limitations.^[6]^[7] By 2010, NASA conducted a formal mission concept study for a Uranus Orbiter and Probe (UOP) in preparation for the 2011 Planetary Science Decadal Survey, proposing a flagship-class mission utilizing solar electric propulsion to enable an atmospheric probe entry and multi-year orbital tour. The survey, titled Vision and Voyages for Planetary Science in the Decade 2013-2022, ranked UOP as the third-highest priority among new flagship missions, behind a Mars sample return and a Europa orbiter, underscoring its scientific value but deferring it due to cost and technological challenges.^[7] In 2017, NASA updated the UOP concept through the Ice Giants Pre-Decadal Survey Mission Study Report, refining science objectives, payload instruments, and a chemical propulsion architecture for a potential project start between 2023 and 2030, while emphasizing the need for ice giant missions to address longstanding gaps in understanding planetary formation and evolution. This study built on prior work by evaluating feasible trajectories and probe designs, positioning UOP as a mature option for future decadal consideration.^[8]^[7] The culmination of these efforts came in the 2023–2032 Planetary Science and Astrobiology Decadal Survey, Origins, Worlds, and Life: A Decadal Strategy for Planetary Science and Astrobiology 2023-2032, which recommended UOP as the highest-priority new flagship-class mission for NASA to initiate in the decade, with an estimated cost of $2.15 billion (in FY2025 dollars) for Phase A–D including launch vehicle. It prioritized UOP over alternatives like the Neptune Odyssey due to its lower cost, simpler logistics, and alignment with optimal launch windows in the early 2030s using a Falcon Heavy rocket. The Decadal Survey process, led by the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine, plays a pivotal role in guiding NASA's planetary exploration priorities by consensus among scientists, and its strong endorsement highlighted the urgency of ice giant missions to fill knowledge voids persisting since Voyager 2's visit nearly four decades earlier.^[7]

Current Status and Challenges

In 2023, NASA announced the confirmation of a mission concept study for the Uranus Orbiter and Probe (UOP), aligning with the recommendations of the 2023–2032 Planetary Science and Astrobiology Decadal Survey, though the project has not yet received final approval or dedicated funding allocation as of November 2025.^[7] The Decadal Survey identified UOP as the highest-priority flagship mission, serving as the foundation for these ongoing efforts. Independent cost estimates, such as from the Aerospace Corporation, place the full mission at approximately $4.2 billion (FY2022 dollars).^[9] Development timelines face potential delays due to constrained availability of plutonium-238 (Pu-238) for the required radioisotope thermoelectric generators (RTGs), which could push the planned early 2030s launch to the mid-2030s if unresolved.^[10] This isotope shortage, stemming from limited U.S. Department of Energy production capacity, has necessitated adjustments to mission scheduling to align with Pu-238 supply projections.^[11] NASA teams are conducting Phase A concept studies, initiated in early 2024, to refine mission architecture and address key technical risks.^[7] These efforts include assessments of aerocapture techniques for orbit insertion, with feasibility analyses presented at the AIAA SciTech Forum in January 2025, evaluating heritage technologies from Mars missions to enhance efficiency and reduce propellant needs.^[12] As of November 2025, NASA continues these studies, including community input polls for science-driven tour design and evaluations of advanced propulsion options like Starship on-orbit refueling to potentially reduce transit time, though full approval and funding remain pending.^[13]^[14]

