DUST MODEL FOR THE OUTER SOLAR SYSTEM EXPRO+

Develop a dust model prototype and integrate it into an engineering tool to evaluate thedust impacting on spacecraft in the Outer Solar System.DescriptionMicrometeoroids pose a relevant risk to spacecraft on interplanetary missions. In several recent interplanetary projects the risk by impacting particles dominate the risk budget in terms of planetary protection and in some cases overall reliability. Recent ESA mission concepts target destinations in the Outer Solar System (e.g. Voyage 2050, Ice Giants) where there is currently a limited understanding of the dust environment. There are scientific models in the US with limited applicability. However, there are noengineering tools available to be applied in the spacecraft development process. The ESA activity Enhanced Interplanetary Meteoroid Environment Model IMEM2 (Contract No. 114513) was developed to describe the meteoroid environment up to about 6 AU. At higher Sun distances the dust sources need to be revised, as e.g. Kuiper Belt Objects, new physical effects modeled, as e.g. collisions of objects, and also the propagation timescales extended to achieve a steady state distribution. The model output will be in aformat that it can be interfaced with impact risk assessment tools as ESABASE2/Debris to provide the risk for a 3D spacecraft design. Similar to sporadic dust there are also meteoroid streams and interplanetary dust that are modelled with IMEX model. The need to update these models shall be assessed and arespective development plan prepared in the scope of this activity. Note that there is anongoing acticity to model the local dust environment inside the Saturnsystem, mainly to target the risk for the large solar arraysflown here. However, the risk for the same arrays during transit in interplanetary space (beyond 6 AU) is not addressed. This activity shall encompass:- literature review and data study to identify relevant dust sources and populations,scientific dust models and data sources to be exploited in the activity- definition and implementation of sources, populations and physics to be consideredinthe activity- large scale simulation of dust distribution in the Solar System- comparison of the model with observational dataand other models- assess need to update stream and interstellar dust models (IMEX) and preparerespective development plan.Procurement Policy: C(3) = Activity restricted to SMEs RD Entities. For additional information please go to:http://www.esa.int/About_Us/Business_with_ESA/Small_and_Medium_Sized_Enterprises/Opportunities_for_SMEs/Procurement_policy_on_fair_access_for_SMEs_-_the_C1-C4_Clauses