Uranus Pathfinder: Exploring the origins and evolution of Ice Giant planets

Christopher S. Arridge; Craig B. Agnor; Nicolas André; Kevin H. Baines; Leigh N. Fletcher; Daniel Gautier; Mark D. Hofstadter; Geraint H. Jones; Laurent Lamy; Yves Langevin; Olivier Mousis; Nadine Nettelmann; Christopher T. Russell; Tom Stallard; Matthew S. Tiscareno; Gabriel Tobie; Andrew Bacon; Chris Chaloner; Michael Guest; Steve Kemble; Lisa Peacocke; Nicholas Achilleos; Thomas P. Andert; Don Banfield; Stas Barabash; Mathieu Barthelemy; Cesar Bertucci; Pontus Brandt; Baptiste Cecconi; Supriya Chakrabarti; Andy F. Cheng; Ulrich Christensen; Apostolos Christou; Andrew J. Coates; Glyn Collinson; John F. Cooper; Regis Courtin; Michele K. Dougherty; Robert W. Ebert; Marta Entradas; Andrew N. Fazakerley; Jonathan J. Fortney; Marina Galand; Jaques Gustin; Matthew Hedman; Ravit Helled; Pierre Henri; Sebastien Hess; Richard Holme; Özgur Karatekin; Norbert Krupp; Jared Leisner; Javier Martin-Torres; Adam Masters; Henrik Melin; Steve Miller; Ingo Müller-Wodarg; Benoît Noyelles; Chris Paranicas; Imke de Pater; Martin Pätzold; Renée Prangé; Eric Quémerais; Elias Roussos; Abigail M. Rymer; Agustin Sánchez-Lavega; Joachim Saur; Kunio M. Sayanagi; Paul Schenk; Gerald Schubert; Nick Sergis; Frank Sohl; Edward C. Sittler; Nick A. Teanby; Silvia Tellmann; Elizabeth P. Turtle; Sandrine Vinatier; Jan Erik Wahlund; Philippe Zarka

doi:10.1007/s10686-011-9251-4

Uranus Pathfinder: Exploring the origins and evolution of Ice Giant planets

Christopher S. Arridge, Craig B. Agnor, Nicolas André, Kevin H. Baines, Leigh N. Fletcher, Daniel Gautier, Mark D. Hofstadter, Geraint H. Jones, Laurent Lamy, Yves Langevin, Olivier Mousis, Nadine Nettelmann, Christopher T. Russell, Tom Stallard, Matthew S. Tiscareno, Gabriel Tobie, Andrew Bacon, Chris Chaloner, Michael Guest, Steve KembleLisa Peacocke, Nicholas Achilleos, Thomas P. Andert, Don Banfield, Stas Barabash, Mathieu Barthelemy, Cesar Bertucci, Pontus Brandt, Baptiste Cecconi, Supriya Chakrabarti, Andy F. Cheng, Ulrich Christensen, Apostolos Christou, Andrew J. Coates, Glyn Collinson, John F. Cooper, Regis Courtin, Michele K. Dougherty, Robert W. Ebert, Marta Entradas, Andrew N. Fazakerley, Jonathan J. Fortney, Marina Galand, Jaques Gustin, Matthew Hedman, Ravit Helled, Pierre Henri, Sebastien Hess, Richard Holme, Özgur Karatekin, Norbert Krupp, Jared Leisner, Javier Martin-Torres, Adam Masters, Henrik Melin, Steve Miller, Ingo Müller-Wodarg, Benoît Noyelles, Chris Paranicas, Imke de Pater, Martin Pätzold, Renée Prangé, Eric Quémerais, Elias Roussos, Abigail M. Rymer, Agustin Sánchez-Lavega, Joachim Saur, Kunio M. Sayanagi, Paul Schenk, Gerald Schubert, Nick Sergis, Frank Sohl, Edward C. Sittler, Nick A. Teanby, Silvia Tellmann, Elizabeth P. Turtle, Sandrine Vinatier, Jan Erik Wahlund, Philippe Zarka

