Concepts and Approaches for Jupiter Icy Moon Orbiter

Science objectives for the proposed Jupiter Icy Moons Orbiter (JIMO) will be explored and assessed. The objective of the forum was to identify the most compelling approaches in seven thematic categories using a set of criteria that balanced science content, development risk, affordability, and overall program integration.sponsor, NASA Headquarters, Lunar and Planetary Instituteconvener, Dr. Colleen HartmanPARTIAL CONTENTS: Planetary protection considerations for JIMO / R.C. Koukol--Fine Resolution Topographic Mapping of the Jovian Moons: A Ka-band High Resolution Topographic Mapping Interferometric Synthetic Aperture Radar / S.N. Madsen, F.D. Carsey, and E.P. Turtle--Assessing the impact of regolith structure on the detectability of an ocean on Europa by a sounding radar / J. Eluszkiewic

Workshop on the Habitability of Icy Worlds : February 5-7, 2014 Pasadena, California

The primary objective of this workshop will be to focus on the astrobiological potential of icy worlds in the outer solar system including Europa, Ganymede, Enceladus, Titan, and beyond with discussion on future research directions and spacecraft missions that can best assess that potential.Universities Space Research Association, National Aeronautics and Space Administration.conveners, David Senske, Patricia Beauchamp ; scientific organizing committee, David Senske ... [and others] ; [compiled by Meeting and Publication Services, Lunar and Planetary Institute]PARTIAL CONTENTS: Habitability of Enceladus: Planetary Conditions for Life / C. Parkinson--Analysis of Ridge Terrains on Enceladus and Europa / D.A. Patthoff, R.T. Pappalardo, C. Chilton, and P.C. Thomas--Stereo Topography and Subsurface Thermal Profiles on Icy Satellites / C.B. Phillips--Enceladus: Small Moon, Big Possibilities / C. Porco--The Role of Clathrate Hydrates in the (Bio)Geochemical Cycles of Essential Elements of Life in the Deep Environments Within the Icy Moons / O. Prieto-Ballesteros and V. Muñoz-Iglesias--Diapiric Dynamics: Bringing Aqueous Solutions to Europa's Surface / L.C. Quick

Workshop on Radar Investigations of Planetary and Terrestrial Environments : February 7-10. 2005, Houston, Texas

Focuses on the capabilities of radar sounding and imaging systems to address issues such as: the subsurface geology and distribution of water on the Earth, Moon, Mars, and Europa, investigating the paleohydrology of planetary surfaces and identifying potential subsurface habitats capable of sustaining primitive life forms.Sponsored by: Lunar and Planetary Institute, National Aeronautics and Space Administration, Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Southwest Research Institute.Conveners: Essam Heggy., Lunar and Planetary Institute, Stephen Clifford, Lunar and Planetary Institute, Tom Farr, Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Cynthia Dinwiddie, Southwest Research Institute, Bob Grimm, Southwest Research Institute.PARTIAL CONTENTS: The Goldstone Solar System Radar: 1988-2003 Earth-based Mars Radar Observations / A. F. C. Haldemann, K. W. Larsen, R. F. Jurgens, and M A. Slade--Mapping Subsurface Stratigraphy and Anomalies in Iron-rich Volcanoclastics Using Ground-penetrating Radar: Potential for Shallow Sounding on Mars / E. Heggy, S. Clifford, R. Grimm, S. Gonzalez, D. Bannon, and D. Wyrick--Dielectric Map of the Martian Surface / E. Heggy and A. Pommerol--Surface Clutter Removal in Airborne Radar Sounding Data from the Dry Valleys, Antarctica / J. W. Holt, D. D. Blankenship, D. L. Morse, M E. Peters, and S. D. Kempf--Comparing Transient Electromagnetics and Low Frequency Ground Penetrating Radar for Sounding of Subsurface Water in Mars Analog Environments / J. A. Jernsletten and E. Heggy--The MARSIS Radar, Signal Simulation and Interpretation Using MOLA Topography Data / W. Koftnan, J. F. Nouvel, A. Herique, and J.-E. Martelal--A Phase Signature for Detecting Wet Structures in the Shallow Subsurface of Mars Using Polarimetric P-band SAR / Y: Lasne, Ph. Paillou, and J.-M Matezieux--Experimental Validation of the Mono and Bistatic Operating Mode of a GPR Dedicated to the Martian Subsurface Exploration / A. Le Gall, V. Ciorlelli, J. J. Berthelier, R. Ney, F. Dolon, and S. Bonoime

CASSINI. Report on the Phase A study: Saturn Orbiter and Titan probe

An in-depth, second phase exploration of Saturn is proposed. The scientific objectives involving Titan, Saturn's rings, icy satellites, magnetosphere, Jupiter, asteroids, and cruise science are covered. Other topics presented include: (1) the model payloads; (2) project requirements; (3) mission; (4) launch vehicle; (5) the orbiter system; (6) the Titan probe system; (7) mission operations; (8) management; and (9) development plan

