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Article Dans Une Revue Planetary and Space Science Année : 2014

Scientific rationale for Saturn׳s in situ exploration

1 UTINAM - Univers, Transport, Interfaces, Nanostructures, Atmosphère et environnement, Molécules (UMR 6213)
2 AOPP - Department of Atmospheric, Oceanic and Planetary Physics [Oxford]
3 LPC2E - Laboratoire de Physique et Chimie de l'Environnement et de l'Espace
4 LESIA (UMR_8109) - Laboratoire d'études spatiales et d'instrumentation en astrophysique
5 Physikalisches Institut [Bern]
6 MPS - Max-Planck-Institut für Sonnensystemforschung = Max Planck Institute for Solar System Research
7 LESIA - Laboratoire d'études spatiales et d'instrumentation en astrophysique
8 TAU - Tel Aviv University
9 OU - The Open University [Milton Keynes]
10 Institut für Physik [Rostock]
11 CRPG - Centre de Recherches Pétrographiques et Géochimiques
12 Instituut voor Sterrenkunde [Leuven]
13 JPL - Jet Propulsion Laboratory
14 University of Idaho [Moscow, USA]
15 SwRI - Southwest Research Institute [San Antonio]
16 GSFC - NASA Goddard Space Flight Center
17 University of Michigan [Ann Arbor]
18 IRAP - Institut de recherche en astrophysique et planétologie
19 NOA - National Observatory of Athens
20 OeAW - Austrian Academy of Sciences
21 Department of Physics [Stockholm]
22 Stockholm University Astrobiology Centre
23 LAGRANGE - Joseph Louis LAGRANGE
24 Departamento de Fisica Aplicada [Bilbao]
25 Department of Astronomy [Ithaca]
26 QMUL - Queen Mary University of London
27 Department of Physics and Astronomy [Leicester]
28 LMD - Laboratoire de Météorologie Dynamique (UMR 8539)
29 CRSR - Center for Radiophysics and Space Research [Ithaca]
30 TAS - Thales Alenia Space [Toulouse]
P. Wurz
R. Helled
  • Fonction : Auteur
O. Venot
S. Atreya
T. Guillot
J.I. Lunine
F.-X. Schmider
T. Spilker
  • Fonction : Auteur
Kathrin Altwegg
  • Fonction : Auteur
  • PersonId : 987367

Résumé

Remote sensing observations meet some limitations when used to study the bulk atmospheric composition of the giant planets of our solar system. A remarkable example of the superiority of in situ probe measurements is illustrated by the exploration of Jupiter, where key measurements such as the determination of the noble gases׳ abundances and the precise measurement of the helium mixing ratio have only been made available through in situ measurements by the Galileo probe. This paper describes the main scientific goals to be addressed by the future in situ exploration of Saturn placing the Galileo probe exploration of Jupiter in a broader context and before the future probe exploration of the more remote ice giants. In situ exploration of Saturn׳s atmosphere addresses two broad themes that are discussed throughout this paper: first, the formation history of our solar system and second, the processes at play in planetary atmospheres. In this context, we detail the reasons why measurements of Saturn׳s bulk elemental and isotopic composition would place important constraints on the volatile reservoirs in the protosolar nebula. We also show that the in situ measurement of CO (or any other disequilibrium species that is depleted by reaction with water) in Saturn׳s upper troposphere may help constraining its bulk O/H ratio. We compare predictions of Jupiter and Saturn׳s bulk compositions from different formation scenarios, and highlight the key measurements required to distinguish competing theories to shed light on giant planet formation as a common process in planetary systems with potential applications to most extrasolar systems. In situ measurements of Saturn׳s stratospheric and tropospheric dynamics, chemistry and cloud-forming processes will provide access to phenomena unreachable to remote sensing studies. Different mission architectures are envisaged, which would benefit from strong international collaborations, all based on an entry probe that would descend through Saturn׳s stratosphere and troposphere under parachute down to a minimum of 10 bar of atmospheric pressure. We finally discuss the science payload required on a Saturn probe to match the measurement requirements.
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Dates et versions

hal-01276366 , version 1 (23-03-2020)

Identifiants

Citer

O. Mousis, L.N. Fletcher, J.P Lebreton, P. Wurz, T. Cavalié, et al.. Scientific rationale for Saturn׳s in situ exploration. Planetary and Space Science, 2014, 104 (Part A), pp.29-47. ⟨10.1016/j.pss.2014.09.014⟩. ⟨hal-01276366⟩
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