This article is about the proposed space mission. For other uses, see Theo (disambiguation).
THEO (Testing the Habitability of Enceladus's Ocean) is a feasibility study for a New Frontiers class orbiter mission to Enceladus that would directly sample its south pole water plumes in order to study its internal habitability and to search for biosignatures.[2] Specifically, it would take advantage of the direct sampling opportunities of a subsurface ocean.
THEO
Names
Testing the Habitability of Enceladus's Ocean (THEO)
The study concept was produced by the 2015 Jet Propulsion Laboratory Planetary Science Summer School under the guidance of TeamX.[1] The study has not yet been formally proposed for funding.
Enceladus's south pole - Geysers spray water from many locations along the 'tiger stripes' feature.Artist's impression of possible hydrothermal activity on Enceladus.
A plume of water vapor and ice spews from Enceladus's south polar region, offering a unique opportunity for a low-cost mission in the search for life and habitable environments beyond Earth.[1][2] The THEO mission would further understanding of life and habitability in the Solar System by addressing (i) the limits of life under colder, fainter Sun conditions, (ii) the importance of hydrothermal alteration in the origin of life, and (iii) the distribution of molecules in the Solar System that may have served as the precursors for life.
The Cassini mission data suggest that this plume, sourced by a liquid reservoir beneath the moon's icy crust, contain organics, salts, and water-rock interaction derivatives. Thus, the ingredients for life as we know it are available in Enceladus's subsurface ocean.[3][4][5]
The THEO mission would primarily focus on whether Enceladus is habitable.[2] It would not look for life forms directly, but for higher abundances of certain molecules, ratios of organic compounds, or chains of amino acids could all be biosignatures that all give away the presence of life.[6]
Mission designedit
The trajectory of THEO would obtain the needed kinetic energy with one Venus and two Earth gravity assists. THEO would reduce its velocity (delta-v) by making flybys of Saturn moons Titan, Rhea, Dione, Tethys, and Enceladus before the Enceladus orbit insertion.[2] The data would be collected from three orbital attitudes (500 km, 100 km, 30 km) with each representing a separate mission phase.[2] More than 600 science orbits are expected over the span of nominal six-month mission. At the end of the mission, and according to planetary protection protocols, the orbiter will be sent on an impact trajectory to Tethys, where it will be discarded.[2]
Proposed payloadedit
This mission concept includes remote sensing and in situ analyses with:[1][2]
These instruments (total mass ≈80 kg) were selected to address four key questions for ascertaining the habitability of Enceladus's ocean within the context of the moon's geological activity:[1]
How are the plumes and ocean connected?
Are the abiotic conditions of the ocean suitable for habitability?
^ abcdeMacKenzie, Shannon M.; Caswell, Tess E.; Phillips-Lander, Charity M.; Stavros, E. Natasha; et al. (2 May 2016). "THEO Concept Mission: Testing the Habitability of Enceladus's Ocean". Advances in Space Research. 58 (6): 1117–1137. arXiv:1605.00579. Bibcode:2016AdSpR..58.1117M. doi:10.1016/j.asr.2016.05.037. S2CID 119112894.
^ abcdefghijJohn, K. K.; Wynne, J. J.; Powell, K.E.; MacKenzie, S. M. (2016). THEO Mission Concept: Testing the Habitability of Enceladus's Ocean(PDF). 47th Lunar and Planetary Science Conference.
^Waite, J. H.; Combi, M. R.; et al. (2006). "Cassini Ion and Neutral Mass Spectrometer: Enceladus Plume Composition and Structure". Science. 311 (5766): 1419–22. Bibcode:2006Sci...311.1419W. doi:10.1126/science.1121290. PMID 16527970. S2CID 3032849.
^Wall, Mike (May 7, 2015). "Ocean on Saturn Moon Enceladus May Have Potential Energy Source to Support Life". Space.com. Retrieved 2015-08-15.
^"Cassini Tastes Organic Material at Saturn's Geyser Moon". NASA. March 26, 2008. Retrieved 2008-03-26.
^Boyle, Rebecca (Mar 25, 2016). "Exploring the Oceans of the Outer Solar System". The Atlantic. Retrieved 2016-05-05.