Workshop on Europa's Icy Shell: Past, Present, and Future : February 6-8, 2004, Houston, Texas

The purpose was to discuss the current understanding of the icy shell, its physical state and evolution, and its interaction with the putative subsurface ocean. All aspects of the icy shell were considered, including composition, physical state (e.g., thickness, rheology), geologic history, present-day activity, biology, and exploration goals.Lunar and Planetary Institute, National Aeronautics and Space Administrationscientific organizing committee Adam Showman ... [and others] ; conveners Paul Schenk, Francis Nimmo, Louise Prockter ; [compiled by Lunar and Planetary Institute]PARTIAL CONTENTS: Overview of Europa's icy shell: questions of thickness, composition, rheology, tectonics, and Astrobiological potential / William B. McKinnon -- Composition and geochemical evolution of Europa's icy shell / J.S. Kargel -- Earth's ice sheets and ice shelves as an analog for Europa's icy shell / D.D.Blankenship and D.L. Morse -- Geological features and resurfacing history of Europa / L.M. Prockter and P.H. Figueredo -- Long period variations in tidal and Librational forcing of Europa / Bruce G. Bills -- Europa's ice shell thickness derived from thermal-orbital evolution models / H. Hussmann, T. Spohn

Saturn's Exploration Beyond Cassini-Huygens

For its beautiful rings, active atmosphere and mysterious magnetic field, Saturn is a fascinating planet. It also holds some of the keys to understanding the formation of our Solar System and the evolution of giant planets in general. While the exploration by the Cassini-Huygens mission has led to great advances in our understanding of the planet and its moons, it has left us with puzzling questions: What is the bulk composition of the planet? Does it have a helium core? Is it enriched in noble gases like Jupiter? What powers and controls its gigantic storms? We have learned that we can measure an outer magnetic field that is filtered from its non-axisymmetric components, but what is Saturn's inner magnetic field? What are the rings made of and when were they formed? These questions are crucial in several ways: a detailed comparison of the compositions of Jupiter and Saturn is necessary to understand processes at work during the formation of these two planets and of the Solar System. This calls for the continued exploration of the second largest planet in our Solar System, with a variety of means including remote observations and space missions. Measurements of gravity and magnetic fields very close to the planet's cloud tops would be extremely valuable. Very high spatial resolution images of the rings would provide details on their structure and the material that form them. Last but not least, one or several probes sent into the atmosphere of the planet would provide the critical measurements that would allow a detailed comparison with the same measurements at Jupiter. [abridged abstract

Comparative study of the diachronic evolution of the geological and volcanological environments of the Earth and the Saturnian satellites, Titan and Enceladus