Scientific Objectives

Planetary Interior, Origin, and Atmosphere

The Uranus Orbiter and Probe mission aims to address fundamental questions about the planet's origin as an ice giant, including the timing and location of its formation within the protosolar nebula and the potential role of a catastrophic giant impact in causing its extreme axial tilt and internal rearrangement.^[7] Formation models suggest that Uranus accreted planetesimals rich in ices and rocks beyond the snow line, possibly undergoing radial migration as part of the Nice model or Grand Tack scenarios, which simulate dynamical instabilities in the early solar system with approximately 50% probability for swapping orbits with Neptune.^[15] These investigations will rely on measurements of isotopic ratios and noble gases to trace primordial materials, providing constraints on accretion processes and any post-formation disruptions.^[15] To probe Uranus's interior structure, the mission will employ gravity field measurements up to degree and order 10 with uncertainties of 10^{-6}, enabling inferences about the planet's layered composition, including a central rocky core, a surrounding icy mantle of water, ammonia, and methane, and an outer hydrogen-helium envelope.^[7] Radio science experiments using dual-frequency Doppler tracking during multiple close equatorial passes will map the gravitational harmonics, distinguishing between models of a discrete layered interior and a more gradual "fuzzy core" configuration.^[15] Complementary magnetic field data from the orbiter's magnetometer, sampling strengths from 0.1 to 20,000 nT at 1-second resolution, will reveal dynamo generation mechanisms in the metallic hydrogen layer, further constraining the depth and conductivity of internal boundaries.^[15] Atmospheric objectives focus on elucidating the three-dimensional dynamics and chemistry of Uranus's hydrogen-helium dominated envelope, where Voyager 2's 1986 flyby offered only limited glimpses into upper-layer conditions.^[16] The orbiter's instruments will map global cloud layers and zonal wind patterns with measurement resolutions of ~10-20 m/s, using high-resolution imaging from the Narrow Angle Camera at 50 km per pixel and spectral analysis from the Visible-Near Infrared Spectrometer to detect trace gases such as methane and hydrogen sulfide at spatial resolutions of 500-1,000 km.^[15] Thermal infrared observations will profile temperature variations to within ±1 K, revealing heat transport mechanisms and seasonal influences on atmospheric circulation, while radio occultations will derive vertical profiles of pressure, temperature, and composition from 0 to 2,500 mbar.^[7] The atmospheric probe plays a central role in direct in-situ exploration, descending through the upper atmosphere to pressures of 10 bars following orbit insertion to minimize risk and enable data relay.^[7] Equipped with a mass spectrometer and atmospheric structure instrument, it will measure noble gas abundances (e.g., helium, xenon), isotopic ratios, and ortho-para hydrogen proportions during a roughly 50-minute descent, providing ground-truth data on deep-layer composition and dynamics that remote sensing cannot achieve.^[15] These observations will illuminate chemical processes, cloud formation, and energy transfer, linking surface weather patterns to interior heat fluxes.^[7]

Magnetosphere

The Uranus Orbiter and Probe mission aims to investigate the planet's highly unusual magnetosphere, characterized by a magnetic dipole tilted approximately 59° from the rotation axis and offset from the planetary center by about one-third of Uranus's radius.^[17] This configuration, first revealed during Voyager 2's 1986 flyby, results in a dynamic and asymmetric interaction with the solar wind, producing a magnetosphere that rotates with the planet's 17.2-hour period and exhibits significant diurnal variations.^[7] The mission's objectives include constraining the dynamo processes responsible for generating this non-axisymmetric field, potentially linked to ice giant interior dynamics, through measurements of higher-order magnetic field components during multiple close orbital passes.^[15] Key goals encompass detailed mapping of plasma populations and their sources, including contributions from rings and moons, to elucidate magnetospheric dynamics and coupling with the ionosphere.^[7] The orbiter will measure energetic particle fluxes across polar regions and satellite orbits, alongside radio emissions from auroral processes, to diagnose precipitation events and wave-particle interactions that drive substorms and field line reconnections.^[15] Building on Voyager 2's limited single-pass data, which indicated a tenuous plasma density below 1 cm⁻³, multi-point observations over the three-year orbital tour will enable temporal mapping of field variations during equinox and solstice conditions, revealing how the tilted dipole modulates solar wind coupling via the Dungey cycle.^[7] These investigations will also explore connections to broader system processes, such as atmospheric escape driven by charged particle impacts and interactions between the magnetosphere and ring system that erode or replenish plasma.^[15] By providing comprehensive in situ data on auroral UV and radio emissions, the mission will clarify ionosphere-magnetosphere linkages, including how the offset field influences particle transport and energy deposition in the upper atmosphere.^[7] Overall, these studies address fundamental questions about ice giant magnetospheric evolution and their role in exoplanetary systems.^[15]

