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At least 217 records · Page 12

Galileo Europa Mission (GEM) Tour Design

Galileo has received approval for a two-year follow-on mission, called the Galileo Europa (GEM). A three-phase tour has been designed for GEM that includes eight Europa encounters, four Callisto flybys, and two Io encounters to end the GEM in Decemger 1999. Although science desires for the satallite encountes were of primary importance to the tour design, the flyby conditions were also necessarily selected on the basis of the gravity assist they contributed to the trajectory. The tour design was heavily influenced by the requirement to return to Io, since the radiation exposure that acompanies such a flyby may serverely degrade the health of the spacecraft.

Galileo↗

Europa Luminescence Microscope

The Europa Luminescence Microscope (ELM) is an automated fluorescence and dark-field mi-croscope designed to meet key objectives defined in the NASA Europa Lander Study Report, includ-ing the identification and characterization of morphological biosignatures. ELM’s heritage stems from a 2U cubesat fluorescence microscope, the Fluorescence Analysis for In-situ Research (FLAIR) im-ager, designed and built at NASA Ames Research Center, for the autonomous study of microbial bi-ology in low Earth orbit. For the ELM implementation, a sample is autonomously manipulated with a microfluidic system using in-line filter sets to capture successively smaller particles on 10, 1.0, and 0.1 µm pore-size filters for imaging. For darkfield imaging, ELM uses ultraviolet and visible light to image organic and inorganic structures with submicron resolution. The ability to detect structural and chemical biosignatures as small as 0.2 µm in size is achieved by imaging native fluorescence and us-ing fluorescence microscopy stains to identify key molecular and structural indicators of microbial life (proteins, lipids, nucleic acids). To excite fluorescence, ELM uses LEDs with wavelengths centered near 265, 370, 470, and 530 nm and five emission bands. The use of multiple excitation and emission wavelengths for native fluorescence imaging not only enables the detection of different molecular species, but also their rough classification. Excitation at 265 nm allows for the detection of smaller polyaromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs; 1-5 rings), aromatic amino acids, and proteins with little to no interference from mineral fluorescence, given proper emission band selection. 370 and 470 nm light excites increasingly larger PAH structures (e.g., coronene) and larger aromatic biomolecules that may be present (e.g., protective pigments). Similarly, inorganic fluorescence can be characterized and sep-arated from organic fluorescence, allowing the recognition and in some cases classification, of miner-als and other abiotic particles. ELM is based upon work supported by the NASA COLDTech and ICEE-2 programs.

Microscope↗

Europan Molecular Indicators of Life Investigation (EMILI) for a Future Europa Lander Mission

The Europan Molecular Indicators of Life Investigation (EMILI) is an instrument concept being developed for the Europa Lander mission currently under study. EMILI will meet and exceed the scientific and technical/resource requirements of the organic composition analyzer identified as a core instrument on the Lander. EMILI tightly couples two complementary analytical techniques, based on 1) liquid extraction and processing with capillary electrophoresis and 2) thermal and chemical extraction with gas chromatography, to robustly detect, structurally characterize, and quantify the broadest range of organics and other Europan chemicals over widely-varying concentrations. Dual processing and analysis paths enable EMILI to perform a thorough characterization of potential molecular biosignatures and contextual compounds in collected surface samples. Here we present a summary of the requirements, design, and development status of EMILI with projected scientific opportunities on the Europa Lander as well as on other potential life detection missions seeking potential molecular biosignatures in situ.

