Patent 11858664 was granted and assigned to Lockheed Martin Corporation on January, 2024 by the United States Patent and Trademark Office.
Methods and systems for implementing a Jupiter aerospace mission can enable delivery of a science payload to a Jupiter orbit on a direct Earth-to-Jupiter trajectory. Solar power and use of avionics also allow a fast assembly, integration, and test process compared to past outer Solar System missions. The spacecraft can include an aerodynamic forebody, a shell, and a thermal protection system. The spacecraft can manage the radiation environment, generate solar power, and return data to Earth with a robust radio-frequency (RF) amplification and antenna gain.