Flyby of Io with Repeat Encounters

FIRE (Flyby of Io with Repeat Encounters) is a concept mission to Jupiter's innermost major moon Io. The mission was first presented in 2012^[2] for a possible future consideration by NASA's New Frontiers program.^[3]

Flyby of Io with Repeat Encounters

Names	FIRE
Mission type	Reconnaissance
Operator	NASA/JPL
Mission duration	cruise: 6 years science phase: 4 months (proposed)[1]
Start of mission
Launch date	2024 (proposed)
Rocket	Atlas V
Flyby of Io
Closest approach	2030 (proposed)
Distance	100 km from Io
Orbits	≥10 Io flybys

Overview

If developed in the future, the FIRE spacecraft would use three gravity assists to reach Jupiter six years later.^[3] The spacecraft would orbit Jupiter and perform 10 flybys of Io, some as low as 100 km (62 mi) from its surface.^[3][1] The ten flybys would be completed in approximately four months.^[1]

As a New Frontiers class mission, the cost cap would be $991 million (FY2012) with a $927 million base cap with a $64 million launch vehicle cost credit.^[1]

Goals and objectives

Jupiter's moon Io

Payload

Five-image sequence acquired by New Horizons showing Io's volcano Tvashtar spewing material 330 km above its surface.

The instrument suite includes four proposed instruments: ^[2][3]

1. Visible OpticaL Camera And Near-infrared Observer (VOLCANO) is a visible/near-infrared imager.
2. Multi-Axis Geophysical Magnetometer (MAGMA) is a magnetic instrumentation subpackage.
3. Comprehensive AnaLysis of Dust from ERuptions and Atmosphere (CALDERA), is a dust analyzer that would identify the material in the volcanic plumes.
4. FieLd Analysis through Radio Exploration (FLARE) is a radio science experiment.

Power

Electric power to the spacecraft and its scientific payload would be generated by three Advanced Stirling Radioisotope Generators (ASRG).^[3][1] ASRG is a radioisotope power system under development at NASA's Glenn Research Center. It uses a Stirling power conversion technology to convert radioactive-decay heat into electricity for use on spacecraft.

See also

• Atmosphere of Io
• Io Volcano Observer (IVO), a mission concept to Io
• Volcanology of Io