Η παρούσα διδακτορική διατριβή αφορά τη μελέτη των περιβαλλόντων του Τιτάνα και του Εγκέλαδου, δορυφόρων του Κρόνου, μέσω της ανάλυσης δεδομένων που ανακτήθηκαν από τη διαστημική αποστολή Cassini-Huygens. Αρχικά παρουσιάζεται η επισκόπηση της γεωλογίας του Τιτάνα, με επίκεντρο τις γεωλογικές δομές και διεργασίες και το συσχετισμό μεταξύ της ατμόσφαιρας, της επιφάνειας και του εσωτερικού του δορυφόρου. Οι μορφοτεκτονικές δομές κατατάσσονται σε συγκεκριμένες κατηγορίες βάσει γήινων μοντέλων σχηματισμού. Επιφανειακές περιοχές του Τιτάνα, οι οποίες θεωρούνται συνδεδεμένες με το εσωτερικό, συγκρίθηκαν με γεωφυσικά μοντέλα παλιρροιακής στρέβλωσης και διαπιστώθηκε ότι συμπίπτουν σε σχέση με τη θέση, την επιφάνεια και την εσωτερική ενεργότητα. Ένα δεύτερο μέρος της διδακτορικής διατριβής παρουσιάζει την ενδελεχή ανάλυση συγκεκριμένων περιοχών του Τιτάνα –όπως αυτές καθορίζονται μέσω μιας στατιστικής μεθόδου– με επίκεντρο την επιφανειακή ανακλαστικότητα που παρουσιάζουν και τη χημική σύνθεση από την επεξεργασία δεδομένων του φασματογράφου Cassini/VIMS (εγγύς υπέρυθρη περιοχή του φάσματος από 0,4 έως 5 micron). Η εφαρμογή ενός εκσυγχρονισμένου και state-of-the-art κώδικα μεταφοράς ακτινοβολίας, επέδειξε τη φασματική συμπεριφορά και το εύρος της φωτεινότητας αυτών των περιοχών. Η έρευνα τριών σημαντικών περιοχών, που έχουν προταθεί ως υποψήφιες κρυοηφαιστειακές (Hotei Regio, Tui Regio και Sotra Patera), παρουσίασε ενδείξεις χρονικής μεταβολής της επιφανειακής ανακλαστικότητας για δύο από αυτές σε μια χρονική περίοδο από 1-3,5 χρόνια, υποδεικνύοντας δυναμικές εξωγενείς - ενδογενείς διεργασίες, οι οποίες επηρεάζουν την επιφάνεια και είναι συμβατές με φαινόμενα κρυοηφαιστεότητας στην περίπτωση της Sotra Patera. Επίσης, οι διαδικασίες που σχηματίζουν την επιφάνεια του Εγκέλαδου περιγράφονται λεπτομερειακά στη διατριβή. Σε ένα τρίτο μέρος, γήινα ανάλογα επιφανειακών εμφανίσεων καθώς και διεργασιών παρουσιάζονται εκτεταμένα, επισημαίνοντας ενδιαφέρουσες ομοιότητες και διαφορές μεταξύ της πυριτικής Γης και των παγωμένων δορυφόρων. Οι αστροβιολογικές συσχετίσεις αυτής της εργασίας διεξάγονται στο πλαίσιο της αναζήτησης περιβαλλόντων κατοικησιμότητας στο εξωτερικό ηλιακό σύστημα. Όλες οι προαναφερθείσες μελέτες συνδέονται με την προετοιμα σία των μελλοντικών διαστημικών αποστολών και των οργάνων τους στα συστήματα του Κρόνου και του Δία. Τέλος, συζητούνται οι δυνατότητες εκλαΐκευσης της επιστήμης και οι προοπτικές που παρουσιάζει η συγκεκριμένη έρευνα.This thesis presents on the study of the environment of Titan and Enceladus, Saturn’s satellites observed by the Cassini-Huygens mission. Various aspects of the geology of Titan are presented focusing on the characteristics of the surface geological features and processes,the internal structure and the correlation with the atmosphere. The morphotectonic features are presented on the basis of terrestrial models. Moreover, Titan areas probably correlated with the interior are tested against a geophysical model of tidal distortion and found to conform with localisation and internal dynamics. We then study the surface albedo and composition of specific Titan areas (Hotei Regio, Tui Regio, Sotra Patera) –determined by the PCA method- based on data from Cassini/VIMS (0.4–5 μm) on which a radiative transfer code is applied with the most updated spectroscopic parameters. Monitoring of these areas showed surface albedo changes in the course of 1-3.5 yrs, implying dynamic exogenic-endogenic processes that affect the surface and compatible with cryovolcanism in the case of Sotra Patera. Processes that form the surface of Enceladus are also discussed. In addition, the analogies with the Earth's surface and possible internal processes on the icy satellites are being explored. The astrobiological implications of this work are discussed within the framework of the quest for habitable environments in our outer Solar system. These studies are related to the preparation of future space missions to the systems of Jupiter and Saturn and payload capability. Finally, public awareness and perspectives of this research are discussed

Directory of research projects: Planetary geology and geophysics program

Information about currently funded scientific research within the Planetary Geology and Geophysics Program is provided, including the proposal summary sheet from each proposal funded under the program during fiscal year 1990. Information about the research project, including title, principal investigator, institution, summary of research objectives, past accomplishments, and proposed new investigations is also provided

Comparative study of the diachronic evolution of the geological and volcanological environments of the earth with the saturnian satellites Titan and Enceladus.

This thesis presents on the study of the environment of Titan and Enceladus, Saturn’s satellites observed by the Cassini-Huygens mission. Various aspects of the geology of Titan are presented focusing on the characteristics of the surface geological features and processes,the internal structure and the correlation with the atmosphere. The morphotectonic features are presented on the basis of terrestrial models. Moreover, Titan areas probably correlated with the interior are tested against a geophysical model of tidal distortion and found to conform with localisation and internal dynamics. We then study the surface albedo and composition of specific Titan areas (Hotei Regio, Tui Regio, Sotra Patera) –determined by the PCA method- based on data from Cassini/VIMS (0.4–5 μm) on which a radiative transfer code is applied with the most updated spectroscopic parameters. Monitoring of these areas showed surface albedo changes in the course of 1-3.5 yrs, implying dynamic exogenic-endogenic processes that affect the surface and compatible with cryovolcanism in the case of Sotra Patera. Processes that form the surface of Enceladus are also discussed. In addition, the analogies with the Earth's surface and possible internal processes on the icy satellites are being explored. The astrobiological implications of this work are discussed within the framework of the quest for habitable environments in our outer Solar system. These studies are related to the preparation of future space missions to the systems of Jupiter and Saturn and payload capability. Finally, public awareness and perspectives of this research are discussed