Valuing Life Detection Missions Edwin S
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Mars 2020 Radiological Contingency Planning
National Aeronautics and Space Administration Mars 2020 Radiological Contingency Planning NASA plans to launch the Mars 2020 rover, produce the rover’s onboard power and to Perseverance, in summer 2020 on a mission warm its internal systems during the frigid to seek signs of habitable conditions in Mars’ Martian night. ancient past and search for signs of past microbial life. The mission will lift off from Cape NASA prepares contingency response plans Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida aboard a for every launch that it conducts. Ensuring the United Launch Alliance Atlas V launch vehicle safety of launch-site workers and the public in between mid-July and August 2020. the communities surrounding the launch area is the primary consideration in this planning. The Mars 2020 rover design is based on NASA’s Curiosity rover, which landed on Mars in 2012 This contingency planning task takes on an and greatly increased our knowledge of the added dimension when the payload being Red Planet. The Mars 2020 rover is equipped launched into space contains nuclear material. to study its landing site in detail and collect and The primary goal of radiological contingency store the most promising samples of rock and planning is to enable an efficient response in soil on the surface of Mars. the event of an accident. This planning is based on the fundamental principles of advance The system that provides electrical power for preparation (including rehearsals of simulated Mars 2020 and its scientific equipment is the launch accident responses), the timely availability same as for the Curiosity rover: a Multi- of technically accurate and reliable information, Mission Radioisotope Thermoelectric Generator and prompt external communication with the (MMRTG). -
An Impacting Descent Probe for Europa and the Other Galilean Moons of Jupiter
An Impacting Descent Probe for Europa and the other Galilean Moons of Jupiter P. Wurz1,*, D. Lasi1, N. Thomas1, D. Piazza1, A. Galli1, M. Jutzi1, S. Barabash2, M. Wieser2, W. Magnes3, H. Lammer3, U. Auster4, L.I. Gurvits5,6, and W. Hajdas7 1) Physikalisches Institut, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland, 2) Swedish Institute of Space Physics, Kiruna, Sweden, 3) Space Research Institute, Austrian Academy of Sciences, Graz, Austria, 4) Institut f. Geophysik u. Extraterrestrische Physik, Technische Universität, Braunschweig, Germany, 5) Joint Institute for VLBI ERIC, Dwingelo, The Netherlands, 6) Department of Astrodynamics and Space Missions, Delft University of Technology, The Netherlands 7) Paul Scherrer Institute, Villigen, Switzerland. *) Corresponding author, [email protected], Tel.: +41 31 631 44 26, FAX: +41 31 631 44 05 1 Abstract We present a study of an impacting descent probe that increases the science return of spacecraft orbiting or passing an atmosphere-less planetary bodies of the solar system, such as the Galilean moons of Jupiter. The descent probe is a carry-on small spacecraft (< 100 kg), to be deployed by the mother spacecraft, that brings itself onto a collisional trajectory with the targeted planetary body in a simple manner. A possible science payload includes instruments for surface imaging, characterisation of the neutral exosphere, and magnetic field and plasma measurement near the target body down to very low-altitudes (~1 km), during the probe’s fast (~km/s) descent to the surface until impact. The science goals and the concept of operation are discussed with particular reference to Europa, including options for flying through water plumes and after-impact retrieval of very-low altitude science data. -
Europa Clipper Mission
Europa Clipper Mission Send a highly capable, radiation-tolerant spacecraft in a long, looping orbit around Jupiter to perform repeated close flybys of the icy moon. This document has been reviewed and determined not to contain export controlled technical data. 1 Exploring Europa’s Habitability: ! Ingredients for Life" Mission Goal: Explore Europa to Investigate its Habitability e-, O+, S+, … Water: • Probable saltwater ocean, implied by surface geology and magnetic field radiation-produced oxidants: • Possible lakes within the ice shell, produced by local melting O2, H2O2, CH2O ~ 100 K Chemistry: • Ocean in direct contact with mantle rock, promoting chemical leaching • Dark red surface materials contain salts, probably from the ocean Energy: • Chemical energy might sustain life • Surface irradiation creates oxidants • Mantle rock-water reactions could create reductants (hydrothermal or serpentinization) ? Habitability