December 15, 2023
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This article is about the proposed space mission For other uses see Theo disambiguation THEO Testing the Habitability of Enceladus s Ocean is a feasibility study for a New Frontiers class orbiter mission to Enceladus that would directly sample its south pole water plumes in order to study its internal habitability and to search for biosignatures 2 Specifically it would take advantage of the direct sampling opportunities of a subsurface ocean THEONamesTesting the Habitability of Enceladus s Ocean THEO Mission typeAstrobiology reconnaissanceOperatorNASAMission durationproposed 6 month science phase 1 Spacecraft propertiesSpacecraftTHEOPayload mass 80 kg 2 Dimensionscylindrical 4 5 m height 1 m diameter 2 Power594 W from a 72 m2 solar arrayStart of missionLaunch date2024 if selected for developmentEnd of missionDisposalproposed deorbit onto TethysEnceladus orbiterOrbits gt 600 2 The study concept was produced by the 2015 Jet Propulsion Laboratory Planetary Science Summer School under the guidance of TeamX 1 The study has not yet been formally proposed for funding Contents 1 Mission concept 2 Mission design 3 Proposed payload 4 See also 5 ReferencesMission concept edit nbsp Enceladus s south pole Geysers spray water from many locations along the tiger stripes feature nbsp Artist s impression of possible hydrothermal activity on Enceladus A plume of water vapor and ice spews from Enceladus s south polar region offering a unique opportunity for a low cost mission in the search for life and habitable environments beyond Earth 1 2 The THEO mission would further understanding of life and habitability in the Solar System by addressing i the limits of life under colder fainter Sun conditions ii the importance of hydrothermal alteration in the origin of life and iii the distribution of molecules in the Solar System that may have served as the precursors for life The Cassini mission data suggest that this plume sourced by a liquid reservoir beneath the moon s icy crust contain organics salts and water rock interaction derivatives Thus the ingredients for life as we know it are available in Enceladus s subsurface ocean 3 4 5 The THEO mission would primarily focus on whether Enceladus is habitable 2 It would not look for life forms directly but for higher abundances of certain molecules ratios of organic compounds or chains of amino acids could all be biosignatures that all give away the presence of life 6 Mission design editThe trajectory of THEO would obtain the needed kinetic energy with one Venus and two Earth gravity assists THEO would reduce its velocity delta v by making flybys of Saturn moons Titan Rhea Dione Tethys and Enceladus before the Enceladus orbit insertion 2 The data would be collected from three orbital attitudes 500 km 100 km 30 km with each representing a separate mission phase 2 More than 600 science orbits are expected over the span of nominal six month mission At the end of the mission and according to planetary protection protocols the orbiter will be sent on an impact trajectory to Tethys where it will be discarded 2 Proposed payload editThis mission concept includes remote sensing and in situ analyses with 1 2 a mass spectrometer SWAMP a sub mm radiometer spectrometer WAVES a camera DRIPS a magnetometer OSMOSIS doppler tracking GEISER These instruments total mass 80 kg were selected to address four key questions for ascertaining the habitability of Enceladus s ocean within the context of the moon s geological activity 1 How are the plumes and ocean connected Are the abiotic conditions of the ocean suitable for habitability How stable is the ocean environment Is there evidence of biological processes See also edit nbsp Astronomy portal nbsp Biology portalAbiogenesis Astrobiology Enceladus Explorer EnEx Enceladus Life Finder ELF Enceladus Life Signatures and Habitability ELSAH Europa Clipper Explorer of Enceladus and Titan E2T Journey to Enceladus and Titan JET Life Investigation For Enceladus LIFE References edit a b c d e MacKenzie Shannon M Caswell Tess E Phillips Lander Charity M Stavros E Natasha et al 2 May 2016 THEO Concept Mission Testing the Habitability of Enceladus s Ocean Advances in Space Research 58 6 1117 1137 arXiv 1605 00579 Bibcode 2016AdSpR 58 1117M doi 10 1016 j asr 2016 05 037 S2CID 119112894 a b c d e f g h i j John K K Wynne J J Powell K E MacKenzie S M 2016 THEO Mission Concept Testing the Habitability of Enceladus s Ocean PDF 47th Lunar and Planetary Science Conference Waite J H Combi M R et al 2006 Cassini Ion and Neutral Mass Spectrometer Enceladus Plume Composition and Structure Science 311 5766 1419 22 Bibcode 2006Sci 311 1419W doi 10 1126 science 1121290 PMID 16527970 S2CID 3032849 Wall Mike May 7 2015 Ocean on Saturn Moon Enceladus May Have Potential Energy Source to Support Life Space com Retrieved 2015 08 15 Cassini Tastes Organic Material at Saturn s Geyser Moon NASA March 26 2008 Retrieved 2008 03 26 Boyle Rebecca Mar 25 2016 Exploring the Oceans of the Outer Solar System The Atlantic Retrieved 2016 05 05 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title THEO amp oldid 1163238083, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
