关键词: 冰巨星, 天王星, 海王星, 行星探测, 太阳系

Abstract: As the planets situated closest to the edge of the solar system, the ice giants preserve a significant amount of primordial gases from the early stages of the solar system's formation, which contains valuable information about the conditions of the original protoplanetary nebula and the locations of planetary formation. Ice giants serve as a key reference for the study of both the solar system and exoplanets. This study systematically reviews and analyzes foreign exploration proposals for ice giant orbiting missions, identifies the main technical challenges associated with these missions; and based on the scientific questions about the ice giants and their satellite systems, offers development recommendations for China's implementation of ice giant orbiting exploration. The scientific value of ice giant exploration lies in its potential to reveal their internal structure and formation history, their unusual magnetic fields and complex, variable space environments, as well as the investigation of Triton's subsurface ocean and potential biosignatures. Key technical challenges are identified in the study, including long-distance energy supply, tracking and communication, autonomous intelligence, and high-precision orbital design. The theoretical support and decision-making guidance for China's future planning and implementation of ice giant orbiting exploration missions are provided by the findings of this research.

Key words: ice giants, Uranus, Neptune, planetary exploration, the solar system