Recommendations for Addressing Priority Io Science in the Next Decade
2021; American Astronomical Society; Volume: 53; Issue: 4 Linguagem: Inglês
10.3847/25c2cfeb.3de45b59
ISSN2330-9458
AutoresJ. T. Keane, A. A. Ahern, F. Bagenal, Amy C. Barr Mlinar, Ko Basu, P. Becerra, Tanguy Bertrand, R. A. Beyer, C. J. Bierson, M. T. Bland, D. Breuer, A. G. Davies, Katherine de Kleer, Imke de Pater, D. N. DellaGiustina, T. Denk, Ariana Echevarria, C. M. Elder, Lori M. Feaga, C. Grava, P. M. Gregg, T. K. P. Gregg, C. W. Hamilton, Camilla D. K. Harris, Walter M. Harris, Hamish Hay, Amanda Hendrix, Sarah M. Hörst, Rowan Huang, A. C. G. Hughes, Kandis Lea Jessup, Xianzhe Jia, L. M. Jozwiak, J. T. Keane, L. Kerber, L. Kestay, K. K. Khurana, W. S. Kiefer, M. R. Kirchoff, Edwin S. Kite, Lea Klaiber, R. L. Klima, Corbin L. Kling, Valery J. Lainey, R. M. C. Lopes, Alice Lucchetti, K. E. Mandt, Isamu N. Matsuyama, Christine McCarthy, A. S. McEwen, M. A. McGrath, Laurent G. J. Montési, Julieanne I. Moses, Arielle Moullet, Quentin Nénon, G. A. Neumann, Marc Neveu, F. Nimmo, John W. Noonan, M. Pajola, M. P. Panning, Ryan S. Park, Anne Pommier, L. C. Quick, J. Radebaugh, J. A. Rathbun, K. D. Retherford, J. H. Roberts, E. Roussos, P. Schenk, N. M. Schneider, J. Schools, Rohan Sood, J. R. Spencer, Dan C. Spencer, Gregor Steinbrügge, A. H. Sulaiman, Sarah Sutton, Antony Trinh, Constantine Tsang, Janet Vertesi, Audrey Vorburger, J. H. Westlake, D. A. Williams,
Tópico(s)Scientific Computing and Data Management
ResumoIo is a priority destination for solar system exploration, as it is the best natural laboratory to study the intertwined processes of tidal heating, extreme volcanism, and atmospheremagnetosphere interactions.Io exploration is relevant to understanding terrestrial planets and moons (including the early Earth), ocean worlds, and exoplanets across the cosmos.The scope and importance of science questions at Io necessitates a broad portfolio of research and analysis, telescopic observations, and planetary missions-including a dedicated New Frontiers class Io mission.Recommendation 1: We strongly recommend a dedicated New Frontiers class Io mission for the next decade.As outlined in a companion white paper, The Science Case for Io, Io is a priority destination for future exploration.There is much that can only be learned through detailed in situ measurements and observations from a dedicated Io mission.Even as nextgeneration telescopes come online, we are unlikely to achieve spatial resolutions better than tens of kilometers, and we cannot make observations of Io's poles or night hemisphere.There are also entire suites of in situ measurements which are simply not possible without visiting Io-like measuring Io's gravity and magnetic fields, or sampling its plumes and atmosphere.Furthermore, a dedicated mission to Io in the coming decade is timely, as it would enhance the science return from current and future Jupiter-system missions (Juno, Europa Clipper, JUICE), enabling true system science and contemporaneous investigations of the tidal and orbital evolution of the entire Jovian system.A mission to Io could also inform and guide forthcoming exoplanet observations with next-generation telescopes, and inform our understanding of the origins of life through implications for the early Earth and tidally heated ocean worlds like Europa, Enceladus, and Titan.Box 1 outlines a notional mission concept for a dedicated Io mission that could plausibly address all of the Priority Science Questions outlined in The Science Case for Io.This "Io Observer" concept is an amalgam of multiple different concepts, ideas, and mission proposals [1][2][3][4][5][6][7][8][9][10][11][12][13][14][15][16] .While we highlight one particular concept we encourage the decadal survey to allow flexibility in implementation.The past decade is characterized by mission selections that exemplify how new, innovative, and bold ideas have the power to transform the field (e.g., Dragonfly 17 ).A Jupiterorbiting, multiple-flyby, Io Observer may be the prevailing approach at this time, but out-of-thebox concepts may be capable of addressing a preponderance of Priority Science Questions, including orbiters, landers, impactors, and distant observers.The cost of the notional Io Observer mission concept outlined in Box 1 requires a detailed study by the decadal survey (see Recommendation 2).Io mission concepts have previously targeted either the Discovery program 1,3,7,10,12,15 or the New Frontiers program 2,6,8-9,13-14 , with sporadic discussion of Flagship class Io missions 4-5 .Io exploration is possible in all cost regimes; the question is: what is the best trade between science and cost?Discovery class Io missions tend to focus on addressing a subset of possible Io Priority Science Questions (consistent with the scope of the Discovery program, which generally address targeted science investigations).New Frontiers class Io missions have potential to address all of the Priority Science Questions, and fully realize the cross-cutting planetary science potential of Io.Flagship class Io missions could completely address all Priority Science Questions, but may be unrealistic given other priorities in planetary science.Based on the scope of the Io science and the implementation challenges, we recommend the decadal survey consider Io as a priority for the New Frontiers program-consistent with past decadal surveys, midterm reports, reports from the Committee on Astrobiology and Planetary Science [18][19][20] .Put simply, Io offers New Frontiers caliber science.At the time of writing this report, NASA is evaluating a proposed Discovery class mission to Io: Io Volcano Observer (IVO) 15 .Owing to the ongoing competition, we refrain from discussing
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