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Interior Characterization of Europa using Magnetometry

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This is an old revision of this page, as edited by Rowan Forest (talk | contribs) at 20:10, 6 March 2019 (Clarifying: instrument cancelled, not the mission.). The present address (URL) is a permanent link to this revision, which may differ significantly from the current revision.
ICEMAG
OperatorNASA
ManufacturerJet Propulsion Laboratory
Instrument typeMagnetometer
Functioninternal planetary characterization and exosphere activity
Mission durationCruise: 3-6 years
Science phase: ≥ 3 years
Host spacecraft
SpacecraftEuropa Clipper
OperatorNASA
Launch date≈ 2025 (instrument cancelled)
RocketSLS
Launch siteKennedy Space Center

The Interior Characterization of Europa using Magnetometry (ICEMAG) is a multi-frequency magnetometer that was proposed to be flown on board the Europa Clipper mission to Jupiter's moon Europa, but its inclusion was cancelled in March 2019. Magnetic induction is a powerful tool for probing the subsurface and determine Europa's ocean depth, salinity, and ice shell thickness, as well as detecting erupting plume activity.

The Principal Investigator is Carol Raymond, at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory.[1]

On March 5, 2019, NASA's Associate Administrator for the Science Mission Directorate, Thomas Zurbuchen, announced that ICEMAG would no longer be part of the Europa Clipper mission, primarily citing recurring cost increases (over three times the original cost put forward in the proposal).[2]

Overview

Magnetic induction is a powerful tool for probing the subsurface. ICEMAG would have observed the magnetic field near Europa with greatly enhanced sensitivity compared to a similar instrument carried by NASA's Galileo spacecraft, which orbited Jupiter from 1995 to 2003. The magnetic field induced in Europa over many frequencies would reveal the ocean depth and ice shell thickness, especially when combined with the REASON ice penetrating radar data and the PIMS instrument. Knowledge of the ocean properties would help understand Europa's evolution and allow evaluation of processes that have cycled material between the depths and the surface, and would help assess the ocean's potential habitability.[3][4] ICEMAG would help understand not only what Europa is made of, but also the processes that link the ocean to the surface, and how the system works.[3]

ICEMAG utilizes fluxgate magnetic field sensors[5] and helium sensors in an integrated magnetic measurement system.[6] Electromagnetic waves between 10−2 to 1 hertz could reveal localized mass flow of ions arising from plumes and the atmosphere; that is, localized transient currents indicate plume activity.[1] In general, ICEMAG data would combine synergistically with other data sets to improve knowledge of interior properties and exosphere activity.

Objectives

The objectives of the ICEMAG investigation are:[1]

  • Constrain Europa's thermal evolution and current interior state
  • Identify the source of the Europan atmosphere and processes by which it is lost
  • Understand coupling between Europa and Jupiter's ionospheres and coupling of plumes to the flowing plasma
  • Determine the location, thickness and salinity of the Europan ocean
  • Locate of any active vents, plumes, and ionized plasma trails, the strength of plumes, and loss rates from the atmosphere
  • Determine the strength of electric currents and plasma coupling Jupiter to Europa

See also

References

  1. ^ a b c ICEMAG - Interior Characterization of Europa Using Magnetometry (PDF). Carol Raymond, et al. August 24, 2015.
  2. ^ ICEMAG Update on Europa Clipper March 5, 2019.
  3. ^ a b Europa Mission to Probe Magnetic Field and Chemistry. Preston Dyches, NASA News. May 27, 2015.
  4. ^ Tribou, Richard (19 June 2015). "NASA going to Jupiter moon Europa to hunt for water, keys to life". Orlando Sentinel. Orlando, FL. Retrieved 2017-11-12.
  5. ^ Fluxgate Magnetometer. ELFIN, at UCLA.
  6. ^ Interior Characterization of Europa using Magnetometry (ICEMAG): Probing the Europan Ocean and Exosphere. Raymond, C. A.; Jia, X.; Joy, S. P.; Khurana, K. K.; Murphy, N.; Russell, C. T.; Strangeway, R. J.; Weiss, B. P. American Geophysical Union, Fall Meeting 2015, abstract #P13E-08.
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