The Europa Imaging System (EIS) Investigation DOI Creative Commons
E. P. Turtle,

Alec McEwen,

G. W. Patterson

et al.

Space Science Reviews, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 220(8)

Published: Dec. 1, 2024

The Europa Imaging System (EIS) consists of a Narrow-Angle Camera (NAC) and Wide-Angle (WAC) that are designed to work together address high-priority science objectives regarding Europa's geology, composition, the nature its ice shell. EIS accommodates variable geometry illumination during rapid, low-altitude flybys with both framing pushbroom imaging capability using rapid-readout, 8-megapixel (4k × 2k) detectors. Color observations acquired up six broadband filters. data processing units (DPUs) perform digital time delay integration (TDI) enhance signal-to-noise ratios use readout strategies measure correct spacecraft jitter. NAC has 2.3° 1.2° field view (FOV) 10-μrad instantaneous FOV (IFOV), thus achieving 0.5-m pixel scale over swath is 2 km wide several long from range 50 km. mounted on 2-axis gimbal, ±30° cross- along-track, enables independent targeting near-global (≥90%) mapping at ≤100-m (to date, only ∼15% been imaged ≤900 m/pixel), as well stereo close 50-km altitude generate terrain models (DTMs) ≤4-m ground sample distance (GSD) ≤0.5-m vertical precision. will also search for potential erupting plumes, 10-km one million kilometers. WAC 48° 24° 218-μrad IFOV, 11-m center 44-km-wide km, generating DTMs 32-m GSD acquire three-line color swaths along flyby ground-tracks.

Language: Английский

Science Overview of the Europa Clipper Mission DOI Creative Commons
R. T. Pappalardo, B. J. Buratti, H. Korth

et al.

Space Science Reviews, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 220(4)

Published: May 23, 2024

Abstract The goal of NASA’s Europa Clipper mission is to assess the habitability Jupiter’s moon Europa. After entering Jupiter orbit in 2030, flight system will collect science data while flying past 49 times at typical closest approach distances 25–100 km. mission’s objectives are investigate Europa’s interior (ice shell and ocean), composition, geology; also search for characterize any current activity including possible plumes. be accomplished with a payload consisting remote sensing in-situ instruments. Remote investigations cover ultraviolet, visible, near infrared, thermal infrared wavelength ranges electromagnetic spectrum, as well an ice-penetrating radar. In-situ measure magnetic field, dust grains, neutral gas, plasma surrounding Gravity achieved using telecommunication system, radiation monitoring engineering subsystem provide complementary data. designed enable all instruments operate gather simultaneously. Mission planning operations guided by scientific requirements observation strategies, appropriate updates plan made tactically characterized discoveries emerge. Following collection validation, archived Planetary Data System. Communication, sharing, publication policies promote visibility, collaboration, mutual interdependence across full team, best achieve interdisciplinary necessary understand

Language: Английский

Citations

31
MASPEX-Europa: The Europa Clipper Neutral Gas Mass Spectrometer Investigation DOI Creative Commons
J. H. Waite, J. L. Burch,

T. Brockwell

et al.

Space Science Reviews, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 220(3)

Published: April 1, 2024

Abstract The MAss Spectrometer for Planetary EXploration (MASPEX) is a high-mass-resolution, high-sensitivity, multi-bounce time-of-flight mass spectrometer (MBTOF) capable of measuring minor species with abundances sub-parts-per-million in Europa’s sputter-produced and radiolytically modified exosphere its oceanic plumes. goal the MASPEX-Europa investigation to determine, through in-situ measurement plume composition, whether conditions habitability exist or have existed on Europa. As conventionally defined, based our knowledge Earth life, three fundamental are: (1) presence liquid water; (2) organic compounds biogenic elements CHNOPS; (3) source energy available metabolic processes, which Europa will most probably be chemosynthetic rather than photosynthetic. Condition already established by previous indirect (magnetic field) measurements, while MASPEX contribute directly evaluation condition highly specific compositional measurements Europan composition also test disequilibrium states chemical reactions. Thus, primary Clipper assess specifically interior ocean. has been developed successfully, calibration demonstrated that it meets specified requirements sensitivity, dynamic range, resolution. This paper reports development scientific investigation, instrument, performance, calibration.

