possible probes and scientific instruments for titan, enceladus and the saturnian system

Titan Enceladus Meeting,Paris, Feb 14-15, 2007 MSSL/UCL UK

Possible Probes and Possible Probes and Scientific Instruments for Scientific Instruments for Titan, Enceladus and the Titan, Enceladus and the

Saturnian system Saturnian system

Kinetic Penetrators Kinetic Penetrators - R. Gowen - R. Gowen Space Plasmas Space Plasmas - A. Coates - A. Coates X-ray Observations X-ray Observations - G.Branduardi - G.Branduardi

MSSL/UCLMSSL/UCL


Mullard Space Science LaboratoryMullard Space Science Laboratory

Part of University College LondonPart of University College London 140 Staff140 Staff Astrophysics (..XMM, Swift…), Astrophysics (..XMM, Swift…),

Solar physics (..Yokhoh, Soho, Hinode) Solar physics (..Yokhoh, Soho, Hinode) Space Plasma Physics (Cluster, Cassini,…) Space Plasma Physics (Cluster, Cassini,…) Planetary Physics (Beagle2, Exomars…)Planetary Physics (Beagle2, Exomars…)Climate PhysicsClimate Physics

In-house mechanical and electrical In-house mechanical and electrical engineering design, manufacture and testengineering design, manufacture and test

Provided hardware or calibration facilities for 17 Provided hardware or calibration facilities for 17 instruments on 12 spacecraft currently operatinginstruments on 12 spacecraft currently operating

Hinode Launch22-9-06


PenetratorPenetratorConsortiumConsortium

MSSLMSSL– Consortium lead, payload technologies, payload system designConsortium lead, payload technologies, payload system design

Birkbeck College LondonBirkbeck College London– ScienceScience

Imperial College London Imperial College London – SeismometersSeismometers

Open UniversityOpen University– Science and geochemistry instrumentationScience and geochemistry instrumentation

QinetiQQinetiQ– Impact technologies, delivery systems technologiesImpact technologies, delivery systems technologies

Southampton UniversitySouthampton University– Optical FibresOptical Fibres

Surrey Space Science Centre and SSTLSurrey Space Science Centre and SSTL– Platform technologies, delivery system technologiesPlatform technologies, delivery system technologies


Penetrator Science Penetrator Science

Probe sub-surface chemistry (organic, astrobiological content ?) Probe sub-surface chemistry (organic, astrobiological content ?)

Probe sub-surface hardness/composition – via Probe sub-surface hardness/composition – via accelerometers/chemical sensorsaccelerometers/chemical sensors

Probe interior structure and seismic activity of bodies – via Probe interior structure and seismic activity of bodies – via seismometers, beeping transmitterseismometers, beeping transmitter

Probe interior geothermal and chemistry – via heat flow Probe interior geothermal and chemistry – via heat flow measurementsmeasurements

Probe … surface magnetic field, radiation, atmosphere, descent Probe … surface magnetic field, radiation, atmosphere, descent camera (surface morphology), etc…camera (surface morphology), etc…


TechnologyTechnology Deploy from orbit or balloon…Deploy from orbit or balloon…

– Deploy from orbit ~15-18Kg for a 2 probe system (Enceladus,Titan) Deploy from orbit ~15-18Kg for a 2 probe system (Enceladus,Titan) - De-orbiting and attitude control systems to decelerate probes to - De-orbiting and attitude control systems to decelerate probes to provide near vertical axially oriented impact ~300m/s at 10kgee.provide near vertical axially oriented impact ~300m/s at 10kgee. - deterministic landing zones.- deterministic landing zones.- For Titan need to study effects of atmospheric winds.- For Titan need to study effects of atmospheric winds.

– Deploy from balloon ~ 5Kg/penetrator Deploy from balloon ~ 5Kg/penetrator (less mass) (less mass) (Titan)(Titan)- Gravitational acceleration and aero fins to provide axially - Gravitational acceleration and aero fins to provide axially oriented oriented impact.impact.(Balloon – penetrator probes -> powerful science combination)(Balloon – penetrator probes -> powerful science combination)- Can sample more landing zones (icy, dunes, lakes,…)- Can sample more landing zones (icy, dunes, lakes,…)- Landing site not deterministic - determined by balloon drift path. - Landing site not deterministic - determined by balloon drift path. - Could soften landing impact, reduced penetration.- Could soften landing impact, reduced penetration.- Deployment optimisation by selecting low atmospheric winds ?- Deployment optimisation by selecting low atmospheric winds ?- Penetrator mass could double as ballast (if do not need seismic- Penetrator mass could double as ballast (if do not need seismic instruments – else need early coordinated deployment) instruments – else need early coordinated deployment)

(Lunar-A 13.6 Kg, DS2 3.6Kg penetrators).(Lunar-A 13.6 Kg, DS2 3.6Kg penetrators).


TechnologyTechnology

Scientific payload: ~2Kg for each penetrator.Scientific payload: ~2Kg for each penetrator.

Probes to penetrate down to few metres under surface.Probes to penetrate down to few metres under surface.

Lifetime: batteries provide ~1 year on Moon, but rhus Lifetime: batteries provide ~1 year on Moon, but rhus required for extended operations on cold worlds.required for extended operations on cold worlds.

