Planetary scientist says: Focus on Europa Options

[vexgizmo]

Speaking of Io from Europa, I haven't seen much USF discussion of the Flagship study preliminary reports to OPAG last month. Europa's is on line at:
http://www.lpi.usra.edu/opag/may_07_meetin...gship_study.pdf

A careful read shows that 1 m/pixel imaging is advocated with a Narrow-Angle Camera. This would achieve up to 2.5 km/pixel imaging of Io from near Europa orbit. Excellent monitoring is possible indeed, during the 1.5-2.5 years in Jupiter orbit prior to entering Europa orbit. (It's not clear whether the camera would/could be turned to Io during the 90+ day Europa "prime science" orbital mission itself, and the many months to >1 year "extended mapping" phase at Europa which the presentation advocates.)

-vg

[mchan]

It's not clear whether the camera would/could be turned to Io during the 90+ day Europa "prime science" orbital mission itself, and the many months to >1 year "extended mapping" phase at Europa which the presentation advocates.

VP may even lend his voice of support to the Europa orbiter mission if this were true.

[DEChengst]

VP may even lend his voice of support to the Europa orbiter mission if this were true.

According to VP the Europa orbiter should be refered to as "Io Precursor Mission"