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Exploring the Trans-Neptunian Solar System (1998) / Chapter Skim
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Executive Summary
Pages 1-6

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From page 1...
... Over the next 10 to 15 years, a new generation of ground- and space-based instruments, including the Keck and Gemini telescopes and the Space Infrared Telescope Facility, will greatly expand our ability to search for and conduct physical and chemical studies on these distant bodies. Over the same time span, a new generation of lightweight spacecraft should become available and enable the first missions designed specifically to explore the icy bodies that orbit 30 astronomical units (AU)
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From page 2...
... They are included here because they raise a number of interesting possibilities that seem particularly suited to an interdisciplinary approach uniting planetary scientists with their colleagues in the astrophysical and life science communities. Although not considered in any detail in this report, the distant outer solar system also has direct relevance to Earth and the other terrestrial planets because it is the source of comets that bring volatiles into the inner solar system.
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From page 3...
... Outstanding issues for Kuiper Belt objects are the following: · What fraction of KBOs are in dynamically evolved orbits? · What is the rate at which their orbits are perturbed sufficiently to send KBOs inward where they might interact with the giant planets?
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From page 4...
... Spacecraft missions, telescopic observations, and research and analysis are the categories in which COMPLEX makes its highest-priority recommendations, as well as recommendations for augmenting this baseline effort. Spacecraft Missions To explore the makeup of objects in the trans-neptunian region, COMPLEX recommends an approach that combines telescopic observations of the bulk properties of a large sample of Kuiper Belt objects with close-up, spacecraft studies of the detailed properties of a few specific objects.
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From page 5...
... Encountering a suite of Kuiper Belt objects and/or Centaurs with different spectral and/or orbital characterSpacecraft Technology Exploration of the outermost regions of the solar system is a demanding task, especially in an era of tight financial limitations. Although considerable progress has been made in the development of new-style missions to the outer solar system, particularly Pluto flyby missions, the technological obstacles of returning substantial scientific data from >30 AU remain formidable.
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From page 6...
... Studies of the statistical properties of Kuiper Belt objects would benefit greatly from the availability of large array detectors. In addition, studies of the physical and chemical properties of all trans-neptunian objects would be enhanced by the availability of highquantum-efficiency array detectors (~1 to 10 microns for studies of reflected light and ~10 to 100 microns for studies of thermal emissions, and cooled telescopes.
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Key Terms

  • outer solar
  • belt objects
  • spacecraft missions
  • telescopic observations
  • outstanding issues

  • distant outer
  • icy bodies
  • chemical properties
  • giant planets
  • dust disks

  • array detectors
  • laboratory studies
  • internal differentiation
  • planetary scientists
  • thermal emission

  • complex recommends
  • volatile ices
  • prebiotic chemistry
  • belt object
  • solar nebula

  • greatly expand
  • detailed properties
  • active fault
  • proven successful
  • space provides

  • low sunlight
  • approach uniting
  • future exploration
  • send kbos
  • planetary surfaces


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