Mission analysis for future Venus flybys mission DUNGEY-V

Scientists have discovered signs of magnetic reconnection and streams of charged particles flowing back toward Venus in its magnetotail. These are similar to processes we see in Earth’s magnetic environment, known as the Dungey cycle. To learn more, the Swedish Institute of Space Physics (IRF) is planning a mission that will send a satellite skimming through the magnetotail of Venus several times, gathering valuable data about this mysterious region. 

Our proposed mission design for Dungey-V uses a compact satellite system designed to fit within the European Space Agency’s F3 mission guidelines. The spacecraft would take advantage of a “resonant orbit” between Earth and Venus, using the gravitational pull of both planets to guide and adjust its path. This clever route allows the satellite to alternate between flybys of Venus and Earth. Each Venus pass dives through its magnetotail to collect data, while Earth flybys provide opportunities to download the gathered data back to Earth.