18 research outputs found
Pluto’s global surface composition through pixel-by-pixel Hapke modeling of New Horizons Ralph/LEISA data
Uranus Pathfinder: exploring the origins and evolution of Ice Giant planets
The “Ice Giants” Uranus and Neptune are a different class of planet
compared to Jupiter and Saturn. Studying these objects is important for
furthering our understanding of the formation and evolution of the planets,
and unravelling the fundamental physical and chemical processes in the Solar
System. The importance of filling these gaps in our knowledge of the Solar
System is particularly acute when trying to apply our understanding to the
numerous planetary systems that have been discovered around other stars. The
Uranus Pathfinder (UP) mission thus represents the quintessential aspects of
the objectives of the European planetary community as expressed in ESA’s
Cosmic Vision 2015–2025. UP was proposed to the European Space Agency’s
M3 call for medium-class missions in 2010 and proposed to be the first orbiter
of an Ice Giant planet. As the most accessible Ice Giant within the M-class
mission envelope Uranus was identified as the mission target. Although not
selected for this call the UP mission concept provides a baseline framework
for the exploration of Uranus with existing low-cost platforms and underlines the need to develop power sources suitable for the outer Solar System. The UP
science case is based around exploring the origins, evolution, and processes at
work in Ice Giant planetary systems. Three broad themes were identified: (1)
Uranus as an Ice Giant, (2) An Ice Giant planetary system, and (3) An asymmetric magnetosphere. Due to the long interplanetary transfer from Earth to
Uranus a significant cruise-phase science theme was also developed. The UP
mission concept calls for the use of a Mars Express/Rosetta-type platform
to launch on a Soyuz–Fregat in 2021 and entering into an eccentric polar
orbit around Uranus in the 2036–2037 timeframe. The science payload has a
strong heritage in Europe and beyond and requires no significant technology
developments