Europa↗

Salt Distribution from Freezing Intrusions in Ice Shells on Ocean Worlds: Application to Europa

Several icy moons and dwarf planets appear to have hosted subsurface liquid water. Liquid water intruding upwards into the icy outer shells of these worlds freezes, forming ice and (from ocean solutes) non-ice solids. Here, we model concentrated aqueous solutions below 273 K to simulate the compositional evolution of freezing spherical intrusions. Starting solutions are based on five previously reported compositional end members for Europa's ocean. For moderate-pH end members dominated by chloride, sulfate, and/or carbonate, the solids formed include Ca-, Mg-, and Na-sulfates and -carbonates, as well as Na- and K-chlorides. For silica-rich, high-pH end members, abundant amorphous silica forms with, potentially, similarly abundant NaOH and KOH. We further develop a new numerical model to compute the spatial distribution of the formed solids and residual brine as freezing progresses. If non-ice solids settle to the bottom, their deposits tend to have stacked hourglass shapes, widening each time the crystallization temperature of a new solid is reached. We discuss the applicability of this model to vertical fractures and global freezing of a subsurface ocean. These results inform (i) how compositional heterogeneities may affect the thermophysical properties of ice shells, which in turn influence convective and cryovolcanic transport, (ii) the compatibility of brine pockets with physicochemical conditions suitable for microbial life, and (iii) possible measurements of compositional heterogeneities within ice shells by spacecraft such as NASA's Europa Clipper and ESA's JUICE missions. The methodology developed here is applicable to other ice-covered ocean worlds.

Planetary structure↗

Preparing for Europa Clipper Jupiter Observations: Multi-Wavelength Zonal Winds During the New Horizons and Cassini Flybys

We present Jovian zonal wind speeds measured during the Cassini and New Horizons Jupiter flybys in 2000 and 2007, respectively. We performed our cloud tracking wind measurements using an automated, two-dimensional correlation imaging velocimetry technique. We analyzed all LORRI panchromatic images from the New Horizons Jupiter flyby dataset. This LORRI measurement documents the state of Jupiter’s zonal mean wind speed in 2007 and extends the historical record of Jupiter’s winds. Among the Cassini ISS images, we processed the CL1CL2, CB2, UV3, BL1, BL2, GRN, RED, IR1, IR2, IR3, IR4, MT2, and MT3 filters. Our Cassini measurements provide valuable context to understand the altitudes probed by LORRI. Comparing the panchromatic LORRI measurements against past wind measurements using images captured with various narrow and wide-band camera filters is not straightforward. Because the Cassini ISS CL1CL2 “clear” filter’s performance is similar to that of LORRI, comparing CL1CL2 winds against LORRI results will help determine if the New Horizons measurements represent Jupiter’s cloud-top zonal wind speeds or if they are sensitive to different altitudes. In addition to placing our New Horizons measurements in altitudinal context, the Cassini ISS's IR4, IR2, RED, GRN, and BL1 filters are similar to those on Europa Clipper EIS camera. Wind measurements performed using those ISS filters will enable comparison to future missions, including anticipated observations to be taken by Europa Clipper

Jupiter↗

IER - 551: Experiment for Unresolved Resonance of Plutonium Actinides (EUROPA): CED-1 for True Intermediate Pu Benchmark

IER-551 or the Experiment for Unresolved Resonance Of Plutonium Actinides (EUROPA), is an experiment campaign to design and execute a series of true intermediate energy plutonium critical configurations. EUROPA is a collaboration between Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL), Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL), and the French Institut de Radioprotection et de Sûreté Nucléaire (IRSN) to validate current and future evaluations of 239,240 Pu isotopes. Preliminary designs were optimized using Particle Swarm Optimization to save on computation time and the configuration with highest percentage of intermediate neutrons causing fission found was BeO-Cd. This combination has over 70% of fissions occurring from intermediate energy neutrons. Secondary considerations regarding end benchmark uncertainties and quality of nuclear data resulted in a beryllium metal only experiment proposed as the final system. This final preliminary design achieves 68% intermediate fissions, sensitivities of fission and capture cross sections of 239 Pu of 0.3021 and -0.1610 respectively.