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

45 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

The "Ice Giants" Uranus and Neptune are a different class of planet compared to Jupiter and Saturn. Studying these objects is important for furthering our understanding of the formation and evolution of the planets, and unravelling the fundamental physical and chemical processes in the Solar System. The importance of filling these gaps in our knowledge of the Solar System is particularly acute when trying to apply our understanding to the numerous planetary systems that have been discovered around other stars. The Uranus Pathfinder (UP) mission thus represents the quintessential aspects of the objectives of the European planetary community as expressed in ESA's Cosmic Vision 2015-2025. UP was proposed to the European Space Agency's M3 call for medium-class missions in 2010 and proposed to be the first orbiter of an Ice Giant planet. As the most accessible Ice Giant within the M-class mission envelope Uranus was identified as the mission target. Although not selected for this call the UP mission concept provides a baseline framework for the exploration of Uranus with existing low-cost platforms and underlines the need to develop power sources suitable for the outer Solar System. The UP science case is based around exploring the origins, evolution, and processes at work in Ice Giant planetary systems. Three broad themes were identified: (1) Uranus as an Ice Giant, (2) An Ice Giant planetary system, and (3) An asymmetric magnetosphere. Due to the long interplanetary transfer from Earth to Uranus a significant cruise-phase science theme was also developed. The UP mission concept calls for the use of a Mars Express/Rosetta-type platform to launch on a Soyuz-Fregat in 2021 and entering into an eccentric polar orbit around Uranus in the 2036-2037 timeframe. The science payload has a strong heritage in Europe and beyond and requires no significant technology developments.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	753-791
Number of pages	39
Journal	Experimental Astronomy
Volume	33
Issue number	2-3
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1007/s10686-011-9251-4
Publication status	Published - Apr 2012
Externally published	Yes

Keywords

Dynamo
Giant planet atmosphere
Ice Giant
Interior
Magnetosphere
Natural satellite
Orbiter
Ring system
Uranus

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Astronomy and Astrophysics
Space and Planetary Science

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10.1007/s10686-011-9251-4

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Arridge, C. S., Agnor, C. B., André, N., Baines, K. H., Fletcher, L. N., Gautier, D., Hofstadter, M. D., Jones, G. H., Lamy, L., Langevin, Y., Mousis, O., Nettelmann, N., Russell, C. T., Stallard, T., Tiscareno, M. S., Tobie, G., Bacon, A., Chaloner, C., Guest, M., ... Zarka, P. (2012). Uranus Pathfinder: Exploring the origins and evolution of Ice Giant planets. Experimental Astronomy, 33(2-3), 753-791. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10686-011-9251-4

Arridge, CS, Agnor, CB, André, N, Baines, KH, Fletcher, LN, Gautier, D, Hofstadter, MD, Jones, GH, Lamy, L, Langevin, Y, Mousis, O, Nettelmann, N, Russell, CT, Stallard, T, Tiscareno, MS, Tobie, G, Bacon, A, Chaloner, C, Guest, M, Kemble, S, Peacocke, L, Achilleos, N, Andert, TP, Banfield, D, Barabash, S, Barthelemy, M, Bertucci, C, Brandt, P, Cecconi, B, Chakrabarti, S, Cheng, AF, Christensen, U, Christou, A, Coates, AJ, Collinson, G, Cooper, JF, Courtin, R, Dougherty, MK, Ebert, RW, Entradas, M, Fazakerley, AN, Fortney, JJ, Galand, M, Gustin, J, Hedman, M, Helled, R, Henri, P, Hess, S, Holme, R, Karatekin, Ö, Krupp, N, Leisner, J, Martin-Torres, J, Masters, A, Melin, H, Miller, S, Müller-Wodarg, I, Noyelles, B, Paranicas, C, de Pater, I, Pätzold, M, Prangé, R, Quémerais, E, Roussos, E, Rymer, AM, Sánchez-Lavega, A, Saur, J, Sayanagi, KM, Schenk, P, Schubert, G, Sergis, N, Sohl, F, Sittler, EC, Teanby, NA, Tellmann, S, Turtle, EP, Vinatier, S, Wahlund, JE & Zarka, P 2012, 'Uranus Pathfinder: Exploring the origins and evolution of Ice Giant planets', Experimental Astronomy, vol. 33, no. 2-3, pp. 753-791. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10686-011-9251-4

