Turbo-Thumper

1
Turbo-Thumper

• Thumper Fusion Inc.
• The voyage to Iapetus, to further knowlegde,
  understanding of Kuiper Belt objects and Centaurs

2
Mission Overview

• Using a new and more advance ion engine setup, we
  propose to send an obitor and probe to the
  unresearched moon, Iapetus.
• With the aquired information from this mission we
  will be able to determine what Iapetus is
  composed of and its orgin, possibly a stray
  Kuiper Belt object caught by Saturn's pull.

3
Iapetus

• Where is Iapetus?
• What are we interested in?
• What makes Iapetus unique?

4
Why Go?

• Relate this object to other known origins.
• Discover and analyze the unkown materials and how
  they got there.
• Use as a first step in using ion propulsion for
  long distances.

5
Relating to other known origins

• Objects that once were in the Kuiper Belt and now
  dwell in the mid-solar system are called Centaurs
• It is to the progress of our knowledge to learn
  how these Centaurs get into the mid-solar system
  and where they are now

6
Research the unknown materials

• Iapetus's heavy density suggests that it is
  composed mostly of ice, with some rocky
  components.
• Covering most of the southern hemisphere is an
  unknown material that appears to be soot.
• The common theory is that it is an organic
  compound along the lines of frozen
  hydrogen-cyanide polymers.

7
Engine

• The DS4G, Dual Stage 4 Grid, is an ion propulsion
  system created by European Space Agency and the
  Australian National University
• Ion drives work by accelerating a beam of ions
  away from the space craft using an electric field
  
• They can continue running for 28,000 hours at a
  rate of 272mN (milliNewtons)

8
Engine Continued...

• The DS4G engine is a never been used in space
  travel
• In comparison to the Smart-1, the DS4G is 10
  times more efficient and 4 times faster but still
  takes it's pride in being, slow, steady, and
  lasting for a long time

9
Our Slingshot

• Ion drives are extremely weak in propulsion,
  about the same force as having 8 pennies in your
  hand.
• In order to increase the acceleration of our
  satellite, we orbit until we are able to
  incorporate gravity assist into our flight to
  Saturn.

10
Orbiter (Thumper-Dumper)

• The orbiter will be equipped with a GRS (Gamma
  Ray Spectrometer).
• Its path will be to drop the impactor
  (Thumper-Bumper) into the surface of Iapetus.
• Soon after mapping the surface of Iapetus, the
  orbiter will move to scan Phoebe and Hyperion
  (two other known Kuiper Belt Centaurs

Pheobe above Hyperion below
11
Impactors (Thumper-Bumpers)

• Four of the Bumper-Bots will be released by the
  orbiter after one full revolution of the moon.
• These will easily collect data concerning the
  soil type down to one meter deep.

12
Conclusion

• Not only does the increasing interest in the
  Kuiper Belt and aspects about it validate this
  mission, but the need to achieve a better power
  source which will venture far beyond the solar
  system mount to a need for The
  Turbo-Thumper

Mission