OPENSPACE 23: The Satellites that Are Shaping Our Future | Page 27

ESA’s Concurrent Design Facility (CDF) has a long trajectory on space
mission studies. Here is a snapshot of its journey.
Sun Moon
18 studies Moon: 16 studies
The Solar Orbiter mission study was conducted in
2004 at the request of the Science Payloads and
Advanced Concepts Office. The mission plans to
launch the orbiter in 2018. The CDF Human Space Vision study completed in
2003 examined cargo transport options and crew
mission options to determine a Moon-mission
scenario and a lunar base architecture.
Europa Saturn Uranus and Neptune
2 studies 2 studies 1 study
In 2004, the CDF performed an
instrument assessment for
low-power spacecraft around the
Jovian moon Europa to determine
and map water. The CDF studied the Titan and
Enceladus Mission (TandEM) in
2008. The mission studied the
Saturnian system, with emphasis
on the moons Titan and
Enceladus. In 2010, CDF performed an
assessment study of Planetary
Entry Probes, with a focus on
entry and descent for four
planets: Neptune, Saturn, Uranus,
and Venus.
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