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title = "Uranus Pathfinder: Exploring the origins and evolution of Ice Giant planets",

abstract = "The {"}Ice Giants{"} Uranus and Neptune are a different class of planet compared to Jupiter and Saturn. Studying these objects is important for furthering our understanding of the formation and evolution of the planets, and unravelling the fundamental physical and chemical processes in the Solar System. The importance of filling these gaps in our knowledge of the Solar System is particularly acute when trying to apply our understanding to the numerous planetary systems that have been discovered around other stars. The Uranus Pathfinder (UP) mission thus represents the quintessential aspects of the objectives of the European planetary community as expressed in ESA's Cosmic Vision 2015-2025. UP was proposed to the European Space Agency's M3 call for medium-class missions in 2010 and proposed to be the first orbiter of an Ice Giant planet. As the most accessible Ice Giant within the M-class mission envelope Uranus was identified as the mission target. Although not selected for this call the UP mission concept provides a baseline framework for the exploration of Uranus with existing low-cost platforms and underlines the need to develop power sources suitable for the outer Solar System. The UP science case is based around exploring the origins, evolution, and processes at work in Ice Giant planetary systems. Three broad themes were identified: (1) Uranus as an Ice Giant, (2) An Ice Giant planetary system, and (3) An asymmetric magnetosphere. Due to the long interplanetary transfer from Earth to Uranus a significant cruise-phase science theme was also developed. The UP mission concept calls for the use of a Mars Express/Rosetta-type platform to launch on a Soyuz-Fregat in 2021 and entering into an eccentric polar orbit around Uranus in the 2036-2037 timeframe. The science payload has a strong heritage in Europe and beyond and requires no significant technology developments.",

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author = "Arridge, {Christopher S.} and Agnor, {Craig B.} and Nicolas Andr{\'e} and Baines, {Kevin H.} and Fletcher, {Leigh N.} and Daniel Gautier and Hofstadter, {Mark D.} and Jones, {Geraint H.} and Laurent Lamy and Yves Langevin and Olivier Mousis and Nadine Nettelmann and Russell, {Christopher T.} and Tom Stallard and Tiscareno, {Matthew S.} and Gabriel Tobie and Andrew Bacon and Chris Chaloner and Michael Guest and Steve Kemble and Lisa Peacocke and Nicholas Achilleos and Andert, {Thomas P.} and Don Banfield and Stas Barabash and Mathieu Barthelemy and Cesar Bertucci and Pontus Brandt and Baptiste Cecconi and Supriya Chakrabarti and Cheng, {Andy F.} and Ulrich Christensen and Apostolos Christou and Coates, {Andrew J.} and Glyn Collinson and Cooper, {John F.} and Regis Courtin and Dougherty, {Michele K.} and Ebert, {Robert W.} and Marta Entradas and Fazakerley, {Andrew N.} and Fortney, {Jonathan J.} and Marina Galand and Jaques Gustin and Matthew Hedman and Ravit Helled and Pierre Henri and Sebastien Hess and Richard Holme and {\"O}zgur Karatekin and Norbert Krupp and Jared Leisner and Javier Martin-Torres and Adam Masters and Henrik Melin and Steve Miller and Ingo M{\"u}ller-Wodarg and Beno{\^i}t Noyelles and Chris Paranicas and {de Pater}, Imke and Martin P{\"a}tzold and Ren{\'e}e Prang{\'e} and Eric Qu{\'e}merais and Elias Roussos and Rymer, {Abigail M.} and Agustin S{\'a}nchez-Lavega and Joachim Saur and Sayanagi, {Kunio M.} and Paul Schenk and Gerald Schubert and Nick Sergis and Frank Sohl and Sittler, {Edward C.} and Teanby, {Nick A.} and Silvia Tellmann and Turtle, {Elizabeth P.} and Sandrine Vinatier and Wahlund, {Jan Erik} and Philippe Zarka",

note = "Funding Information: Acknowledgements CSA was supported by a Science and Technology Facilities Council Postdoctoral Fellowship. LNF was supported by a Glasstone Fellowship at the University of Oxford. We wish to thank EADS Astrium and Systems Engineering and Assessment Ltd. for their assistance with this study.",

year = "2012",

month = apr,

doi = "10.1007/s10686-011-9251-4",

language = "English",

volume = "33",

pages = "753--791",

journal = "Experimental Astronomy",

issn = "0922-6435",

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T2 - Exploring the origins and evolution of Ice Giant planets

AU - Arridge, Christopher S.

AU - Agnor, Craig B.

AU - André, Nicolas

AU - Baines, Kevin H.

AU - Fletcher, Leigh N.

AU - Gautier, Daniel

AU - Hofstadter, Mark D.

AU - Jones, Geraint H.

