Moonraker: Enceladus Multiple Flyby Mission

The Planetary Science Journal, vol. 3, pp. 268

Abstract

Abstract Enceladus, an icy moon of Saturn, possesses an internal water ocean and jets expelling ocean material into space. Cassini investigations indicated that the subsurface ocean could be a habitable environment having a complex interaction with the rocky core. Further investigation of the composition of the plume formed by the jets is necessary to fully understand the ocean, its potential habitability, and what it tells us about Enceladus’s origin. Moonraker has been proposed as an ESA M-class mission designed to orbit Saturn and perform multiple flybys of Enceladus, focusing on traversals of the plume. The proposed Moonraker mission consists of an ESA-provided platform with strong heritage from JUICE and Mars Sample Return and carrying a suite of instruments dedicated to plume and surface analysis. The nominal Moonraker mission has a duration of ∼13.5 yr. It includes a 23-flyby segment with 189 days allocated for the science phase and can be expanded with additional segments if resources allow. The mission concept consists of investigating (i) the habitability conditions of present-day Enceladus and its internal ocean, (ii) the mechanisms at play for the communication between the internal ocean and the surface of the South Polar Terrain, and (iii) the formation conditions of the moon. Moonraker, thanks to state-of-the-art instruments representing a significant improvement over Cassini's payload, would quantify the abundance of key species in the plume, isotopic ratios, and the physical parameters of the plume and the surface. Such a mission would pave the way for a possible future landed mission.

Authors 53

1. Olivier J. Mousis corresponding

   Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique · Institut Universitaire de France · Aix-Marseille Université

   Affiliation as printed

   Aix-Marseille Université, CNRS, CNES, Institut Origines, LAM, Marseille, France; olivier.mousis@lam.fr

   Institut universitaire de France (IUF), France

   Aix-Marseille Université, CNRS, CNES, Institut Origines, LAM, Marseille, France

2. Alexis Bouquet

   Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique · Aix-Marseille Université

   Affiliation as printed

   Aix-Marseille Université, CNRS, CNES, Institut Origines, LAM, Marseille, France; olivier.mousis@lam.fr

   Aix-Marseille Université, CNRS, Institut Origines, PIIM, Marseille, France

   Aix-Marseille Université, CNRS, CNES, Institut Origines, LAM, Marseille, France

3. Y. Langevin

   Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique · Université Paris-Saclay · Institut d'Astrophysique Spatiale

   Affiliation as printed

   IAS, Institut d’Astrophysique Spatiale, Université Paris-Saclay, CNRS, Orsay, France

   IAS, Institut d'Astrophysique Spatiale, Université Paris-Saclay, CNRS, Orsay, France

4. Nicolás André

   Institut de Recherche en Astrophysique et Planétologie

   Affiliation as printed

   Institut de Recherche en Astrophysique et Planétologie, 9 avenue du Colonel Roche, F-31028, Toulouse Cedex 4, France

5. H. Boithias

   Airbus (France)

   Affiliation as printed

   Airbus Defence & Space, France

6. Georges Durry

   Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique · Groupe de Spectrométrie Moléculaire et Atmosphérique · Université de Reims Champagne-Ardenne

   Affiliation as printed

   Groupe de Spectrométrie Moléculaire et Atmosphérique, UMR 7331, CNRS, Université de Reims, Champagne Ardenne, Campus Sciences Exactes et Naturelles, BP 1039, F-51687, Reims, France

7. F. Faye

   Airbus (France)

   Affiliation as printed

   Airbus Defence & Space, France

8. P. Hartogh

   Max Planck Institute for Solar System Research

   Affiliation as printed

   Max-Planck-Institut für Sonnensystemforschung, Göttingen, Germany

9. J. Helbert

   Deutsches Zentrum für Luft- und Raumfahrt e. V. (DLR)

   Affiliation as printed

   Institute for Planetary Research, DLR, Berlin, Germany

10. LUCIANO IESS

    Sapienza University of Rome

    Affiliation as printed

    Dipartimento di ingegneria meccanica e aerospaziale, Universitá La Sapienza, Roma, Italy

11. Sascha Kempf

    University of Colorado Boulder · Laboratory for Atmospheric and Space Physics

    Affiliation as printed

    LASP, University of Colorado, Boulder, CO, USA

12. Adam Masters

    Imperial College London

    Affiliation as printed

    Imperial College London, London, UK

13. Frank Postberg

    Freie Universität Berlin

    Affiliation as printed

    Institute of Geological Sciences, Freie Universität Berlin, Germany

14. Jean Baptiste Renard

    Université d'Orléans · Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique · Laboratoire de Physique et Chimie de l’Environnement et de l’Espace

    Affiliation as printed

    LPC2E, CNRS, Université Orléans, CNES, 3A avenue de la Recherche Scientifique, F-45071, Orléans Cedex 2, France

15. Pierre Vernazza

    Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique · Aix-Marseille Université

    Affiliation as printed

    Aix-Marseille Université, CNRS, CNES, Institut Origines, LAM, Marseille, France; olivier.mousis@lam.fr

