Team JUPITER
JUPITER – Jovian Unit Processing
Intelligent Terrain and
Environment Reconnaissance
Skyler LaBuff, Jon Mefford, Jaime Ocampo, Eric Rogstad
Midterm presentation
Outline
Team JUPITER
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Introduction
Objectives
Jupiter
Europa
Ganymede
Io
Social, Political, Ethical, and Ecological Issues
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Midterm presentation
Introduction
Team JUPITER
Why does the Jovian System merit further exploration?
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Quite possibly the most complex, diverse, and
interesting part of the Solar System
Scientists believe that the right factors for life to develop
(liquid water, energy sources, organic compounds) may
exist on Europa underneath the solid-ice surface
Ganymede is the only known moon in the Solar System
to have an intrinsic magnetic field
Io is known to be the hottest and most volcanically
active planetary body in the Solar System
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Midterm presentation
Introduction
Objectives
Jupiter
Europa
Ganymede
Io
Issues
Introduction
Team JUPITER
History of Jovian Exploration
• Pioneer 10 & 11: Studied Jupiter’s magnetic field and
atmosphere, took close-up images of Jupiter and some
of its moons, experienced intense radiation
• Voyager 1 & 2: Images revealed volcanic activity on Io,
also discovered three new moons and a thin, dark ring
around the planet Jupiter
• Galileo and Jupiter Probe: Sensor probe was sent into
the gas giant, relaying temperature, wind speed and
pressure data through Galileo; first evidence of subsurface liquid ocean on Europa, Callisto, and Ganymede
• Cassini: Tested imaging and instrumentation on the
Jovian system while on its way to Saturn
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Midterm presentation
Introduction
Objectives
Jupiter
Europa
Ganymede
Io
Issues
Introduction
Team JUPITER
Heritage and Inspiration
• Mars Science Laboratory: Autonomous soft-landing
system using RADAR and LIDAR to accurately place
large payloads on the surface of celestial bodies
• JPL Antarctic Studies: Developing ice borehole probe
to explore under-ice seas at incredible pressures
• Life Inside Frozen Europa: Complete mission design
for exploration of Europan Seas using an orbiter, lander,
and ice burrower to detect signs of microbial life
• VASIMR Propulsion System: Variable-Specific-Impulse
Magnetoplasma Rocket engine being developed by
NASA as the next generation propulsion system
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Midterm presentation
Introduction
Objectives
Jupiter
Europa
Ganymede
Io
Issues
Science Objectives
Team JUPITER
• To search for signs of life to prove or disprove current
theories on Europan ecology
• To sample and inspect the mineral deposits, atmospheric
composition, and ice composition of Europa from a micro
perspective
• To map the magnetic field of Ganymede to learn more
about why this moon is unique
• To map the thermal and magnetic contour of Io to
investigate how Jupiter and the other Galilean moons
directly affect Io’s volcanic activity and complex plasma
and radiation environment
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Midterm presentation
Introduction
Objectives
Jupiter
Europa
Ganymede
Io
Issues
Technological Objectives
Team JUPITER
• To leave a communications relay for future missions to
the outer-lying planets
• To further the research and implementation of nuclear
reactors in outer space
• To further the use of the new VASIMR plasma propulsion
system
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Midterm presentation
Introduction
Objectives
Jupiter
Europa
Ganymede
Io
Issues
Jupiter
Team JUPITER
Zeus Orbiter
Jon Mefford
http://www.skyhighgallery.com/images/gallery-images/640-galilean-moons.jpg
Midterm presentation
Introduction
Objectives
Jupiter
Europa
Ganymede
Io
Issues
Zeus
Team JUPITER
• Zeus at a glance
– Will incorporate nuclear
reactor technology
– Propelled by VASIMR
engine
– Equipped with
RADAR/LIDAR sounding
devices, cameras,
communications relay
devices, and various
other scientific
instruments
– Will carry Europa Lander
(Taurus), Io probe, and
Ganymede probe
http://t2spflnasa.r3h.net/shuttle/support/researching/aspl/images/vasimr.jpg
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Midterm presentation
Introduction
Objectives
Jupiter
Europa
Ganymede
Io
Issues
Mission Objectives
Team JUPITER
Europa Radar Sounder Instrument Definition Team
• Objectives
http://www.spacedaily.com/images/europa-orbiter2000-bg.jpg
– Provide transport to Jovian system
– Perform radar sounding on Europa
and deliver Taurus
– Deliver Io and Ganymede probes
– Perform scientific studies on Jupiter
and act as data storage and
communications relay for the various
probes.
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Midterm presentation
Introduction
Objectives
Jupiter
Europa
Ganymede
Io
Issues
Mission Overview
Team JUPITER
• Insertion of Zeus into
Europan Orbit
• Deployment of Taurus
• Insertion of Zeus into a
polar orbit around Jupiter
• Deployment of Io and
Ganymede probes
• Continue storage and
transmission of data
grin.hq.nasa.gov/ABSTRACTS/GPN-2000-000451.html
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Midterm presentation
Introduction
Objectives
Jupiter
Europa
Ganymede
Io
Issues
Europa
Team JUPITER
Europa Lander
Europa Burrower
Eric Rogstad
NASA/JPL
Midterm presentation
Europa
Team JUPITER
Overview
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Smooth, crater-free surface
– Fractures dominate surface
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Surface unknowns
– Slush? Brown?
