Neptune 2030 Probe

A simple model of Neptune 2030 Probe which is a project still in a theoretical phase. Neptune 2030 refers to an application of heat pipe cooled small nuclear reactor system providing electrical energy.

It will be launched by Long March 5 with YuanZheng-1 Upper Stage between 2028 and 2031. Then, it will take advantage of the gravitational slingshot effect of Jupiter 3 years later. After that, the probe will get in the Jupiter-Neptune transfer orbit. After the probe flies another 6 years, it will arrive in the Neptune polar orbit so that it can begin its exploration mission.

References:
[1] Yu G B, Wang P F, Zhu A W, et al. Mission analysis of a Neptune detector with a 10 kWe nuclear reactor power generator (in Chinese). Sci Sin
Tech, 2021, doi: 10.1360/SST-2020-0399
[2] Chenglong Wang, Hao Sun, Simiao Tang, Wenxi Tian, Suizheng Qiu, Guanghui Su,
Thermal-hydraulic analysis of a new conceptual heat pipe cooled small nuclear reactor system,
Nuclear Engineering and Technology,
Volume 52, Issue 1,
2020,
Pages 19-26,
ISSN 1738-5733,
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.net.2019.06.021.