Rings and Satellites

The Uranus Orbiter and Probe mission prioritizes detailed characterization of Uranus's ring system and satellites to understand their formation, evolution, and potential roles in the planet's habitability. High-resolution imaging and spectroscopic observations will target the rings' composition, primarily consisting of water ice and dust particles, to discern their origins and dynamical history.^[7] Structural features, such as density waves and potential shepherd moons, will be mapped through radio occultations and multi-band imaging, enabling analysis of particle sizes, velocities, and longitudinal variations that reveal sculpting processes.^[7] These investigations, using instruments like the Narrow Angle Camera for resolutions down to 100 meters per pixel and visible-near infrared spectroscopy for phase angles exceeding 160 degrees, aim to trace the rings' evolution from primordial material or recent collisions, with focused studies on features like the Mab and μ rings.^[7] For the satellites, the mission will conduct flybys of at least five to seven major moons during its orbital tour, including targeted encounters with Titania (up to 15 flybys), Ariel (up to 11), and opportunities for Miranda, Umbriel, and Oberon, to gather diverse data on their internal structures and surface properties.^[7] Gravity measurements from radio science and magnetometer data will probe for subsurface oceans and heat sources, particularly in ocean-world candidates like Ariel and Titania, while thermal infrared imaging assesses heat flow.^[7] Surface geology will be examined through stereo imaging at sub-kilometer resolutions and crater counting to reconstruct impact histories, with visible-near infrared spectroscopy identifying compositions such as organics, salts, and volatiles like CO2, alongside deuterium-to-hydrogen ratios for evolutionary insights.^[7] Irregular satellites will be observed for their compositions and potential geological activity, complementing studies of the classical moons and small ring-embedded bodies.^[7] The mission includes targeted searches for plumes and cryovolcanic features using high-phase-angle imaging above 150 degrees and thermal infrared detection, which could indicate active geology on moons like Miranda.^[7] Assessment of organic materials across satellite surfaces will evaluate astrobiological relevance, focusing on habitability indicators in potential subsurface environments.^[7] In context, the 2025 James Webb Space Telescope discovery of a new irregular moon, S/2025 U1, approximately 6 miles in diameter at the edge of the ring system, underscores the need for updated satellite inventories in mission planning.^[18]

Mission Overview

Launch and Trajectory

The Uranus Orbiter and Probe mission is planned for launch from Launch Complex 39A at NASA's Kennedy Space Center using a SpaceX Falcon Heavy rocket in expendable configuration, with a not earlier than (NET) date in the mid-2030s due to constraints in plutonium-238 production for the mission's radioisotope thermoelectric generators.^[7]^[10] This configuration provides the necessary energy for the high C3 trajectory required to reach the outer solar system efficiently. Recent studies as of 2025 explore alternatives such as SpaceX Starship to enable earlier launches and reduce cruise times, potentially halving the transit duration through direct or optimized paths.^[14]^[19] Following launch, the spacecraft will undertake a gravity assist sequence to gain velocity and refine its path toward Uranus, potentially including Earth and Jupiter flybys depending on the selected launch window. These assists enable a balanced trade-off between launch energy, cruise time, and arrival conditions at the target.^[15]^[20] The interplanetary cruise phase is expected to last approximately 13 years, culminating in a hyperbolic approach to Uranus. Orbit insertion will rely on chemical propulsion for deceleration maneuvers requiring a delta-V of approximately 1.1–1.8 km/s to establish the initial orbit.^[15]^[21] Recent studies in 2025 have evaluated aerocapture techniques, leveraging Uranus' hydrogen-helium atmosphere to reduce propellant needs and enhance payload capacity, though the baseline remains fully propulsive.^[22]