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Geothermal processes
– Tidal effects from Jupiter
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Surface processes
– Hubble telescope and Galileo probe detected a thin,
O2 atmosphere
http://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov
http://photojournal.jpl.nasa.gov
http://photojournal.jpl.nasa.gov
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Midterm presentation
Introduction
Objectives
Jupiter
Europa
Ganymede
Io
Issues
Europa Science
Team JUPITER
Science goals
• Atmospheric composition
– Pressure, temperature,
density
Thin, O2
atmosphere
Iron-rich core
• Terrain mapping
Silicate
mantle
– Stereo camera
• Surface composition
• Seismology
Fractured ice
crust
Subsurface
ocean
– Seismometer
• Radiation environment
http://planetscapes.com
– Radiation sensor
• Subsurface investigation
– Europa Burrower
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Midterm presentation
Introduction
Objectives
Jupiter
Europa
Ganymede
Io
Issues
Europa Lander (Taurus)
Team JUPITER
“Smart” ice lander
26 mEuropa
resolution
• Precision autonomous landing to
be demonstrated on Mars
Science Laboratory (2009)
• Throttleable liquid propulsion
system
• RTG powered
• Communicates with Zeus
http://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/
http://www.rosssea.info/
http://crevassezone.org
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Midterm presentation
Introduction
Objectives
Jupiter
Europa
Ganymede
Io
Issues
Europa Burrower (Icy Mole)
Team JUPITER
• Use heat generated by onboard
RTG to melt through ice
– Will require robust structure to
resist depth pressure and/or
electronics capable of surviving
high pressures
Lander
Ice
Robotic
arm
• Communications
Icy Mole
– Radio if possible, sonar for status
signals
Anchor
• Science
– Robotic arm with lights, cameras,
and possibly composition
analyzers
– Drift probe with simple temperature
and pressure measurements on
fiber-optic tether
Drift Probe
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Midterm presentation
Introduction
Objectives
Jupiter
Europa
Ganymede
Io
Issues
Team JUPITER
Ganymede/Io
Jaime Ocampo
http://members.wri.com/jeffb/vistapro/io-jupiter.jpg
Midterm presentation
Ganymede
Team JUPITER
• 7th moon from Jupiter and third
Galilean moon
• Galileo data suggests 3 layers:
ferrous molten core, silicate
rock and an ice/water layer on
the surface
• Would be considered a planet
except it orbits Jupiter
• Only moon in the Jovian
system with a magnetosphere
Ferrous
Core
Rocky
silicate
Ice
Layer
Water
layer
http://www.pparc.ac.uk/nw/Magnetosphere.jpg
http://faculty.salisbury.edu/~jwhoward/astro108/Lectures/a
ssets/images/img01202.jpg
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Midterm presentation
Introduction
Objectives
Jupiter
Europa
Ganymede
Io
Issues
Ganymede Probe
Team JUPITER
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/sl/thumb/5/50/Planet_Jupiter_Ganim
ed-Voyager_1.jpg/250px-Planet_Jupiter_Ganimed-Voyager_1.jpg
• Requires a high-fidelity
magnetometer
• Highly likely to have
interference from Jupiter’s
own magnetosphere
• Disposed of after its survey
of Ganymede
• Could be used to survey
other moons for magnetic
fluctuations before disposal
in Jupiter
• Will communicate with
Zeus for the duration of the
mission
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Midterm presentation
Introduction
Objectives
Jupiter
Europa
Ganymede
Io
Issues
Io
Team JUPITER
Silicate
Interior
Silicate
Surface
Iron
core
http://faculty.salisbury.edu/~jwhoward/astro108/Lectures/a
ssets/images/img01202.jpg
http://www.planetary.org/html/news/article
archive/headlines/2003/galileo-finalbow.html
• Internal composition looks like
Ganymede
• Most volcanically active body
in the Solar System
• It also has the highest
recorded planetary
temperatures
• Volcanic activity is enhanced
by strong tidal flexing from
Jupiter’s gravity
• Due to constant volcanic
eruptions, Io has a plasma
atmosphere
• Electrical current caused by Io
cutting through Jupiter's
magnetic field lines
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Midterm presentation
Introduction
Objectives
Jupiter
Europa
Ganymede
Io
Issues
Io Probe
Team JUPITER
• Requires high resolution
thermal scanner to
perform Thermal
Emission Spectrometry
(TES)
• Only able to hold orbit for
a limited amount of time
• Complex gravity,
radiation, and plasma
fields will be a challenge
to overcome
• Will communicate directly
with Zeus before being
disposed of
http://rst.gsfc.nasa.gov/Sect19/03534_browse.jpg
http://www.spacedaily.com/images/cassini-galileo-jupiter-io-desk.jpg
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Midterm presentation
Introduction
Objectives
Jupiter
Europa
Ganymede
Io
Issues
Public Issues
Team JUPITER
Social, Political, Ethical, and Ecological Issues
• Undertaking a flagship mission of this scale requires
large amounts of government funding
• Power is supplied to the mothership by a space-rated
nuclear reactor, requiring many safety precautions
• All systems will be designed to minimize or eliminate
possible contamination of the prospective world
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Midterm presentation
Introduction
Objectives
Jupiter
Europa
Ganymede
Io
Issues