73 NUCLEAR PHYSICS AND RADIATION PHYSICS↗

Endogenic and Exogenic Contributions to Visible-wavelength Spectra of Europa’s Trailing Hemisphere

The composition of Europa’s trailing hemisphere reflects the combined influences of endogenous geologic resurfacing and exogenous sulfur radiolysis. Using spatially resolved visible-wavelength spectra of Europa obtained with the Hubble Space Telescope, we map multiple spectral features across the trailing hemisphere and compare their geographies with the distributions of large-scale geology, magnetospheric bombardment, and surface color. Based on such comparisons, we interpret some aspects of our spectra as indicative of purely exogenous sulfur radiolysis products and other aspects as indicative of radiolysis products formed from a mixture of endogenous material and magnetospheric sulfur. The spatial distributions of two of the absorptions seen in our spectra—a widespread downturn toward the near-UV and a distinct feature at 530 nm—appear consistent with sulfur allotropes previously suggested from ground-based spectrophotometry. However, the geographies of two additional features—an absorption feature at 360 nm and the spectral slope at red wavelengths—are more consistent with endogenous material that has been altered by sulfur radiolysis. We suggest irradiated sulfate salts as potential candidates for this material, but we are unable to identify particular species with the available data.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗

Ten-micron eclipse observations of Io, Europa, and Ganymede.

Eclipse observations of Jupiter's satellites Io, Europa, and Ganymede have been obtained in an 8 to 14-micron band pass during 1971. The simplest thermal model able to explain the data for each satellite is a two-layer surface structure with an upper layer, only a few millimeters thick, having low thermal conductivity consistent with fine rock powder or frost, and a subsurface having high thermal conductivity consistent with solid rock or dense ice. The upper layer on Io appears to be different from that on Europa and Ganymede, but the two-layer model fits all three satellites.

Hansen, O. L.↗

The spectral reflectivity of select areas on Europa

The July 12, 1973, occultation of Europa by Io was observed in 30 wavelength channels in the spectral region between 3200 and 11,000 A with the 200-inch Hale telescope and a multichannel spectrometer. The data are presented in absolute units above the earth's atmosphere and are analyzed to obtain the spectral reflectivity of seven localized areas on the disk of Europa centered on 324 deg W longitude. The equatorial material is confirmed to be darker than the eastward-skewed bright north polar cap and a hint is evident that the darker material may be somewhat redder than the cap material.

Greene, T. F.↗

de Sitter's theory 'melts' Europa's polar cap

In photoelectric observations of a series of occultations of the Jovian satellite Europa by the Jovian satellite Io it was observed that increasingly larger fractions of the north polar region of the former were covered at mid-event with each successive occultation. One of the possible explanations of the observed phenomena involves the existence of a bright north polar cap for Europa. The reported investigation shows that a second explanation may be more plausible. This explanation is related to the possibility that at mid-event the projected minimum distance between the centers of the satellites was smaller than predicted by Sampson's theory.

Aksnes, K.↗

Europa - Ultraviolet emissions and the possibility of atomic oxygen and hydrogen clouds

Emission signals from Europa with wavelength below 800 A were detected by the Pioneer 10 ultraviolet photometer. In the present paper, improved procedures for data reduction are used to determine the spatial region as well as the intensity of the suggested emission sources. The observations indicate a cloud with a radius of about 1.5 Jupiter radii and an apparent brightness of approximately 10 rayleighs for a wavelength of 500 A. It is argued that neutral oxygen atoms, along with neutral hydrogen, are produced through dissociation of water ice on the surface of Europa by particle impact. Electron impact ionization excitation of oxygen atoms in the resulting cloud then gives rise to the observed emission. The present source brightness and cloud radius results are used to estimate an oxygen column density of the order of 10 trillion per sq cm, while the density of atomic hydrogen is at most 100 billion per sq cm and 1 trillion per sq cm for molecular hydrogen.