Orbital Operations and Timeline

The Uranus Orbiter and Probe mission is planned to arrive at the planet in the late 2040s, following a trajectory that aligns with optimal seasonal viewing conditions for the Uranian system.^[7] Upon arrival, the spacecraft would perform orbit insertion using a chemical propulsion burn to capture into an initial highly inclined, elliptical orbit around Uranus, with periapsis near 1.05 Uranus radii and an orbital period of approximately 34 days; alternatively, an aerocapture technique could be employed to leverage atmospheric drag for deceleration, potentially enabling a more efficient insertion while reducing propellant mass requirements by over 40%.^[15]^[21] This insertion maneuver, requiring a delta-v of about 1,087 m/s followed by a period reduction burn of 171 m/s, would position the orbiter for subsequent refinements to support the science tour.^[15] Probe deployment would occur shortly after orbit insertion, typically 60 to 120 days later, targeting an atmospheric entry in the late 2040s to allow initial orbital observations for precise targeting.^[7]^[15] The probe would separate from the orbiter and enter Uranus's atmosphere at a flight path angle of around -30 degrees, deploying a parachute for a controlled descent lasting approximately 1 to 2 hours, during which it would collect in-situ measurements of atmospheric composition, temperature, and pressure profiles down to at least 10 bars before impact.^[15] Data from the descent would be relayed via ultra-high frequency signals to the orbiter, which would then forward it to Earth, providing the first direct sampling of Uranus's deep atmosphere.^[7] The primary orbital tour would commence following probe operations, spanning a 4-year science phase divided into distinct campaigns for comprehensive coverage of the system.^[7] Initially, a one-month period would focus on orbit characterization and calibration, establishing the baseline trajectory and system health after insertion.^[15] This would transition into a 3.5-year prime science phase, beginning with polar orbits for magnetosphere studies via multiple high-latitude passes, followed by gravity-assist flybys of the moon Titania—over a dozen in total—to gradually reduce orbital inclination and enable equatorial operations.^[7]^[15] The equatorial phase would include close flybys of major satellites such as Ariel, Umbriel, and Oberon at relative speeds under 10 km/s, allowing detailed remote observations of their surfaces and rings, with periapsis reductions via additional Ariel encounters to optimize Uranus atmospheric sampling.^[15] The mission would conclude in the early 2050s with a controlled atmospheric disposal of the orbiter, executed via a final deorbit burn of approximately 216 m/s to ensure planetary protection by directing the spacecraft into Uranus's atmosphere, preventing long-term orbital debris.^[15] If fuel margins permit, an extended mission phase could follow, potentially adding 1 to 2 years of additional flybys and observations to further explore the system's dynamics.^[7]