    Aix-Marseille Université, CNRS, CNES, Institut Origines, LAM, Marseille, France

16. Audrey Vorburger

    University of Bern

    Affiliation as printed

    Physics Institute, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland

17. Peter Wurz

    University of Bern

    Affiliation as printed

    Physics Institute, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland

18. David H. Atkinson

    California Institute of Technology · Jet Propulsion Laboratory

    Affiliation as printed

    Jet Propulsion Laboratory, California Institute of Technology, 4800 Oak Grove Drive, Pasadena, CA 91109-8001, USA

19. S. Barabash

    Swedish Institute of Space Physics

    Affiliation as printed

    Swedish Institute of Space Physics, Kiruna, Sweden

20. M. Berthomier

    École Polytechnique · Laboratoire de Physique des Plasmas

    Affiliation as printed

    Laboratoire de Physique des Plasmas, Ecole Polytechnique, Palaiseau, France

21. J. R. Brucato

    Arcetri Astrophysical Observatory

    Affiliation as printed

    INAF–Astrophysical Observatory of Arcetri, Florence, Italy

22. Morgan Leigh Cable

    California Institute of Technology · Jet Propulsion Laboratory

    Affiliation as printed

    Jet Propulsion Laboratory, California Institute of Technology, 4800 Oak Grove Drive, Pasadena, CA 91109-8001, USA

23. J. Carter

    Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique · Aix-Marseille Université

    Affiliation as printed

    Aix-Marseille Université, CNRS, CNES, Institut Origines, LAM, Marseille, France; olivier.mousis@lam.fr

    Aix-Marseille Université, CNRS, CNES, Institut Origines, LAM, Marseille, France

24. Stéphanie M. Cazaux Aachen Leiden Observatory

    Leiden University · Leiden Observatory · Delft University of Technology

    Affiliation as printed

    Faculty of Aerospace Engineering, Delft University of Technology, Delft, The Netherlands

    Leiden Observatory, Leiden University, PO Box 9513, 2300, RA Leiden, The Netherlands

25. Athena Coustenis

    Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique · Université Paris Sciences et Lettres · Observatoire de Paris · Sorbonne Université · Laboratoire d’études spatiales et d’instrumentation en astrophysique

    Affiliation as printed

    LESIA, Paris Observatory, CNRS, PSL Université, Sorbonne Université, Université de Paris, F-92190 Meudon, France

26. Grégoire Danger

    Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique · Institut Universitaire de France · Aix-Marseille Université

    Affiliation as printed

    Aix-Marseille Université, CNRS, Institut Origines, PIIM, Marseille, France

    Institut universitaire de France (IUF), France

27. V. Dehant

    Royal Observatory of Belgium

    Affiliation as printed

    Royal Observatory of Belgium, Brussels, 3 Avenue Circulaire, B-1180, Brussels, Belgium

28. Teresa Fornaro

    Arcetri Astrophysical Observatory

    Affiliation as printed

    INAF–Astrophysical Observatory of Arcetri, Florence, Italy

29. Philippe Garnier

    Institut de Recherche en Astrophysique et Planétologie

    Affiliation as printed

    Institut de Recherche en Astrophysique et Planétologie, 9 avenue du Colonel Roche, F-31028, Toulouse Cedex 4, France

30. Thomas Gautier

    Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique · Université de Versailles Saint-Quentin-en-Yvelines · Université Paris Sciences et Lettres · Observatoire de Paris · Sorbonne Université · Institut Pierre-Simon Laplace · Laboratoire d’études spatiales et d’instrumentation en astrophysique · Laboratoire atmosphères, milieux, observations spatiales

    Affiliation as printed

    LATMOS-IPSL, CNRS, Sorbonne Université, UVSQ-UPSaclay, Guyancourt, France

    LESIA, Paris Observatory, CNRS, PSL Université, Sorbonne Université, Université de Paris, F-92190 Meudon, France

31. O. Groussin

    Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique · Aix-Marseille Université

    Affiliation as printed

    Aix-Marseille Université, CNRS, CNES, Institut Origines, LAM, Marseille, France; olivier.mousis@lam.fr

    Aix-Marseille Université, CNRS, CNES, Institut Origines, LAM, Marseille, France

32. Lina Hadid

    Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique · École Polytechnique · Université Paris-Saclay · Observatoire de Paris · Sorbonne Université · Institut Polytechnique de Paris · Laboratoire de Physique des Plasmas

    Affiliation as printed

    Laboratoire de Physique des Plasmas (LPP), CNRS, Observatoire de Paris, Sorbonne Université, Université Paris Saclay, Ecole polytechnique, Institut Polytechnique de Paris, F-91120 Palaiseau, France

33. J. -C. Ize

    Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique · Aix-Marseille Université

    Affiliation as printed

    Aix-Marseille Université, CNRS, CNES, Institut Origines, LAM, Marseille, France; olivier.mousis@lam.fr

    Aix-Marseille Université, CNRS, CNES, Institut Origines, LAM, Marseille, France

34. Ivana Kolmašová

    Czech Academy of Sciences · Charles University · Czech Academy of Sciences, Institute of Atmospheric Physics

