Landing on Europa, part 3: Proposed configuration with provisions for radiation shielding and planetary protection

Abstract

This paper, the third of three, proposes a configuration for a lander vehicle for studying Europa. It outlines the network and power distribution for the instruments. It proposes burying the electronics in ice to shield them from radiation. It proposes a method for assembling the spacecraft in an autoclave to provide planetary protection, as well as, flying the boosters and sky crane away from Europa to destruction in Jupiter's atmosphere.