Spacecraft Design

Orbiter Configuration

The Uranus Orbiter and Probe (UOP) mission features a 3-axis stabilized orbiter designed for long-duration operations in the Uranian system, drawing heritage from flagship missions such as Cassini and New Horizons to ensure reliability in the outer solar system environment. The spacecraft's total wet mass at launch is 7,235 kg, including propellants and the attached atmospheric probe, while the dry mass is approximately 2,756 kg after accounting for margins.^[7]^[15] The orbiter bus, excluding instruments and the probe, has a current best estimate dry mass of 1,678 kg, with the overall structure supporting a compact configuration compatible with launch on a Falcon Heavy vehicle.^[15] Specific dimensions for the full orbiter are not detailed in mission concept studies, but key components include a 3.1-meter high-gain antenna and a probe aeroshell of 1.26 meters in diameter, contributing to an estimated stacked height of around 5 meters and a width influenced by the antenna deployment.^[23]^[15] As of 2025, studies explore alternatives such as aerocapture for orbit insertion and Starship launcher for shorter transit times, potentially impacting design mass and configuration.^[24] The propulsion system employs a pressurized bipropellant architecture using hydrazine (N₂H₄) and nitrogen tetroxide (NTO-MON3) propellants, stored at 350 psi, to handle orbit insertion, attitude control, and trajectory correction maneuvers during the multi-year orbital tour. It includes two 645-N (or equivalently 1,134-N Leros 1B) main engines for primary delta-V impulses, supplemented by four 22-N monopropellant steering thrusters and sixteen 4-N hydrazine attitude control system (ACS) thrusters, achieving a specific impulse of 318 seconds and a total delta-V capacity of 2,708 m/s for the 7,235 kg launch mass. This chemical-only propulsion design supports aerocapture-assisted orbit insertion, minimizing fuel requirements while enabling multiple close flybys of Uranus's moons and rings over the 4.5-year primary science phase. Power for the orbiter is provided by three Next-Generation Multi-Mission Radioisotope Thermoelectric Generators (NG-MMRTGs, Mod 1), each delivering 245 W at beginning-of-life (BOL) for a total of 735 W, with an annual degradation rate of 1.9% leading to approximately 567 W at end-of-mission after 13.5 years.^[7]^[15] These plutonium-fueled units generate significant waste heat (11.3 kW BOL, degrading to 10.1 kW), which is managed for thermal control in the extreme cold of the Uranian environment, while two 20 Ah lithium-ion batteries handle peak loads during high-power activities such as data transmission.^[23] The system supports continuous operations, with average loads ranging from 158 W during cruise to 643 W during science phases.^[15] Communications rely on a dual-band setup with X-band for command uplink and downlink, Ka-band for high-rate science data return, and UHF for relaying probe telemetry during atmospheric entry.^[15] The primary 3.1-meter high-gain antenna (HGA), deployed post-launch, enables Ka-band downlinks at up to 19.5 kbps from Uranus distances, powered by 100-W traveling wave tube amplifiers (58 W RF output), while a medium-gain antenna supports X-band at 5.45 kbps.^[7]^[23] Data storage includes 256 Gbits of NAND flash and 128 Gbits of solid-state memory, allowing weekly volumes of approximately 3.9 Gbits to be accumulated and transmitted via NASA's Deep Space Network.^[15] The UHF link to the probe operates at 6 kbps during the two-hour descent window, ensuring real-time data capture before relay to Earth.^[15]

Probe Design and Deployment

The atmospheric probe for the Uranus Orbiter and Probe mission is designed as a standalone entry vehicle to investigate the planet's hydrogen-rich atmosphere, with a total mass of 350 kg, including a 19.7 kg science payload.^[28] The probe features a spin-stabilized entry capsule approximately 1.2 m in diameter, providing passive stability during atmospheric entry at velocities around 19 km/s, protected by a heatshield engineered to withstand the intense heating from Uranus's cold, dense upper atmosphere at temperatures near -200°C.^[29]^[15] This design draws heritage from the Galileo Jupiter probe and Cassini Huygens probe to Titan, adapted specifically for the unique challenges of Uranus's composition, including higher hydrogen content and lower temperatures compared to previous missions.^[15] Deployment occurs approximately 60 days prior to atmospheric entry, when the probe is released from the orbiter via a pyrotechnic separation mechanism, initiating a ballistic coast trajectory toward the planet.^[7] During this phase, the probe remains dormant, powered by batteries that activate the entry sequence upon approach. The entry, descent, and landing (EDL) process begins with heatshield ablation to decelerate the probe from hypersonic speeds, followed by parachute deployment at approximately 0.1 bar pressure level (second parachute at Mach 0.3) to further slow descent and enable data collection.^[29]^[15] Operations are battery-powered, lasting approximately 1 hour to cover the full descent profile, with all telemetry relayed to Earth via the orbiter acting as a carrier spacecraft during the critical entry window.^[7]

