Journal article
Uranus and Neptune missions: A study in advance of the next Planetary Science Decadal Survey
Planetary and space science, Vol.177, p.104680
11/01/2019
DOI: 10.1016/j.pss.2019.06.004
Abstract
The ice giant planets, Uranus and Neptune, represent an important and relatively unexplored class of planet. Most of our detailed information about them comes from fleeting looks by the Voyager 2 spacecraft in the 1980s. Voyager, and ground-based work since then, found that these planets, their satellites, rings, and magnetospheres, challenge our understanding of the formation and evolution of planetary systems. We also now know that Uranus-Neptune size planets are common around other stars. These are some of the reasons ice giant exploration was a high priority in NASA's most recent Planetary Science Decadal Survey. In preparation for the next Decadal Survey, NASA, with ESA participation, conducted a broad study of possible ice giant missions in the 2024–2037 timeframe. This paper summarizes the key results of the study, and addresses questions that have been raised by the science community and in a recent NASA review. Foremost amongst these are questions about the science objectives, the science payload, and the importance of an atmospheric probe. The conclusions of the NASA/ESA study remain valid. In particular, it is a high priority to send an orbiter and atmospheric probe to at least one of the ice giants, with instrumentation to study all components of an ice giant system. Uranus and Neptune are found to be equally compelling as science targets. The two planets are not equivalent, however, and each system has things to teach us the other cannot. An additional mission study is needed to refine plans for future exploration of these worlds.
•We summarize and clarify a recent survey of possible missions to Uranus and Neptune.•Sending an orbiter and atmospheric probe to one of the ice giants is a high priority.•Scientifically, Uranus and Neptune are each compelling.•Optimal launch opportunities occur within a couple years of 2030.•A focused study is needed, incorporating recent NASA and ESA programmatic decisions.
Details
- Title: Subtitle
- Uranus and Neptune missions: A study in advance of the next Planetary Science Decadal Survey
- Creators
- Mark Hofstadter - Jet Propulsion LaboratoryAmy Simon - Goddard Space Flight CenterSushil Atreya - University of Michigan–Ann ArborDonald Banfield - Cornell UniversityJonathan J. Fortney - University of California, Santa CruzAlexander Hayes - Cornell UniversityMatthew Hedman - University of IdahoGeorge Hospodarsky - University of IowaKathleen Mandt - Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics LaboratoryAdam Masters - Imperial College LondonMark Showalter - Search for Extraterrestrial IntelligenceKrista M. Soderlund - The University of Texas at AustinDiego Turrini - Institute for Space Astrophysics and PlanetologyElizabeth Turtle - Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics LaboratoryKim Reh - Jet Propulsion LaboratoryJohn Elliott - Jet Propulsion LaboratoryNitin Arora - Jet Propulsion LaboratoryAnastassios Petropoulos - Jet Propulsion LaboratoryIce Giant Mission Study Team
- Resource Type
- Journal article
- Publication Details
- Planetary and space science, Vol.177, p.104680
- Publisher
- Elsevier Ltd
- DOI
- 10.1016/j.pss.2019.06.004
- ISSN
- 0032-0633
- eISSN
- 1873-5088
- Grant note
- DOI: 10.13039/100000104, name: National Aeronautics and Space Administration; DOI: 10.13039/501100000844, name: European Space Agency; DOI: 10.13039/501100000288, name: Royal Society
- Language
- English
- Date published
- 11/01/2019
- Academic Unit
- Physics and Astronomy
- Record Identifier
- 9984455542702771
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