    Affiliation as printed

    Department of Space Physics, Institute of Atmospheric Physics of the Czech Academy of Sciences, 141 00 Prague, Czech Republic

    Faculty of Mathematics and Physics, Charles University, Prague, Czech Republic

35. Jean‐Pierre Lebreton

    Université d'Orléans · Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique · Laboratoire de Physique et Chimie de l’Environnement et de l’Espace

    Affiliation as printed

    LPC2E, CNRS, Université Orléans, CNES, 3A avenue de la Recherche Scientifique, F-45071, Orléans Cedex 2, France

36. S. Le Maistre

    Royal Observatory of Belgium

    Affiliation as printed

    Royal Observatory of Belgium, Brussels, 3 Avenue Circulaire, B-1180, Brussels, Belgium

37. E. Lellouch

    Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique · Université Paris Sciences et Lettres · Observatoire de Paris · Sorbonne Université · Laboratoire d’études spatiales et d’instrumentation en astrophysique

    Affiliation as printed

    LESIA, Paris Observatory, CNRS, PSL Université, Sorbonne Université, Université de Paris, F-92190 Meudon, France

38. Jonathan I. Lunine

    Cornell University

    Affiliation as printed

    Department of Astronomy, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, USA

39. Kathleen E. Mandt

    Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory

    Affiliation as printed

    Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Laboratory, Laurel, MD, USA

40. Zita Martins

    University of Lisbon · Instituto Superior Técnico · Centro de Química Estrutural

    Affiliation as printed

    Centro de Química Estrutural, Institute of Molecular Sciences and Department of Chemical Engineering, Instituto Superior Técnico, Universidade de Lisboa, Av. Rovisco Pais 1, 1049-001 Lisboa, Portugal

41. David Mimoun

    Institut Supérieur de l'Aéronautique et de l'Espace (ISAE-SUPAERO) · Université de Toulouse

    Affiliation as printed

    ISAE-SUPAERO, DEOS/SSPA, Université de Toulouse, France

42. Quentin Nénon

    Institut de Recherche en Astrophysique et Planétologie

    Affiliation as printed

    Institut de Recherche en Astrophysique et Planétologie, 9 avenue du Colonel Roche, F-31028, Toulouse Cedex 4, France

43. Guillermo M. Muñoz Caro

    Centro de Astrobiología

    Affiliation as printed

    Centro de Astrobiología (INTA-CSIC), Ctra. de Ajalvir, km 4, E-28850 Torrejón de Ardoz, Madrid, Spain

44. P. Rannou

    Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique · Groupe de Spectrométrie Moléculaire et Atmosphérique · Université de Reims Champagne-Ardenne

    Affiliation as printed

    Groupe de Spectrométrie Moléculaire et Atmosphérique, UMR 7331, CNRS, Université de Reims, Champagne Ardenne, Campus Sciences Exactes et Naturelles, BP 1039, F-51687, Reims, France

45. Heike Rauer

    Deutsches Zentrum für Luft- und Raumfahrt e. V. (DLR)

    Affiliation as printed

    Institute for Planetary Research, DLR, Berlin, Germany

46. Philippe Schmitt‐Kopplin

    Helmholtz Munich · Max Planck Institute for Extraterrestrial Physics

    Affiliation as printed

    Analytical Biochemistry (BGC), Helmholtz Munich, Ingolstaedter Landstrasse 1, 85764 Neuherberg, Germany

    Max Planck Institute for Extraterrestrial Physics, MPI/MPE, Center for Astrochemical Studies, Garching, Germany

47. Antoine Schneeberger

    Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique · Aix-Marseille Université

    Affiliation as printed

    Aix-Marseille Université, CNRS, CNES, Institut Origines, LAM, Marseille, France; olivier.mousis@lam.fr

    Aix-Marseille Université, CNRS, CNES, Institut Origines, LAM, Marseille, France

48. M. Simons

    California Institute of Technology

    Affiliation as printed

    Seismological Laboratory, California Institute of Technology, 1200 E. California Boulevard, Pasadena CA 91125, USA

49. Katrin Stephan

    Deutsches Zentrum für Luft- und Raumfahrt e. V. (DLR)

    Affiliation as printed

    Institute for Planetary Research, DLR, Berlin, Germany

50. Tim Van Hoolst

    Royal Observatory of Belgium

    Affiliation as printed

    Royal Observatory of Belgium, Brussels, 3 Avenue Circulaire, B-1180, Brussels, Belgium

51. Jakub Vaverka

    Charles University

    Affiliation as printed

    Faculty of Mathematics and Physics, Charles University, Prague, Czech Republic

52. Martin Wieser

    Swedish Institute of Space Physics

    Affiliation as printed

    Swedish Institute of Space Physics, Kiruna, Sweden

53. Lisa Wörner

    Deutsches Zentrum für Luft- und Raumfahrt e. V. (DLR)

    Affiliation as printed

    German Aerospace Center, Institute for Quantum Technologies, Ulm, Germany