AOGS Singapore 20.-24. June 2005 Paper ID: 58-PS-A0320 [email protected]
BepiColombo – Mission to Mercury
System Update
MPOScientific Aspects
&
Rita Schulz Johannes Benkhoff
AOGS Singapore 20.-24. June 2005 Paper ID: 58-PS-A0320 [email protected]
BepiColombo Elements
AOGS Singapore 20.-24. June 2005 Paper ID: 58-PS-A0320 [email protected]
Mercury Planetary Orbiter
Mercury Magnetospheric Orbiter
MMO orbit optimized for study of magnetosphere
MPO orbit optimized for study of planet itself
AOGS Singapore 20.-24. June 2005 Paper ID: 58-PS-A0320 [email protected]
MMO:400 x 11,800 km
9.3 hours
Direction of Sun at perihelion
4000 2000 0 2000 4000 6000 8000 1 104
1.2 104
1.4 104
1.6 104
8000
6000
4000
2000
0
2000
4000
6000
8000
X (km)
Z (
km
)
MPO: Parameter NominalValue
Tolerance
Apocentre height (hA) 1,500 km ±20 kmPericentre height (hP) 400 km ±20 kmInclination (i) 90° ±2°Argument ofpericentre
180° ±20°
Period 2.32hours
Right ascension ofascending node
248° ±20°
Eclipse duration <42 min
Mercury Orbits
AOGS Singapore 20.-24. June 2005 Paper ID: 58-PS-A0320 [email protected]
MPO InstrumentsMPO Instruments(Selected by SPC; Nov. 2004)(Selected by SPC; Nov. 2004)
&&Scientific ObjectivesScientific Objectives
Origin of MercuryEvolution of
Mercury
Nature of surface
modifications on Mercury
Structure and variability
of the magnetosphere of
Mercury
AOGS Singapore 20.-24. June 2005 Paper ID: 58-PS-A0320 [email protected]
BELA BepiColombo Laser Altimeter
Science Goals
• Figure of the Planet
• Interior Structure and Composition of Mercury
• Formation and Evolutionof the Planet
CoPI’s: N. Thomas / T. Spohn
AOGS Singapore 20.-24. June 2005 Paper ID: 58-PS-A0320 [email protected]
MERTISMERCURY (RADIOMETER and) THERMAL
INFRARED SPECTROMETER
Science goals:
– to study the surface composition of Mercury
– to identify the key rock-forming minerals
– to map the surface mineralogy
– to measure surface temperature and thermal inertia
PI: E.K. Jessberger
AOGS Singapore 20.-24. June 2005 Paper ID: 58-PS-A0320 [email protected]
Mercury Imaging X-ray Spectrometer (MIXS)
PI: S. Dunkin•To produce global elemental maps of key rock-forming elements
•To perform high spatial resolution mapping of these elemental abundances where solar conditions permit
•To confirm that the auroral zone is an intense source of continuum and line X-rays
AOGS Singapore 20.-24. June 2005 Paper ID: 58-PS-A0320 [email protected]
SIXS (Solar Intensity X-ray and particle
Spectrometer) PI: J. Houvelin
Scientific Objectives
accurate physical estimates of solar X-ray and particle irradiation at the surface of Mercury.
Data provided by SIXS are mandatory for a valid fluorescence analysis of MIXS spectra.
AOGS Singapore 20.-24. June 2005 Paper ID: 58-PS-A0320 [email protected]
ISA (ITALIAN SPRING ACCELEROMETER)
PI: V. Iafolla
AN ACCELEROMETER TO MEASURE THE INERTIAL ACCELERATIONS ACTING ON THE MPO
• the global gravity field of Mercury and its temporal variations
• the local gravity anomalies
• the rotation state of Mercury
• the orbit of the Mercury center–of–mass around the Sun
AOGS Singapore 20.-24. June 2005 Paper ID: 58-PS-A0320 [email protected]
MERMAGMagnetic Field Investigation
PI: A. BaloghThe primary objective• to provide magnetic field measurements that will lead to the
detailed description of Mercury’s planetary magnetic field, and thereby constrain models of the evolution and current state of the planetary interior.
The secondary objective • to contribute to the study of the interaction of the solar wind with
the Hermean magnetic field and the planet itself, the formation and dynamics of the magnetosphere as well as to the processes that control the interaction of the magnetosphere with the planet.
AOGS Singapore 20.-24. June 2005 Paper ID: 58-PS-A0320 [email protected]
PHEBUS: A FUV-EUV Spectrometer
PI: E. Chassefiere
1) Vertical/ geographic/ seasonal mapping of already detected elements (H, He, O, Na, K, Ca).
2) Search for still non-detected compounds (Si, Mg, Al, Fe, S, C, N, OH, H2), and vertical/ geographic/ seasonal mapping.
3) Search for noble gases other than He (Ne, Ar, Xe, Kr) and mapping/ monitoring if possible.
4) Search for ion species (He+, Na+, O+, Mg+, Al+, Ca+, C+, N+, S+, …) and mapping/ monitoring if possible.
5) Measurement of surface reflectance at 121.6 nm in polar craters in order to search for surface ice layers.
