The analysis of completed, ongoing and potential missions to the Jupiter system

In the next decade, a significant increase in the intensity of the Jupiter system and its satellites studying with the help of spacecraft is expected. The two Galilean moons - Europe and Ganymede - are particularly interesting since the potential life is possible on these objects, even in a primitive form. Such missions are being developed by ESA (“Jupiter Icy Moon Explorer” (JUICE)), NASA (“Europa Clipper” and “Europa Lander”), Roskosmos (“Laplace-P”) and others. The final goal of the European and Russian projects is the detailed study of Ganymede - the largest satellite both in the Jupiter system and in the entire Solar system. The Russian perspective project “Laplace-P” assumes the creation and launch of two spacecrafts in one launch window. At the heart of the first mission spacecraft is an orbiter. One of its tasks is mapping the surface of Ganymede from the orbit of an artificial satellite and collecting data for selecting a landing site of the second spacecraft - a landing satellite. The project should be based on the launch of a spacecraft from the Baikonur cosmodrome with the help of the Angara-A5 launcher and the KVTK upper stage. When developing the flight scheme it is assumed that in 8 years the spacecrafts should be put into the orbit around Ganymede. The flight trajectory to Jupiter is formed with the help of gravitational maneuvers near the Earth and Venus. The mission of “JUICE” involves the study of Ganymede only from the orbit of an artificial satellite. The article is devoted to comparison of completed, carried out and perspective expeditions to the Jupiter system. If the first mission - “Galileo” - was mainly focused on Jupiter itself, the future missions are aimed at investigations of its satellites. Based on the analysis of the reviewed projects, recommendations are given to improve the efficiency of the Russian “Laplace-P” project. It is established that to improve the efficiency of the Russian mission “Laplace-P” it is recommended both further structural improvement of space vehicles and the development of a trajectory in the Jupiter system based on modern methods of ballistic design.