Thermal Protection Design for Uranus Orbiter Flagship Mission: Probes and Aerocapture

Introduction: The Decadal Strategy for Plane-tary Science and Astrobiology prioritized a Uranus Orbiter and Probe (UOP) as the highest-priority new Flagship mission for the 2023 – 2032 decade. Missions to the outer solar system require significant interplanetary cruise durations on the order of 12 – 15 years while carrying propellant to reduce velocity by several km/s to achieve a desired orbit. Parasitic mass and travel time can be traded where faster arrival velocities require more mass expensive capture burns. Recent advancements in Thermal Protection Systems (TPS) for planetary entry enable mass-efficient designs for atmospheric probes and missions that apply aerocapture for orbit insertion.