Science Goals and Mission Objectives for the Future Exploration of Ice Giants Systems: A Horizon 2061 Perspective
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Science Goals and Mission Objectives for the Future Exploration of Ice Giants Systems: A Horizon 2061 Perspective Michel Blanc1,2 · Kathleen Mandt3 · Olivier Mousis2 · Nicolas André1 · Alexis Bouquet2 · Sébastien Charnoz4 · Kathleen L. Craft3 · Magali Deleuil2 · Léa Griton1 · Ravit Helled5 · Ricardo Hueso6 · Laurent Lamy2,7 · Corentin Louis1 · Jonathan Lunine8 · Thomas Ronnet9 · Juergen Schmidt10 · Krista Soderlund11 · Diego Turrini12 · Elizabeth Turtle3 · Pierre Vernazza2 · Olivier Witasse13 Received: 27 May 2020 / Accepted: 12 November 2020 © Springer Nature B.V. 2020
Abstract The comparative study of planetary systems is a unique source of new scientific insight: following the six “key science questions” of the “Planetary Exploration, Horizon 2061” long-term foresight exercise, it can reveal to us the diversity of their objects (Question 1) and of their architectures (Question 2), help us better understand their origins (Question 3) and how they work (Question 4), find and characterize habitable worlds (Question 5), and ultimately, search for alien life (Question 6). But a huge “knowledge gap” exists which limits the applicability of this approach in the solar system itself: two of its secondary planetary systems, the ice giant systems of Uranus and Neptune, remain poorly explored. In Situ Exploration of the Ice Giants: Science and Technology Edited by Olivier J. Mousis and David H. Atkinson
B M. Blanc 1
IRAP, CNRS-Université Toulouse III, Toulouse, France
2
LAM, CNRS-Aix-Marseille Université, Marseille, France
3
JHU-APL, Laurel, MD, USA
4
Institut de Physique du Globe de Paris, Paris, France
5
University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
6
Universidad del País Vasco (UPV/EHU), Bilbao, Spain
7
LESIA, CNRS-Observatoire de Paris, Meudon, France
8
Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, USA
9
Lund University, Lund, Sweden
10
University of Oulu, Oulu, Finland
11
Institute for Geophysics, Jackson School of Geosciences, University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX, USA
12
Institute for Space Astrophysics and Planetology INAF-IAPS, Rome, Italy
13
ESA-ESTEC, Noordwijk, The Netherlands
3
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M. Blanc et al.
Starting from an analysis of our current limited knowledge of solar system ice giants and their systems in the light of these six key science questions, we show that a long-term plan for the space exploration of ice giants and their systems will greatly contribute to answer these questions. To do so, we identify the key measurements needed to address each of these questions, the destinations to choose (Uranus, Neptune, Triton or a subset of them), the combinations of space platform(s) and the types of flight sequences needed. We then examine the different launch windows available until 2061, using a Jupiter flyby, to send a mission to Uranus or Neptune, and find that: (1) an optimized choice of platforms and flight sequences makes it possible to address a broad range of the key science questions with one mission at one of the planets. Combining an atmospheric entry probe with an orbiter tour
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