Comet Hopper
{{short description|Proposed NASA mission concept to explore Comet 46P/Wirtanen}}
{{Infobox spaceflight
| name = Comet Hopper
| names_list = CHopper
| image = 543815main_comet-hopper_NASA.jpg
| image_caption = Concept art of Comet Hopper
| image_size = 300px
| mission_type = Comet exploration
| operator = NASA
| mission_duration = Proposed (Cancelled):
7.3 years
| manufacturer = UMD
Lockheed Martin
Goddard
| launch_date = 2016
| launch_rocket = Atlas V
| launch_site = Cape Canaveral, LC-41
| launch_contractor = ULA
|interplanetary =
{{Infobox spaceflight/IP
|type = lander
|object = 46P/Wirtanen
|arrival_date = 2022
}}
|instruments_list=
{{Infobox spaceflight/Instruments
|acronym1 = CHIRS |name1 = CHopper Infrared Spectrometer
|acronym2 = CHIMS |name2 = CHopper Ion/Neutral Mass Spectrometer
|acronym3 = CHI |name3 = CHopper Imager
|acronym4 = CHEX |name4 = CHopper Heating Experiment
|acronym5 = PanCams |name5 = Panoramic Cameras
}}
| programme = Discovery Program
}}
Comet Hopper (CHopper) was a proposed lander to NASA's Discovery Program that, had it been selected, would have orbited and landed multiple times on Comet Wirtanen as it approached the Sun. The proposed mission was led by Jessica Sunshine of the UMD, working with Lockheed Martin to build the spacecraft and the NASA Goddard Spaceflight Center to manage the mission.{{cite web|title=Planetary Science Division Update|publisher=NASA|url=http://solarsystem.nasa.gov/docs/Adams%20PPS%2005102011.pdf|access-date=May 23, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111114141842/http://solarsystem.nasa.gov/docs/Adams%20PPS%2005102011.pdf|archive-date=November 14, 2011|url-status=dead}}
History
The Comet Hopper mission was one of three Discovery Program finalists that received {{USD|3}} million in May 2011 to develop a detailed concept study.{{cite news | author = Taylor, Kate | title = NASA picks project shortlist for next Discovery mission | date = 9 May 2011 | url = http://www.tgdaily.com/space-features/55816-nasa-picks-project-shortlist-for-next-discovery-mission | work = TG Daily | access-date = 28 October 2015 | archive-date = 6 October 2018 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20181006212756/https://www.tgdaily.com/space-features/55816-nasa-picks-project-shortlist-for-next-discovery-mission | url-status = dead }}
The other two missions were InSight and Titan Mare Explorer. After a review in August 2012, NASA selected the InSight mission.{{cite news |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/national/health-science/nasa-will-send-robot-drill-to-mars-in-2016/2012/08/20/43bf1980-eaef-11e1-9ddc-340d5efb1e9c_story.html |title=NASA will send robot drill to Mars in 2016 |newspaper=The Washington Post |first=Brian |last=Vastag |date=August 20, 2012}}
Scientific goals
The CHopper mission had three primary science goals for the 7.3 years of its lifetime. At roughly 4.5 AU the spacecraft would have rendezvoused with Comet Wirtanen to map the spatial heterogeneity of surface solids as well as gas and dust emissions from the coma - the nebulous envelope around the nucleus of a comet. The remote mapping would also allow for any nucleus structure, geologic processes, and coma mechanisms to be determined. After arriving at Comet Wirtanen, the spacecraft would have approached and landed, then subsequently hopped to other locations on the comet. As the comet approached the sun, the spacecraft would land and hop multiple times to record surface changes as the comet became more active.{{cite web|title=Maryland scientists vie for NASA missions|newspaper=The Baltimore Sun|url=https://www.baltimoresun.com/2011/05/29/maryland-scientists-vie-for-nasa-missions/|access-date=June 2, 2011|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120926001329/http://articles.baltimoresun.com/2011-05-29/news/bs-md-time-chopper-missions-20110529_1_nasa-missions-nasa-funding-bruce-banerdt/3|archive-date=September 26, 2012}} The final landing would occur at 1.5 AU.
{{Clear}}
See also
{{Portal |Spaceflight}}
References
{{Reflist|2}}
External links
;Press Releases
:* [http://www.nasa.gov/centers/goddard/news/releases/2011/11-033.html NASA Goddard Managed Comet Hopper Mission Selected for Further Study] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211205221451/https://www.nasa.gov/centers/goddard/news/releases/2011/11-033.html |date=2021-12-05 }}
:* [https://web.archive.org/web/20140122095251/https://www.newsdesk.umd.edu/scitech/release.cfm?ArticleID=2428 Comet Hopper, a UMD/NASA Goddard Proposal, Moves to 'Final Round' in NASA Selection Process]
;News Articles
:* [https://web.archive.org/web/20120926001329/http://articles.baltimoresun.com/2011-05-29/news/bs-md-time-chopper-missions-20110529_1_nasa-missions-nasa-funding-bruce-banerdt/3 Maryland scientists vie for NASA missions]
{{Planetary Missions Program Office|Discovery=y}}
{{Comet spacecraft}}
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