Technology Reference Studies
Publication date: 26 April 2005
Authors: Lyngvi, A., et al.
Journal: Proceedings of 55th International Astronautical Congress, Vancouver, Canada, 2004
Year: 2005
Copyright: ESA
ESA's Science Payload & Advanced Concepts Office (SCI-A) has introduced Technology Reference Studies (TRS) to focus the development of strategically important technologies of likely relevance to future science missions. This is accomplished through the study of several technologically demanding and scientifically interesting missions, which are not part of the ESA science programme. Presently the Planetary Exploration Studies Section of SCI-A is studying four TRS; the Venus Entry Probe, the Jovian Minisat Explorer, the Deimos Sample Return and the Interstellar Heliopause Probe. These TRS cover a wide range of mission profiles in the solar system with an even wider range of strategic important technologies.
All TRS mission profiles are based on small satellites, with miniaturized highly integrated payload suites, launched on Soyuz Fregat-2B.
This paper describes the current four TRS in further detail and shows how these missions are used to identify and prepare the development of enabling technologies.
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