The Europa Orbiter radar sounder: Innovative radar design for a challenging mission

Author

Johnson, William T K ; Jordan, Rolando ; Safaeinili, Ali

Author_Institution

Jet Propulsion Lab., California Inst. of Technol., Pasadena, CA, USA

Volume

1

fYear

2002

fDate

2002

Abstract

Recent observations of the surface of the Jovian moon Europa indicates the possibility of the presence of a vast ocean beneath the icy surface. Currently the NASA mission Europa Orbiter plans to place several instruments, including a radar sounder, in a 150 km circular orbit around this moon. The science objectives of the EO Mission are: to understand the surface composition, especially compounds of interest to prebiotic chemistry; map the distribution of important constituents of the surface and characterize subsurface interfaces; and characterize the radiation environment in order to reduce the uncertainties for future missions, especially landers. To support these science objectives, the Europa Orbiter will have the following instruments: an ice-penetrating radar; a laser altimeter and an IR-visual imager.

Keywords

aerospace instrumentation; ground penetrating radar; planetary satellites; planetary surfaces; remote sensing by radar; space vehicles; 150 km; Europa Orbiter radar sounder; Jovian moon; NASA mission; circular orbit; ice-penetrating radar; mission constraints; surface composition; surface mapping; Chemical lasers; Chemistry; Instruments; Laser radar; Moon; NASA; Oceans; Radar imaging; Sea surface; Uncertainty;

fLanguage

English

Publisher

ieee

Conference_Titel

Aerospace Conference Proceedings, 2002. IEEE

Print_ISBN

0-7803-7231-X

Type

conf

DOI

10.1109/AERO.2002.1036839

Filename

1036839