Laplace-P
Cancelled Russian orbiter and lander mission to Ganymede.
Laplace-P (Russian: Лаплас — П, originally named Europa Lander) was a planned dual-spacecraft mission from the Russian Federal Space Agency. It aimed to study the Jovian moon system and place a lander on Ganymede. The mission was first proposed in 2007 as part of the Europa Jupiter System Mission with the European Space Agency. Originally, the lander was intended for Europa, where it would investigate the subsurface ocean beneath the ice. However, due to Jupiter's intense radiation belts, the target was changed to Ganymede in 2011. Ganymede, the largest moon in the Solar System, is believed to harbor an internal ocean that could hold more water than all of Earth's oceans combined. The mission concept involved two spacecraft: an orbiter (LP1) and a lander (LP2). The orbiter would have performed 13 flybys of Ganymede and 4 of Callisto, carrying up to 50 kg of scientific instruments. The lander would have carried up to 70 kg of instruments. The "P" in Laplace-P stands for "posadka" (landing). The planned trajectory used a Venus-Earth-Earth Gravity Assist (VEEGA) route. The lander would be powered by a radioisotope thermoelectric generator (RTG), while the orbiter could use either an RTG or solar panels. Initially, the mission was proposed to launch alongside the European Jupiter Icy Moons Explorer (JUICE) in 2022. This was later changed to an independent launch on an Angara-A5 rocket in 2023. If launched with JUICE, the Russian orbiter would have been omitted, as JUICE would fulfill its role. The orbiter's objectives included mapping the surface for the lander, while the lander's main goal was remote and in-situ investigation of Ganymede's surface. The radiation environment on Ganymede's surface is relatively mild, though its gravitational parameter makes landing more difficult than on Europa. The mission's primary scientific objectives were to study Ganymede's atmosphere, icy surface, and habitability, and to search for biosignatures in situ. Laplace-P was cancelled in 2017 due to a lack of funding, with resources redirected to the Venera-D mission.
Quick Facts
- Names List
- Europa Lander (2009–2011)
- Mission Type
- Exploration by orbiter and lander
- Operator
- Roscosmos
- Mission Duration
- ≥ 10 years
- Launch Mass
- orbiter: 4000 kg / lander: 950 kg
- Dry Mass
- orbiter: 2260 kg / lander: 550 kg
- Payload Mass
- orbiter: 50 kg / lander: 60 kg
- Launch Date
- 2026 (proposed)
- Launch Rocket
- Angara-A5 with the KVTK upper stage (proposed)
- Orbit Periapsis
- 900,000 km
- Orbit Apoapsis
- 20,000,000 km
- Orbit Period
- 200 days
Facts from the source article.
Lore & Background
Laplace-P was initially proposed as the Europa Lander, part of the Europa Jupiter System Mission proposed in 2007 by the ESA. The orbiter would have performed several flybys of other Jovian moons before being placed in orbit around Europa, and the lander would have researched the ocean underneath Europa's ice sheet. However, to avoid the damaging effects of Jupiter's radiation belts, the destination was switched in 2011 from Europa to Ganymede, the largest moon in the Solar System, which has an internal ocean that may contain more water than all of Earth's oceans together. The mission was designed as a dual mission featuring an orbiter (code name LP1) and a lander (code name LP2) to be launched together toward Jupiter. The orbiter would perform 13 flybys of Ganymede, and 4 flybys of Callisto and carry up to 50 kg of scientific instruments, while the Europa lander would have carried up to 70 kg of scientific instruments. The planned trajectory used the VEEGA (Venus-Earth-Earth Gravity Assist) route. The lander would be powered by an RTG, while the orbiter would be equipped either with an RTG or with solar panels. If the lander was launched together with JUICE, the Russian orbiter would be omitted due to JUICE filling its role.
Reader's Guide
Laplace-P represents a significant but unrealized step in Russian planetary exploration, particularly in the context of international cooperation. Initially conceived as part of the Europa Jupiter System Mission with ESA, it was later decoupled to an independent Russian launch. The mission's shift from Europa to Ganymede in 2011 highlights the practical challenges of radiation exposure in the Jovian system. Its cancellation in 2017 due to funding reallocation to Venera-D underscores the competing priorities within the Russian space program. The mission's legacy includes its detailed planning for a Ganymede lander, including the use of RTG power and a VEEGA trajectory, and its scientific objectives to study Ganymede's atmosphere, icy surface, habitability, and search for biosignatures. The dual orbiter-lander concept, with the orbiter mapping the surface for the lander, remains a reference for future missions to icy moons.
Did You Know?
- Laplace-P was formerly called Europa Lander before its target was switched to Ganymede in 2011.
- The 'P' in Laplace-P stands for 'posadka', the Russian word for landing.
- The mission was cancelled in 2017 to allow more funding for the Venera-D mission.
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