Heritage: Space penetrators DS2 and Lunar-A fullyHeritage: Space penetrators DS2 and Lunar-A fullyspace qualified. TRL 6.space qualified. TRL 6.

No great history of failure: DS2 only penetrators to No great history of failure: DS2 only penetrators to have been deployed, though failed alongside lander. have been deployed, though failed alongside lander.

Defence sector regularly fires instrumentedDefence sector regularly fires instrumentedmissiles at these speeds at concrete and steel missiles at these speeds at concrete and steel and survive.and survive.

Precede by Lunar Technical Demonstrator Mission.Precede by Lunar Technical Demonstrator Mission.UK recently announced MoonLITE penetrator UK recently announced MoonLITE penetrator mission (2010-2011).mission (2010-2011).


Examples of electronic systemsExamples of electronic systems

Have designed and tested electronics Have designed and tested electronics for high-G applications:for high-G applications:

– Communication systemsCommunication systems 36 GHz antenna, receiver and 36 GHz antenna, receiver and

electronic fuze electronic fuze tested to 45 kgeetested to 45 kgee

– DataloggersDataloggers 8 channel, 1 MHz sampling rate 8 channel, 1 MHz sampling rate

tested to 60 kgeetested to 60 kgee

– MEMS devices (accelerometers, MEMS devices (accelerometers, gyros)gyros) Tested to 50 kgeeTested to 50 kgee

– MMIC devicesMMIC devices Tested to 20 kgeeTested to 20 kgee

– TRL 6TRL 6

MMIC chip tested to 20 kgeeMMIC chip tested to 20 kgee

Communication system and Communication system and electronic fuze tested to 45 kgeeelectronic fuze tested to 45 kgee

Titan Enceladus Meeting, Paris, Feb 14-15,2007

MSSL plasma interests at Titan

• Titan plasma interaction being explored by Cassini• Plasma environment important for upper atmosphere

heating• New results show that plasma environment is relevant to

atmosphere via negative ion formation (Coates et al, Waite et al, 2007)

• Important consequences for surface• Need to be explored at lower altitudes – is this the link

needed for heavy organic formation ?


MSSL plasma interests at Enceladus

• Flow deflection near Enceladus (Tokar et al, 2006) due to neutral particle environment

• Accompanied by electron cooling due to neutrals• Magnetosphere nearby important in affecting

surface and as part of the environment of Enceladus

• Need to explore closer and with good electron, ion, composition measurements


X-rays from Saturn

• Clear detections with XMM-Newton and Chandra

• Disk and polar cap X-ray emissions have similar spectra (unlike Jupiter) scattering of solar X-rays and fluorescent oxygen line emission no obvious X-ray emission from the aurorae (unlike Jupiter: too faint?)• Flux variability (flares) suggests X-ray emission controlled by the Sun

• Oxygen K line (0.53 keV) detected from the rings fluorescent scattering of solar X-rays from oxygen in H2O icy material consistent with Cassini detection of photo-produced tenuous atmosphere above the rings

Bhardwaj et al. 2005

Chandra ACIS

Chandra ACIS

Bhardwaj et al. 2005


An X-ray imaging spectrometer for the Saturnian system• Unprecedented opportunity to combine in-situ X-ray observations with

particle measurements

Scientific objectives• Search for X-ray aurorae and correlate with UV emission: - what fraction of X-ray emission is of magnetospheric origin? - what mechanisms may be at work? e.g. ionic charge exchange, electron bremsstrahlung, as on Jupiter? - how do auroral X-rays, and so the magnetosphere, respond to solar activity?

• Explore in detail the X-ray emission from the rings: - how is it distributed along and above/below the rings? - how correlated with chemical properties of rings atmosphere? - how correlated with solar irradiation (aspect and intensity)?

Branduardi-Raymont et al. 2007

Jupiter (XMM-Newton)


Scientific objectives (cont.)

• Investigate the response of Saturn’s upper atmosphere to solar X-ray irradiation: albedo, time and spectral variability

• X-ray measurements of other solar system bodies en route to the planet, exploration of the Saturnian satellites (especially Titan) and their relation to Saturn

X-ray imaging spectrometer is under study at MSSL: Low mass, low power, 2o FOV micropore optics, CCD-type energy resolution (~0.1 few keV)

An X-ray imaging spectrometerfor the Saturnian system


Summary Summary

Kinetic Penetrators - Interior body and geochemistryKinetic Penetrators - Interior body and geochemistry - R. Gowen - R. Gowen Space Plasmas Space Plasmas - Magnetospheres/atmospheric links - A. Coates - Magnetospheres/atmospheric links - A. Coates X-ray Observations - Saturn rings and atmospheric physics - G.BranduardiX-ray Observations - Saturn rings and atmospheric physics - G.Branduardi

Rob Gowen [email protected] Coates [email protected] Branduardi [email protected]

possible probes and scientific instruments for titan, enceladus and the saturnian system

Documents

etctitan enceladus meeting

kgeetitan enceladus

probe system enceladus

enceladus tokar et

landing impact

penetrator mass

tested electronics

titan deorbiting