Language: Английский

Citations

20
Partial differentiation of Europa and implications for the origin of materials in the Jupiter system DOI
Flavio Petricca, Julie Castillo‐Rogez, Antonio Genova

et al.

Nature Astronomy, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: unknown

Published: Jan. 27, 2025

Language: Английский

Citations

4
SUDA: A SUrface Dust Analyser for Compositional Mapping of the Galilean Moon Europa DOI Creative Commons
S. Kempf,

Scott Tucker,

N. Altobelli

et al.

Space Science Reviews, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: 221(1)

Published: Jan. 29, 2025

Abstract The Surface Dust Analyser (SUDA) is a mass spectrometer onboard the Europa Clipper mission for investigating surface composition of Galilean moon Europa. Atmosphereless planetary moons such as satellites are wrapped into ballistic dust exosphere populated by tiny samples from moon’s produced impacts fast micrometeoroids. SUDA will measure ejecta during close flybys to obtain key chemical signatures revealing satellite’s organic molecules and salts, history, geological evolution. Because their orbits, detected can be traced back with spatial resolution roughly equal instantaneous altitude spacecraft. Time-Of-Flight (TOF), reflectron-type impact spectrometer, optimized high which only weakly depends on location. instrument mass, speed, charge, elemental, molecular, isotopic impacting grains. instrument’s small size $268 ~\mathrm {mm} \times 250 171$ 268 mm × 250 171 $~\mathrm {mm}$ , radiation-hard design, rather large sensitive area 220 cm 2 matches well challenging demands mission.

Language: Английский

Citations

4
Planned Geological Investigations of the Europa Clipper Mission DOI Creative Commons
I. J. Daubar, A. G. Hayes, G. C. Collins

et al.

Space Science Reviews, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 220(1)

Published: Feb. 1, 2024

Abstract Geological investigations planned for the Europa Clipper mission will examine formation, evolution, and expression of geomorphic structures found on surface. Understanding geologic features, their any recent activity are key inputs in constraining Europa’s potential habitability. In addition to providing information about moon’s habitability, study is compelling itself. Here we provide a high-level, cross-instrument, cross-discipline overview within mission. fascinating collection ice-focused geology provides an unparalleled opportunity investigate dynamics icy shells, ice-ocean exchange processes, global-scale tectonic tidal stresses. We present what currently known Europa, from global local scales, highlighting outstanding issues open questions, detailing how address them. describe mission’s strategy searching characterizing current form possible active plumes, thermal anomalies, evidence surface changes, extremely fresh exposures. The complementary synergistic nature data sets various instruments integration be significantly advancing our understanding geology.

Language: Английский

Citations

16
Radar for Europa Assessment and Sounding: Ocean to Near-Surface (REASON) DOI Creative Commons
Donald D. Blankenship,

Alina Moussessian,

Elaine Chapin

et al.

Space Science Reviews, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 220(5)

Published: June 27, 2024

The Radar for Europa Assessment and Sounding: Ocean to Near-surface (REASON) is a dual-frequency ice-penetrating radar (9 60 MHz) onboard the Clipper mission. REASON designed probe from exosphere subsurface ocean, contributing third dimension observations of this enigmatic world. hypotheses will test are that (1) ice shell hosts liquid water, (2) overlies an ocean subject tidal flexing, (3) exosphere, near-surface, shell, participate in material exchange essential habitability moon. investigate processes governing by characterizing distribution putative non-ice (e.g., brines, salts) subsurface, searching ice-ocean interface, shell's global structure, constraining amplitude Europa's radial deformations. accomplish these science objectives using combination measurement techniques including

Language: Английский

Citations

16
Exploring the Composition of Europa with the Upcoming Europa Clipper Mission DOI Creative Commons
Tracy M. Becker, M. Yu. Zolotov, Murthy S. Gudipati

et al.

