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New Frontiers-Class Uranus Orbiter: Exploring the Feasibility of Achieving Multidisciplinary Science with a Mid-Scale Mission

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New Frontiers-Class Uranus Orbiter: Exploring the Feasibility of Achieving Multidisciplinary Science with a Mid-Scale Mission Credit: BBC (https://www.bbc.com/future/article/20140822-the-mission-to-an-un-loved-planet) New Frontiers-class Uranus Orbiter: Exploring the feasibility of achieving multidisciplinary science with a mid-scale mission Ian J. Cohen1 (240-584-7261, [email protected]), 1The Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory (JHU/APL) Co-authors: Chloe Beddingfield2, Robert Chancia3, Gina DiBraccio4, Matthew Hedman3, Shannon MacKenzie1, Barry Mauk1, Kunio Sayanagi5, Krista Soderlund6, Elizabeth Turtle1, Elena Adams1, Caitlin Ahrens7, Shawn Brooks8, Emma Bunce9, Sebastien Charnoz10, George Clark1, Athena Coustenis11, Robert Dillman12, Soumyo Dutta12, Leigh Fletcher9, Rebecca Harbison13, Ravit Helled14, Richard Holme15, Lauren Jozwiak1, Yasumasa Kasaba16, Peter Kollmann1, Statia Luszcz-Cook17, Kathleen Mandt1, Olivier Mousis18, Alessandro Mura19, Go Murakami20, Marzia Parisi8, Abigail Rymer1, Sabine Stanley21, Katrin Stephan22, Ronald Vervack1, Michael Wong23, and Peter Wurz24 Co-signers: Tibor Balint8, Shawn Brueshaber25, Xin Cao26, Richard Cartwright2, Corey Cochrane8, Alice Cocoros1, Kate Craft1, Ingrid Daubar27, Imke de Pater23, Chuanfei Dong28, Robert Ebert29, Catherine Elder8, Carolyn Ernst1, Gianrico Filacchione19, Jonathan Fortney30, Daniel Gershman4, Jesper Gjerloev1, Matina Gkioulidou1, Athul P. Girija31, George Hospodarsky26, Caitriona Jackman32, Devanshu Jha33, Erin Leonard8, Michael Lucas34, Alice Lucchetti35, Heather Meyer1, Adam Masters36, Kimberly Moore37, Sarah Moran21, Romina Nikoukar1, Maurizio Pajola35, Chris Paranicas1, Wes Patterson1, Carol Paty38, Noemi Pinilla-Alonso39, Gangkai Poh4, Alena Probst8, Lynnae Quick4, Leonardo Regoli1, James Roberts1, Sebastien Rodriguez10, Kirby Runyon1, Todd Smith1, Linda Spilker8, Alan Stern29, Paolo Tortora40, Drew Turner1, Sasha Ukhorskiy1, Sarah Vines1, Roland Young41, and Yongliang Zhang1 2SETI Institute; 3Univ. of Idaho; 4NASA/GSFC; 5Hampton Univ.; 6Univ. of Texas at Austin; 7Univ. of Arkansas; 8JPL/Caltech; 9Univ. of Leicester; 10Paris Diderot Univ.; 11Paris Observatory, CNRS, PSL, France; 12NASA/LaRC; 13Univ. of Nebraska-Lincoln; 14Univ. of Zurich; 15Univ. of Liverpool; 16Tohoku Univ.; 17American Museum of Natural History; 18Aix Marseille Univ.;19National Institute of Astrophysics, Italy; 20JAXA; 21Johns Hopkins Univ.; 22DLR; 23Univ. of California, Berkeley; 24Univ. of Bern; 25Western Michigan Univ.; 26Univ. of Iowa;,27Brown Univ., 28Princeton Univ.; 29SwRI; 30Univ. of California, Santa Cruz; 31Purdue Univ.; 32Dublin Institute for Advanced Studies, 33MVJ College of Engineering, India, 34Univ. of Tennessee; 35INAF - Astronomical Observatory of Padova, Italy; 36Imperial College London; 37Harvard Univ.; 38Univ. of Oregon; 39Florida Space Inst., Univ. of Central Florida; 40Univ. of Bologna; 41United Arab Emirates Univ. 1 1 Introduction the New Frontiers (NF) class; this of course Uranus presents a compelling case for requires that the NF target list be expanded exploring an Ice Giant system, offering to include Uranus. Both large-scale (Odyssey unique opportunities to answer important Pre-Decadal Mission Concept Study (PMCS)6, scientific questions. The Ice Giants, Uranus & 20107 & 20178 studies) and Discovery (Trident) Neptune, represent a distinct class of planets missions have been explored for the Ice Giants, within our solar system that has yet to be fully but, no comprehensive study has focused on explored. Characteristics of the Uranian system, determining the scope and feasibility of a NF- include: 1) a dynamically full & haphazard ring- class Uranus orbiter mission. This paper moon system; 2) five major satellites - potential summarizes one of three concepts submitted to ocean worlds with evidence of a rich geologic the 2019 PMCS opportunity9. This paper history1; 3) a complex magnetosphere with demonstrates the potential for a NF-class highly-tilted rotational & magnetic axes2; 4) a orbital mission to address essential scientific bulk planetary composition likely dominated by questions spanning multiple disciplines of Ice heavier “ices” (e.g., H2O, CH4, and NH3); and Giant science (plus cross-cutting heliophysics 5) a unique atmospheric circulation potentially and astrophysics opportunities); additional associated with Uranus’ weak internal heat flux. science could be achieved via flyby of a Centaur Detailed study of Uranus by an orbiter is crucial en route to Uranus. To maximize the prospects to obtain valuable insights into the formation of of meeting launch opportunities by 2034, we our solar system and for bounding the omit scientific objectives that are only possibilities of exoplanetary