Instruments

Orbiter Instruments

The Uranus Orbiter and Probe mission's baseline notional suite, as defined in the 2023 mission concept study, includes seven scientific instruments on the orbiter for remote sensing and in-situ observations of Uranus's atmosphere, magnetosphere, rings, and satellites. These instruments provide data on magnetic fields, thermal emissions, particle distributions, and atmospheric composition, supporting comprehensive mapping and dynamic studies during the multi-year orbital tour. The total payload mass for these instruments is approximately 65 kg. As of 2025, this suite is subject to refinement through ongoing pre-Phase A activities, including the 2025 International Workshop on Instrumentation for Planetary Missions.^[7]^[30] The Magnetometer (MAG) is a triaxial fluxgate instrument designed for high-precision mapping of Uranus's magnetic field, which is characterized by its significant tilt and non-dipole structure. It operates over a dynamic range of 0.1 to 20,000 nT, allowing detection of both planetary-scale fields and smaller-scale variations influenced by the planet's rapid rotation and internal dynamo. This instrument draws heritage from fluxgate magnetometers on missions like MESSENGER, enabling robust measurements during orbital passes close to the planet.^[7] The Narrow-Angle Camera (NAC) provides high-resolution visible and near-infrared imaging of Uranus's atmospheric features, ring systems, and satellite surfaces, achieving a pixel scale of 10 μrad (0.01 mrad) for detailed studies of cloud dynamics and geological processes. With a field of view optimized for targeted observations, it supports wind tracking and topographic mapping at resolutions down to tens of kilometers per pixel from orbital altitudes. The design inherits proven technology from the New Horizons mission's Long Range Reconnaissance Imager (LORRI), ensuring compact size and low power consumption for long-duration operations.^[7] Complementing the NAC, the Wide-Angle Camera (WAC) captures multispectral images across visible wavelengths to contextualize ring and moon structures, with a pixel scale of 50 μrad (0.05 mrad) suitable for broad surveys and phase-angle dependent studies of diffuse features like haze layers. It enables simultaneous monitoring of multiple satellites and ring arcs, facilitating analysis of their interactions with the planet's gravity and magnetosphere. This instrument builds on multispectral imager designs from prior outer solar system missions, emphasizing wide-field coverage for efficient data collection during flybys.^[7] The Thermal Infrared Camera (TIR) operates in the 7–100 μm wavelength range to map thermal emissions from Uranus's atmosphere and satellite surfaces, revealing temperature distributions, heat fluxes, and circulation patterns that inform models of internal energy transport. By detecting stratospheric temperatures and polar hotspots, it addresses key questions about the planet's low luminosity and seasonal variability. The instrument's filter-based design draws from thermal mappers on lunar and planetary orbiters, providing calibrated radiance data for quantitative analysis.^[7] The Visible-Near Infrared Imaging Spectrometer (VNIR) enables composition mapping and mineralogical analysis of Uranus's atmosphere, rings, and moons across 0.8–5 μm, with a pixel scale of 250 μrad. It supports identification of ices, hazes, and surface materials on satellites like Titania and Oberon, complementing imagers for multispectral studies. This instrument adapts technology from planetary spectrometers for ice giant environments.^[7] The Comprehensive Fields and Particles Suite encompasses multiple sub-instruments for in-situ measurements of plasma, energetic particles, and waves in Uranus's magnetosphere. It includes energetic particle spectrometers (EPS) measuring ions and electrons from 1 eV to 10 MeV, Langmuir probes and waves (LPW) for plasma density (0.1 Hz to 10 MHz), and other detectors characterizing composition, energy spectra, and wave-particle interactions. This suite captures acceleration mechanisms, auroral activity, and ring erosion, inheriting technology from Voyager, Cassini, Juno, and MAVEN missions, optimized for Uranus's asymmetric radiation belts.^[7] Radio Science (RS) investigations leverage Doppler tracking and occultation techniques using the spacecraft's telecommunication system and an ultra-stable oscillator to determine Uranus's gravity field harmonics, ionospheric electron density, and atmospheric density profiles during probe entry. These measurements constrain interior structure models, including core mass and obliquity effects, with precision enhanced by the oscillator. The approach builds on radio science from Cassini and Juno, providing non-instrumental data collection integrated into navigation operations.^[7] Enhanced options beyond the baseline include a Microwave Radiometer (MWR) for deep atmospheric sounding (0.5–50 cm wavelengths, adapting Juno heritage) and an Ultraviolet Spectrometer (UVS) for auroral and exospheric observations (55–118 nm, heritage from New Horizons and Juno).^[7]

