Science Goals and Mission Architecture of the Europa Lander Mission Concept
Научные цели и архитектура миссии концепции миссии посадочного аппарата «Европа»
2022-01-01
SCID: 54.1/yr4rymfv
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Europa Lander missionastrobiologybiosignaturesplanetary sciencesubsurface ocean
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Abstract (AI)
Abstract Europa is a premier target for advancing both planetary science and astrobiology, as well as for opening a new window into the burgeoning field of comparative oceanography. The potentially habitable subsurface ocean of Europa may harbor life, and the globally young and comparatively thin ice shell of Europa may contain biosignatures that are readily accessible to a surface lander. Europa’s icy shell also offers the opportunity to study tectonics and geologic cycles across a range of mechanisms and compositions. Here we detail the goals and mission architecture of the Europa Lander mission concept, as developed from 2015 through 2020. The science was developed by the 2016 Europa Lander Science Definition Team (SDT), and the mission architecture was developed by the preproject engineering team, in close collaboration with the SDT. In 2017 and 2018, the mission concept passed its mission concept review and delta-mission concept review, respectively. Since that time, the preproject has been advancing the technologies, and developing the hardware and software, needed to retire risks associated with technology, science, cost, and schedule.
Key Findings
1
Europa is identified as a premier target for planetary science, astrobiology, and comparative oceanography because its potentially habitable subsurface ocean may harbor life.
2
Europa’s globally young and comparatively thin ice shell could preserve biosignatures that are accessible to a surface lander.
3
The Europa Lander mission concept aims to investigate Europa’s tectonics and geologic cycles across diverse mechanisms and compositions.
4
The mission concept passed mission concept reviews in 2017 and 2018, followed by technology and hardware/software development to reduce technology, science, cost, and schedule risks.
5
The mission’s science goals were defined by the 2016 Europa Lander Science Definition Team, while its architecture was developed collaboratively with preproject engineering.
Research Object
Europa’s icy shell and near-surface environment investigated by a surface lander
Research Subject
Potential biosignatures and habitability, along with tectonic and geologic cycles and mechanisms accessible at the surface
Publication Details
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2022-01-01
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