enviroments3-4. achievable by an atmospheric probe, and focus For these reasons and more, the imperative instead on the excellence of the achievable and timely exploration of Uranus will not science in the broader Uranian system. only enhance our understanding of the Ice V2’s brief encounter with Uranus10 Giants but also extends to planetary origins provided a glimpse at the planet’s complexity and dynamics throughout the universe. and uniqueness, but motivated more The 2013 Planetary Science Decadal Survey5 questions than answers. Our current limited states: “The ice giants are thus one of the great understanding of Uranus is similar to that of remaining unknowns in the solar system, the other planets prior to orbital missions (e.g., after only class of planet that has never been Pioneer & Voyager to Jupiter & Saturn). explored in detail”. It also recommended Orbital missions have flown to every planet “Uranus Orbiter and Probe” as the third-highest in our solar system except for the Ice Giants. At priority “large-class” mission. Unfortunately, each planet these first orbiters revealed no Ice Giant mission will be implemented surprises that were missed by the initial flybys: before 2022, which makes it challenging for a e.g., the Enceladus geyser11-12, a major mission to make the 2030-2034 launch window discovery of Cassini, which was unnoticed by needed to take advantage of a Jupiter gravity previous flybys. As our understanding of the assist to reach Uranus before it reaches equinox Gas Giants was transformed beyond in 2050; after 2050, the northern hemispheres expectations by dedicated orbiter missions of the satellites not imaged by Voyager 2 (V2) (e.g., Galileo, Juno, Cassini) and will further will recede into darkness. As recognized improve with future missions (e.g., Europa internationally, the timeliness of a Uranus Clipper, JUICE), so too will our knowledge of orbiter mission is a primary motivation for Uranus expand from the necessary multi- evaluating what science can be done with a year measurements and orbital lower-cost, faster-turnaround mission within investigations. 2 2 Science Objectives Earth-based observations have revealed that Ex. 1 presents a “proto-Science Traceability Uranus hosts a system of dense, narrow rings Matrix” with a broad array of potential science that lack meaningful spacing, diverse broad and objectives and outstanding mysteries, covering finely-structured dusty rings, and the most all areas of the Uranus system (rings, satellites, tightly-packed system of small moons in the magnetosphere, atmosphere, & interior). An solar system. We still do not understand how the NF-class Uranus orbiter mission is expected to Uranian rings maintain their structure. achieve many of these objectives. The Uranian ring system also boasts ten 2.1 Ring Science narrow and oddly-shaped main rings. Four of Determine the processes that sculpt & these are associated with resonances of small maintain Uranus’ ring-moon system. V2 and moons that likely play a role in shepherding Science Objective Potential Measurement Types Outstanding Mystery Potential Observables (Relevant V&V Science Goal) A B C D E F G H I J K L • Ring particle size distribution, planet/moon tidal parameters • Ring internal structures (e.g., density/satellite wakes) Determine the processes that sculpt & • Rings' non-circular shapes & pattern speeds X X X X X X X X X maintain Uranus’ ring-moon system. (1) • Discovery of new moons & moon shapes, light-curves, & orbital elements RINGS Why is the architecture of the • Dusty ring spatial density & periodic structures Uranian ring-moon system so • Magnetic field orientation, components, & periodicities dynamically full & haphazard? • Spectral absorption in moon & ring spectra Determine the composition & origin of Uranus’ • Crater density on small moons X X X X X X X rings & small satellites. (1) • Micrometeoroid impact flux & composition • Radiation belt location & flux • Tectonic & geomorphologic structures, tidal flexing, plume activity, physical libration, Determine whether the classical Uranian thermal anomalies Do any of Uranus’ classical satellites satellites have signatures indicative of • Topography X X X X X X sustain a subsurface ocean? subsurface oceans. (6) • Spectroscopic indications of outsourcing from interior SATELLITES • Induced magnetic field & satellite tidal number/degree of compensation • Compositional mapping & associations (or lack) w/ geologic features/topographic lows Determine the surface compositions of the • Regional distributions (leading vs. trailing hemisphere) of dark material X X X classical Uranian satellites. (4) Which processes formed the • Compositional trends w/ distance from Uranus extremely dark & resurfaced terrains • Units & surface features/structures of the five classical Uranian Understand what processes formed & modify • Topography & stratigraphy satellites? the surfaces of the classical Uranian
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