Wu, F.-M.↗

Ganymede, Europa, Callisto, and Saturn's rings - Compositional analysis from reflectance spectroscopy

The reflectance spectra of Ganymede, Europa, Callisto, and the rings of Saturn are analyzed, using laboratory reflectance studies of water, frost, ice, and mineral mixtures. It is found that the spectra of the icy Galilean satellites are characteristic of water ice, or frost on ice, rather than pure water frost; and that the decrease in reflectance at visible wavelengths is caused by other mineral grains on the surface. The spectra of Saturn's rings are more characteristic of water frost, with other mineral grains mixed in the frost but not on the surface. It is also found that impurities of all these objects are not in isolated patches, but intimately mixed with the water. A new absorption feature at 1.15 microns has been identified in Ganymede, Callisto, and possibly Europa, which cannot be seen in Saturn's rings and whose cause is unknown.

Clark, R. N.↗

First evidence for a Europa plasma torus

The evidence from the Pioneer 10 plasma analyzer that plasma derived from Europa was present in the Jovian magnetosphere in December 1973 is summarized. Plasma detected between 1900 UT and 2100 UT on December 3, 1973, reveals a number of significant phenomena near the expected position of Europa's L shell. Mass addition to the magnetospheric plasma is indicated by a local increase in density apparently superimposed on the density gradient of Iogenic plasma. This increase in plasma density is unlike any phenomenon observed when the spacecraft is near a lunar L shell. The density shows fluctuations that make possible an estimate of the net outflow speed of magnetospheric ions per Jovian rotation. A radial flow speed in 1973 of 0.37 km/s from the Pioneer data is made, together with an estimate of 1 km/s in 1979 from Voyager 2 data, thus indicating a significant change.

Intriligator, D. S.↗

Liquid water and active resurfacing on Europa

Arguments for recent resurfacing of Europa by H2O from a liquid layer are presented, based on new interpretations of recent spacecraft and earth-based observations and revised theoretical calculations. The heat flow in the core and shell due to tidal forces is discussed, and considerations of viscosity and convection in the interior are found to imply water retention in the outer 60 km or so of the silicates, forming a layer of water/ice many tens of km thick. The outer ice crust is considered to be too thin to support heat transport rates sufficient to freeze the underlying water. Observational evidence for the calculations would consist of an insulating layer of frosts derived from water boiling up between cracks in the surface crust. Evidence for the existence of such a frost layer, including the photometric function of Europa and the deposits of sulfur on the trailing hemisphere, is discussed.

Squyres, S. W.↗

Patterns of fracture and tidal stresses on Europa

A comparison of dark band, triple band, and cuspate ridge orientations with the fracture patterns predicted for tidal distortion due to orbital recession and eccentricity is undertaken, to test the hypothesized identification of Europa's lineaments as tidal distortion and planetary volume change fractures. Short, reticule dark bands near the anti-Jove point could be tension cracks caused by orbital eccentricity. Long, arcuate dark bands and triple bands peripheral to the anti-Jove point may be strike-slip faults due to orbital recession. The orientation and distribution of cuspate ridges, if they are compressional, suggests their formation in response to a combination of orbital recession and planetary volume decrease. If surface fracturing is due to tidal deformation, important constraints are exerted by it on Europa's orbital evolution.

Helfenstein, P.↗

Voyager photometry of Europa

The photometric properties of Europa are derived through an analysis of 90 Voyager images with 3-143 deg phase angles in the spectral range from 0.34 to 0.58 microns. It is noted that, at small phase angles, the disk-integrated phase curve shows almost no evidence of an opposition effect. The scattering properties of Europa in general, and of the bright plain and dark mottled terrain types, cannot be represented by a lunar-like photometric law, although an equation which is a linear superposition of a lunar-like scattering law and a Lambert component provides an adequate and simple representation of scattering properties. The plains are photometrically more homogeneous than the mottled terrain, and these two terrain types exhibit an average normal reflectance of 0.71 on both leading and trailing hemispheres and of 0.60 on leading and 0.48 on trailing hemispheres, respectively.

Buratti, B.↗