Outer Planet Flagship Selection & Definition |
Outer Planet Flagship Selection & Definition |
Sep 5 2008, 04:03 PM
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Member Group: Members Posts: 706 Joined: 22-April 05 Member No.: 351 |
Given the renaming of the forum to Exploration Strategy to discuss mission selection and definition, I thought I'd create this new discussion thread to continue the discussions that had previously been in the Outer Solar System > Jupiter forum. Since the options are either Jupiter or Saturn as targets, this seems to be a more suitable place.
I repeat here a previous post to the old forum with a link to the latest status report on the selection and definition: An August update on the two possible outer planet missions has been posted at: http://www.lpi.usra.edu/opag/flagshipOPF08.pdf Both concepts are maturing and both look very feasible with compelling science. (I'm glad that I don't have to decide!) Report is only on the U.S. orbiter elements. Some highlights: Mission costs are being allowed to increase by a few hundred million dollars to enable more capable instrument packages. Selection between Jovian and Saturnian system destination is now Feb 2009. Risks for the Saturn mission are much lower (but appear to apply only to the orbiter element). Europa mission appears to have higher risk elements (assuming same scale used for both) because of the radiation environment. Current plan for the Titan in situ elements is to release them early in the Saturn Titan tour, which means a long period (12-18 months?) with only periodic relay by the orbiter and direct communication with Earth used in between. -------------------- |
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Sep 13 2008, 08:16 PM
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Member Group: Members Posts: 220 Joined: 13-October 05 Member No.: 528 |
It is true that Europa's (almost near certain) subsurface ocean has the very strong potential to harbor life.
Even if it did not have life, Europa is geologically unique. Its surface is mostly water ice and is very active, showing very few craters. The composition of the different ices on its surface is unclear, particularly in the areas nearest to the more recently active ridges (somewhat inaccurately called triple bands). The Chaos regions show what look like iceburgs floating in a sea which melted, then froze again. It is now thought those Chaos regions did not have a liquid surface, but were instead a type of tectonic feature not seen on earth. There are huge ridge features called cycloids which span hundreds of kilometers, and at least one article I read speculated that when they form that the major faulting takes place over a span of hours or days (as opposed to years). It goes on from there. I think Europa's potential as a life bearing world is what puts it to the top of the list over other bodies like Io, but even if you take away the life element it is still a most interesting place. |
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