Europa Clipper - Mars - Earth Fly-by Transits

[jinnantonix]

Hi all, 

A question for those good at calculating orbital mechanics.

NASA advise that the following is the schedule for the transit to Jupiter:

• launch in October 2024 -  21-day launch window.
• Mars in February 2025
• Earth in December 2026,
• arriving at Europa in April 2030.
   

So 128 days from LEO to Mars?  And then 1 year and 9 months back to Earth?  

 

 

Edited August 11, 2021 by jinnantonix

[UmbralRaptor]

1 hour ago, jinnantonix said:

Hi all, 

A question for those good at calculating orbital mechanics.

NASA advise that the following is the schedule for the transit to Jupiter:

• launch in October 2024 -  21-day launch window.
• Mars in February 2025
• Earth in December 2026,
• arriving at Europa in April 2030.
   

So 50 days from LEO to Mars?  And then 1 year and 9 months back to Earth?  

 

 

It should end up being rather longer on the outbound leg, since November+December+January+February is 122 days, but might be worth messing with GMAT or something for exact trajectories.