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Scientific rationale for Uranus and Neptune in situ explorations

Mousis, O. ; Atkinson, D. H. ; Cavalié, T. ; Fletcher, L. N. ; Amato, M. J. ; Aslam, S. ; Ferri, F. ; Renard, J. B. ; Spilker, T. and Venkatapathy, E. , et al. (2018) In Planetary and Space Science 155. p.12-40
Abstract


The ice giants Uranus and Neptune are the least understood class of planets in our solar system but the most frequently observed type of exoplanets. Presumed to have a small rocky core, a deep interior comprising ∼70% heavy elements surrounded by a more dilute outer envelope of H
2
and He, Uranus and Neptune are fundamentally different from the better-explored gas giants Jupiter and Saturn. Because of the lack of dedicated exploration missions, our knowledge of the composition and atmospheric processes of these distant worlds is primarily derived from remote sensing from Earth-based observatories and space telescopes. As a... (More)


The ice giants Uranus and Neptune are the least understood class of planets in our solar system but the most frequently observed type of exoplanets. Presumed to have a small rocky core, a deep interior comprising ∼70% heavy elements surrounded by a more dilute outer envelope of H
2
and He, Uranus and Neptune are fundamentally different from the better-explored gas giants Jupiter and Saturn. Because of the lack of dedicated exploration missions, our knowledge of the composition and atmospheric processes of these distant worlds is primarily derived from remote sensing from Earth-based observatories and space telescopes. As a result, Uranus's and Neptune's physical and atmospheric properties remain poorly constrained and their roles in the evolution of the Solar System not well understood. Exploration of an ice giant system is therefore a high-priority science objective as these systems (including the magnetosphere, satellites, rings, atmosphere, and interior) challenge our understanding of planetary formation and evolution. Here we describe the main scientific goals to be addressed by a future in situ exploration of an ice giant. An atmospheric entry probe targeting the 10-bar level, about 5 scale heights beneath the tropopause, would yield insight into two broad themes: i) the formation history of the ice giants and, in a broader extent, that of the Solar System, and ii) the processes at play in planetary atmospheres. The probe would descend under parachute to measure composition, structure, and dynamics, with data returned to Earth using a Carrier Relay Spacecraft as a relay station. In addition, possible mission concepts and partnerships are presented, and a strawman ice-giant probe payload is described. An ice-giant atmospheric probe could represent a significant ESA contribution to a future NASA ice-giant flagship mission.

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publishing date
type
Contribution to journal
publication status
published
subject
keywords
Atmosphere, Entry probe, Evolution, Formation, Neptune, Uranus
in
Planetary and Space Science
volume
155
pages
29 pages
publisher
Elsevier
external identifiers
  • scopus:85034616135
ISSN
0032-0633
DOI
10.1016/j.pss.2017.10.005
language
English
LU publication?
no
id
eaa243df-4eab-4e58-b393-738f809f8775
date added to LUP
2019-05-29 09:26:43
date last changed
2022-04-26 00:58:10
@article{eaa243df-4eab-4e58-b393-738f809f8775,
  abstract     = {{<p><br>
                            The ice giants Uranus and Neptune are the least understood class of planets in our solar system but the most frequently observed type of exoplanets. Presumed to have a small rocky core, a deep interior comprising ∼70% heavy elements surrounded by a more dilute outer envelope of H<br>
                            <sub>2</sub><br>
                             and He, Uranus and Neptune are fundamentally different from the better-explored gas giants Jupiter and Saturn. Because of the lack of dedicated exploration missions, our knowledge of the composition and atmospheric processes of these distant worlds is primarily derived from remote sensing from Earth-based observatories and space telescopes. As a result, Uranus's and Neptune's physical and atmospheric properties remain poorly constrained and their roles in the evolution of the Solar System not well understood. Exploration of an ice giant system is therefore a high-priority science objective as these systems (including the magnetosphere, satellites, rings, atmosphere, and interior) challenge our understanding of planetary formation and evolution. Here we describe the main scientific goals to be addressed by a future in situ exploration of an ice giant. An atmospheric entry probe targeting the 10-bar level, about 5 scale heights beneath the tropopause, would yield insight into two broad themes: i) the formation history of the ice giants and, in a broader extent, that of the Solar System, and ii) the processes at play in planetary atmospheres. The probe would descend under parachute to measure composition, structure, and dynamics, with data returned to Earth using a Carrier Relay Spacecraft as a relay station. In addition, possible mission concepts and partnerships are presented, and a strawman ice-giant probe payload is described. An ice-giant atmospheric probe could represent a significant ESA contribution to a future NASA ice-giant flagship mission.<br>
                        </p>}},
  author       = {{Mousis, O. and Atkinson, D. H. and Cavalié, T. and Fletcher, L. N. and Amato, M. J. and Aslam, S. and Ferri, F. and Renard, J. B. and Spilker, T. and Venkatapathy, E. and Wurz, P. and Aplin, K. and Coustenis, A. and Deleuil, M. and Dobrijevic, M. and Fouchet, T. and Guillot, T. and Hartogh, P. and Hewagama, T. and Hofstadter, M. D. and Hue, V. and Hueso, R. and Lebreton, J. P. and Lellouch, E. and Moses, J. and Orton, G. S. and Pearl, J. C. and Sánchez-Lavega, A. and Simon, A. and Venot, O. and Waite, J. H. and Achterberg, R. K. and Atreya, S. and Billebaud, F. and Blanc, M. and Borget, F. and Brugger, B. and Charnoz, S. and Chiavassa, T. and Cottini, V. and d'Hendecourt, L. and Danger, G. and Encrenaz, T. and Gorius, N. J.P. and Jorda, L. and Marty, B. and Moreno, R. and Morse, A. and Nixon, C. and Reh, K. and Ronnet, T. and Schmider, F. X. and Sheridan, S. and Sotin, C. and Vernazza, P. and Villanueva, G. L.}},
  issn         = {{0032-0633}},
  keywords     = {{Atmosphere; Entry probe; Evolution; Formation; Neptune; Uranus}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  month        = {{06}},
  pages        = {{12--40}},
  publisher    = {{Elsevier}},
  series       = {{Planetary and Space Science}},
  title        = {{Scientific rationale for Uranus and Neptune in situ explorations}},
  url          = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.pss.2017.10.005}},
  doi          = {{10.1016/j.pss.2017.10.005}},
  volume       = {{155}},
  year         = {{2018}},
}