Space Science Reviews, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 220(5)

Published: June 19, 2024

Abstract Jupiter’s icy moon, Europa, harbors a subsurface liquid water ocean; the prospect of this ocean being habitable motivates further exploration moon with upcoming NASA Europa Clipper mission. Key among mission goals is comprehensive assessment moon’s composition, which essential for assessing Europa’s habitability. Through powerful remote sensing and in situ investigations, will explore composition surface subsurface, its tenuous atmosphere, local space environment surrounding moon. Clues on interior be gathered through these assessments, especially regions that may expose materials, including compelling geologic landforms or locations indicative recent current activity such as potential plumes. The planned reconnaissance world constrain models simulate ongoing external internal processes act to alter composition. This paper presents composition-themed mission, synergistic, composition-focused investigations conducted, how anticipated scientific return advance our understanding origin, evolution, state Europa.

Language: Английский

Citations

14
The Mapping Imaging Spectrometer for Europa (MISE) DOI Creative Commons
D. L. Blaney, C. A. Hibbitts, S. Diniega

et al.

Space Science Reviews, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 220(7)

Published: Oct. 1, 2024

The Mapping Imaging Spectrometer for Europa (MISE) is an infrared compositional instrument that will fly on NASA's Clipper mission to the Jupiter system. MISE designed meet Level-1 science requirements related mission's composition objective "understand habitability of Europa's ocean through and chemistry" contribute geology ice shell objectives, thereby helping achieve its goal "explore investigate habitability." has a mass 65 kg uses energy per flyby 75.2 W-h. detect illumination from 0.8 5 μm with 10 nm spectral resolution, spatial sampling 25 m pixel at 100 km altitude, 300 cross-track pixels, enabling discrimination among two principal states water Europa, identification main non-ice components interest: salts, acids, organics, detection trace materials as well some thermal signatures. Furthermore, resolution global coverage be complemented by higher Earth-based assets. MISE, combined observations collected rest payload, enable significant advances in our understanding how large-scale structure surface shaped geological processes inform microscale. This paper describes planned investigations, design, concept operations, data products.

Language: Английский

Citations

12
No magmatic driving force for Europan sea-floor volcanism DOI
A. P. Green, C. M. Elder, M. T. Bland

et al.

Nature Astronomy, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: unknown

Published: March 24, 2025

Language: Английский

Citations

1
Europa Ultraviolet Spectrograph (Europa-UVS) DOI Creative Commons
K. D. Retherford,

T. M. Becker,

G. R. Gladstone

et al.

Space Science Reviews, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 220(8)

Published: Nov. 19, 2024

Abstract NASA’s Europa Clipper mission is designed to provide a diversity of measurements further our understanding the potential habitability this intriguing ocean world. The mission’s Ultraviolet Spectrograph (Europa-UVS), built at Southwest Research Institute (SwRI), primarily “plume finder” and tenuous atmosphere investigation. science objectives Europa-UVS are to: 1) Search for characterize any current activity, notably plumes; 2) Characterize composition sources volatiles identify signatures non-ice materials, including organic compounds, in local space environment. observes photons 55–206 nm wavelength range moderate spectral spatial resolution along 7.5° slit composed 7.3°×0.1° 0.2°×0.2° contiguous sections. A variety observational techniques nadir pushbroom imaging, disk scans, stellar solar occultations, Jupiter transit observations, neutral cloud/plasma torus stares employed perform comprehensive study Europa’s atmosphere, plumes, surface, This paper describes investigation’s plans, instrument details, concept operations, data formats context primary assessment goals.

Language: Английский

Citations

4