Probe Instruments

The probe carries a suite of four instruments designed for in-situ measurements during its atmospheric descent, providing direct data on composition, structure, and dynamics to depths of approximately 5–10 bars. These instruments collectively enable analysis of Uranus's atmospheric constituents, thermal profiles, hydrogen properties, and zonal winds, with a total payload mass of about 20 kg.^[7] The Mass Spectrometer (MASS) measures the neutral and ionized composition of the atmosphere by analyzing mass-to-charge ratios of particles. It targets noble gases (such as He, Ne, Ar, Kr, and Xe), major species (H₂, CH₄, H₂S, NH₃, H₂O), hydrocarbons (e.g., C₂H₂, C₂H₆), and their isotopes (e.g., D/H, ¹⁴N/¹⁵N ratios) to determine elemental and isotopic abundances, supporting insights into planetary formation and internal mixing. Operating over a mass range of 1–150 amu with a mass resolution greater than 1,000, it achieves vertical profiles with kilometer-scale altitude resolution and integration times of 11–400 seconds for high precision. The instrument has a mass of 16.2 kg and consumes 19 W of power.^[7]^[31] The Atmospheric Structure Instrument (ASI) uses sensors for pressure, temperature, and acceleration to characterize entry dynamics and vertical structure. It provides temperature profiles with an accuracy of ±1 K, acquiring four measurements per scale height, alongside pressure readings from 0.1 to 10 bar and acceleration from 3 μg to 200 g, enabling derivation of density, molecular weight, and heat flux during descent. This data helps map the tropospheric thermal gradient and convective processes. The instrument weighs 2.5 kg and requires 3.5 W.^[7] The Hydrogen Detector (HYD), also known as the ortho-para H₂ sensor, determines the ortho-para hydrogen fraction by measuring the speed of sound in the atmosphere, combined with temperature data from the ASI. This yields the abundance of H₂ and insights into tropospheric energy partitioning, deep convection, and local instability, as deviations from equilibrium ratios indicate vertical mixing. The instrument has a mass of 1 kg and power draw of 3.5 W, and is despun prior to entry for operational simplicity.^[7] The Radio Science (RS) experiment utilizes an ultra-stable oscillator (USO) to enable precise Doppler tracking of the probe's radio signal by the orbiter or ground stations. It measures zonal winds, atmospheric structure, and gravity field harmonics (up to J8) through frequency shifts during descent and potential occultations, providing complementary data on deep wind profiles and planetary oblateness. The USO has a mass of 1 kg and consumes 1 W.^[7]

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[20]
[PDF] Aerocapture Solutions for Flagship-class Uranus Orbiter and Probe
Jan 10, 2025 · ➢ Baseline Uranus mission from the Decadal Survey is a fully-propulsive orbit insertion concept called Uranus Orbiter and Probe. It takes ...
[21]
[PDF] Design Considerations for Aerocapture Delivery of Uranus Orbiter ...
1. The Uranus Orbiter and Probe design achieves mission science objectives with a 60 kg instrument payload and 233 kg/1.25 meter diameter atmospheric probe.Missing: details | Show results with:details
[22]
[PDF] Uranus Cruise and Tour Design Impacts on Science Return, Cost ...
Jun 12, 2024 · • Mass of orbiter (sans probe) at end of tour. • Total ∆V ... • 350-kg probe allocation (MPV). • Probe released post-UOI. • Launch ...
[23]
[PDF] Uranus Probe Entry and Descent Trajectory Design
Aug 31, 2022 · The Uranus Orbiter and Probe (UOP) is a mission concept to deliver an in-situ atmospheric probe and conduct orbital tour to study Uranus and ...Missing: profile | Show results with:profile
[24]
Mass Spectrometer Experiment for a Uranus Probe
Aug 22, 2024 · One invaluable instrument on a Uranus probe is a mass spectrometer experiment that analyzes the planet's chemical composition in situ in real-time.