AOGS Singapore 20.-24. June 2005 Paper ID: 58-PS-A0320 [email protected]
Spectrometer and Imagers for MPO BepiColombo Integrated Observatory SYStem
SIMBIO-SYS SIMBIO-SYS package:
It incorporates capabilities to perform:
medium space resolution global mapping in stereo and colour imaging using two pan-chromatic and 3 broad-band filters Stereo Channel STC;
high spatial resolution imaging in a pan-chromatic and 3 broad-band filters High Resolution Imaging Channel HRIC;
imaging spectroscopy in the spectral range 400 2000 nm Visible Infrared Hyperspectral Imager VIHI .
• Classification of Mercury surface features• Mercury surface composition
PI: E. Flamini
AOGS Singapore 20.-24. June 2005 Paper ID: 58-PS-A0320 [email protected]
SIMBIO-SYS Science
- Surface geology: stratigraphy, geomorphology
– Volcanism: lava plain emplacement, volcanoes identification
- Global tectonics: structural geology, mechanical properties of
lithosphere
- Surface age: crater population and morphometry, degradation
processes
- Surface composition: maturity and crustal differentiation,
weathering, rock forming minerals abundance determination
- Geophysics: libration measurements, internal planet dynamics
AOGS Singapore 20.-24. June 2005 Paper ID: 58-PS-A0320 [email protected]
MOREMercury Orbiter Radio-science Experiment
Scientific ObjectivesScientific Objectives
• Determine the gravity field of Mercury
• Determine the size and physical state of its core
• Provide crucial experimental constraints to models of Mercury’s internal structure
• Test theories of gravity
• Measure the gravitational oblateness of the Sun
• Test and characterize the most advanced interplanetary tracking system ever built
• Assess the performances of the novel tracking system in precise orbit determination and space navigation.
PI: L. Iess
AOGS Singapore 20.-24. June 2005 Paper ID: 58-PS-A0320 [email protected]
SERENASearch for Exospheric Refilling and Emitted Natural Abundances
PI: S. OrsiniUnits:Units:
• ELENA: Emitted Low-Energy Neutral Atoms
• STROFIO: Start from a ROtating FIeld spectrOmeter
• MIPA: Miniature Ion Precipitation Analyser
• PICAM: Planetary Ion CAMera
To measure chemical, elemental, and isotopic composition of the exosphere; to investigate the exo-ionosphere; to derive gas density profile as a function of altitude; to estimate the particle loss rate from Mercury environment; to measure the surface emission rate and investigate the surface release processes;
Major Objectives
to measure the plasma precipitation rate; to remote sense the surface composition; to derive the magnetosphere structure and dynamics; to observe the solar wind characteristics at 0.3 AU;
Other Objectives
to study the ENA imaging applications for comparative solar-planetary relationship;
AOGS Singapore 20.-24. June 2005 Paper ID: 58-PS-A0320 [email protected]
Mercury Gamma-ray and Neutron SpectrometerMercury Gamma-ray and Neutron SpectrometerMGNSMGNS
PI: I.G.MitrofanovPI: I.G.MitrofanovScientific goals:Scientific goals:
• to determine the elemental compositions by the measurements of nuclear lines of major soil-composing elements • to determine the elemental compositions by the measurements of the leakage flux of neutrons and of the lines of natural radioactive elements • to determine the regional distribution of volatile depositions on the polar areas of Mercury which are permanently shadowed from the Sun, and to provide a map of column density of this depositions
AOGS Singapore 20.-24. June 2005 Paper ID: 58-PS-A0320 [email protected]
MGNS Backup:MGNS Backup: MANGAMANGA
MMercury composition ercury composition AAnalysisnalysisby by NNeutron and eutron and GaGamma-ray spectoscopymma-ray spectoscopy
PI: C. d'Uston
AOGS Singapore 20.-24. June 2005 Paper ID: 58-PS-A0320 [email protected]
MPO Payload Selection by SPC (Nov. 2004)
BELA Laser Altimeter N. Thomas / T. Spohn
ISA Radio Science V. Iafolla Accelerometer
MERMAG Magnetometer A. Balogh
MERTIS IR Spectrometer E.K. Jessberger
MGNS or Gamma Ray and I. Mitrofanov
MANGA Neutron Spectrometer C. d'Uston
MIXS / X-ray Spectrometer S. Dunkin SIXSSolar Monitor J. Houvelin
MORE Radio Science L. IessKa-band Transponder
PHEBUS UV Spectrometer E. Chassefiere
SERENA Neutral Particle Analyser/ S. Orsini (Elena, MIPA, Ion Spectrometers PICAM, Strofio)
SIMBIO-SYS High Res.+ Stereo Cameras E. Flamini (HIRC, STC, VIHI) visual and NIR Spectrometer
AOGS Singapore 20.-24. June 2005 Paper ID: 58-PS-A0320 [email protected]
InstrumentsInstruments
Magnetosphere
High Resolution Colour Camera Stereo Camera
Vis-Near-IR Mapping Spectrom.TIR Map. Spectrom/RadiometerX-ray Spectrom/Solar Monitorγ-Ray Neutron Spectrometer
Ultraviolet SpectrometerNeutral & Ion Particle Analyser
Laser AltimeterRadio Science ExperimentMagnetometer
plus MMO Payloadplus MMO PayloadStructure, dynamics
Morphology
State of Core
Composition
Surface
Interior
Exosphere
Temperature
TopographyComposition
Core/MantleComposition
Magnetic Field
DynamicsSurface ReleaseSource/Sink Balance
CompositionInteractions
Science TopicsScience TopicsMPOMPO
AOGS Singapore 20.-24. June 2005 Paper ID: 58-PS-A0320 [email protected]