Activity: • Geological activity “stirs the pot” hydrothermally produced reductants: H S, H , CH , Fe • Activity could be cyclical, as tied to Io 2 2 4 ? This document has been reviewed and determined not to contain export controlled technical data. 2 Workshop Overview" Project manager, Barry Goldstein, and Planetary Protection Officer, Lisa Pratt, collaborated on setting objectives for the three-day workshop: • Validate the modeling framework for Europa Clipper Planetary Protection. • Agree on model input values, or on a plan to derive/ identify appropriate model inputs. • Develop workshop concurrence regarding future research plans and their priority. Spoiler Alert The three objectives were accomplished. This document has been reviewed and determined not to contain export controlled technical data. 3 Outside Subject-Matter Experts" A panel of multidisciplinary experts were assembled to provide consultation and guidance at the workshop." This document has been reviewed and determined not to contain export controlled technical data. -
OPAG Update to the Planetary Science Advisory Committee (PAC)
OPAG Update to the Planetary Science Advisory Committee (PAC) ? Linda Spilker OPAG Vice-Chair, JPL PAC Meeting September 24, 2019 Large KBOs: Outer Planets Assessment Group (OPAG) Charter https://www.lpi.usra.edu/opag/ • NASA's community-based forum to provide science input for planning and prioritizing outer planet exploration activities for the next several decades • Evaluates outer solar system exploration goals, objectives, investigations and required measurements on the basis of the widest possible community outreach • Meets twice per year, summer and winter – Next meeting: Feb. 3-4, 2020, LPI, Houston, TX • OPAG documents are inputs to the Decadal Surveys • OPAG and Small Bodies Assessment Group (SBAG) have Joint custody of Pluto system and other planets among Kuiper Belt Objects KBO planets OPAG Steering Committee Jeff Moore Linda Spilker OPAG Chair OPAG Vice-Chair * =New Member Ames Research Center Jet Propulsion Lab Alfred McEwen Lynnae Quick* Kathleen Mandt* University of Arizona NASA Goddard Applied Physics Laboratory OPAG Steering Committee Scott Edgington Amanda Hendrix Mark Hofstadter Jet Propulsion Lab Planetary Science Institute Jet Propulsion Lab Terry Hurford Carol Paty Goddard Space Flight Center Georgia Institute of Technology OPAG Steering Committee Morgan Cable* Britney Schmidt Kunio Sayanagi Jet Propulsion Lab Georgia Institute of Technology Hampton University * =New Member Tom Spilker* Abigail Rymer* Consultant Applied Physics Lab Recent and Upcoming OPAG-related Meetings • OPAG Subsurface Needs for Ocean Worlds -
Europa Clipper Mission: Preliminary Design Report
Europa Clipper Mission: Preliminary Design Report Todd Bayer, Molly Bittner, Brent Buffington, Karen Kirby, Nori Laslo Gregory Dubos, Eric Ferguson, Ian Harris, Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Maddalena Jackson, Gene Lee, Kari Lewis, Jason Laboratory 11100 Johns Hopkins Road Laurel, Kastner, Ron Morillo, Ramiro Perez, Mana MD 20723-6099 Salami, Joel Signorelli, Oleg Sindiy, Brett Smith, [email protected] Melissa Soriano Jet Propulsion Laboratory California Institute of Technology 4800 Oak Grove Dr. Pasadena, CA 91109 818-354-4605 [email protected] Abstract—Europa, the fourth largest moon of Jupiter, is 1. INTRODUCTION believed to be one of the best places in the solar system to look for extant life beyond Earth. Exploring Europa to investigate its Europa’s subsurface ocean is a particularly intriguing target habitability is the goal of the Europa Clipper mission. for scientific exploration and the hunt for life beyond Earth. The 2011 Planetary Decadal Survey, Vision and Voyages, The Europa Clipper mission envisions sending a flight system, states: “Because of this ocean’s potential suitability for life, consisting of a spacecraft equipped with a payload of NASA- Europa is one of the most important targets in all of planetary selected scientific instruments, to execute numerous flybys of Europa while in Jupiter orbit. A key challenge is that the flight science” [1]. Investigation of Europa’s habitability is system must survive and operate in the intense Jovian radiation intimately tied to understanding the three “ingredients” for environment, which is especially harsh at Europa. life: liquid water, chemistry, and energy. The Europa Clipper mission would investigate these ingredients by The spacecraft is planned for launch no earlier than June 2023, comprehensively exploring Europa’s ice shell and liquid from Kennedy Space Center, Florida, USA, on a NASA supplied ocean interface, surface geology and surface composition to launch vehicle. -