AU - Lamy, Laurent

AU - Langevin, Yves

AU - Mousis, Olivier

AU - Nettelmann, Nadine

AU - Russell, Christopher T.

AU - Stallard, Tom

AU - Tiscareno, Matthew S.

AU - Tobie, Gabriel

AU - Bacon, Andrew

AU - Chaloner, Chris

AU - Guest, Michael

AU - Kemble, Steve

AU - Peacocke, Lisa

AU - Achilleos, Nicholas

AU - Andert, Thomas P.

AU - Banfield, Don

AU - Barabash, Stas

AU - Barthelemy, Mathieu

AU - Bertucci, Cesar

AU - Brandt, Pontus

AU - Cecconi, Baptiste

AU - Chakrabarti, Supriya

AU - Cheng, Andy F.

AU - Christensen, Ulrich

AU - Christou, Apostolos

AU - Coates, Andrew J.

AU - Collinson, Glyn

AU - Cooper, John F.

AU - Courtin, Regis

AU - Dougherty, Michele K.

AU - Ebert, Robert W.

AU - Entradas, Marta

AU - Fazakerley, Andrew N.

AU - Fortney, Jonathan J.

AU - Galand, Marina

AU - Gustin, Jaques

AU - Hedman, Matthew

AU - Helled, Ravit

AU - Henri, Pierre

AU - Hess, Sebastien

AU - Holme, Richard

AU - Karatekin, Özgur

AU - Krupp, Norbert

AU - Leisner, Jared

AU - Martin-Torres, Javier

AU - Masters, Adam

AU - Melin, Henrik

AU - Miller, Steve

AU - Müller-Wodarg, Ingo

AU - Noyelles, Benoît

AU - Paranicas, Chris

AU - de Pater, Imke

AU - Pätzold, Martin

AU - Prangé, Renée

AU - Quémerais, Eric

AU - Roussos, Elias

AU - Rymer, Abigail M.

AU - Sánchez-Lavega, Agustin

AU - Saur, Joachim

AU - Sayanagi, Kunio M.

AU - Schenk, Paul

AU - Schubert, Gerald

AU - Sergis, Nick

AU - Sohl, Frank

AU - Sittler, Edward C.

AU - Teanby, Nick A.

AU - Tellmann, Silvia

AU - Turtle, Elizabeth P.

AU - Vinatier, Sandrine

AU - Wahlund, Jan Erik

AU - Zarka, Philippe

N1 - Funding Information: Acknowledgements CSA was supported by a Science and Technology Facilities Council Postdoctoral Fellowship. LNF was supported by a Glasstone Fellowship at the University of Oxford. We wish to thank EADS Astrium and Systems Engineering and Assessment Ltd. for their assistance with this study.

PY - 2012/4

Y1 - 2012/4

N2 - The "Ice Giants" Uranus and Neptune are a different class of planet compared to Jupiter and Saturn. Studying these objects is important for furthering our understanding of the formation and evolution of the planets, and unravelling the fundamental physical and chemical processes in the Solar System. The importance of filling these gaps in our knowledge of the Solar System is particularly acute when trying to apply our understanding to the numerous planetary systems that have been discovered around other stars. The Uranus Pathfinder (UP) mission thus represents the quintessential aspects of the objectives of the European planetary community as expressed in ESA's Cosmic Vision 2015-2025. UP was proposed to the European Space Agency's M3 call for medium-class missions in 2010 and proposed to be the first orbiter of an Ice Giant planet. As the most accessible Ice Giant within the M-class mission envelope Uranus was identified as the mission target. Although not selected for this call the UP mission concept provides a baseline framework for the exploration of Uranus with existing low-cost platforms and underlines the need to develop power sources suitable for the outer Solar System. The UP science case is based around exploring the origins, evolution, and processes at work in Ice Giant planetary systems. Three broad themes were identified: (1) Uranus as an Ice Giant, (2) An Ice Giant planetary system, and (3) An asymmetric magnetosphere. Due to the long interplanetary transfer from Earth to Uranus a significant cruise-phase science theme was also developed. The UP mission concept calls for the use of a Mars Express/Rosetta-type platform to launch on a Soyuz-Fregat in 2021 and entering into an eccentric polar orbit around Uranus in the 2036-2037 timeframe. The science payload has a strong heritage in Europe and beyond and requires no significant technology developments.

AB - The "Ice Giants" Uranus and Neptune are a different class of planet compared to Jupiter and Saturn. Studying these objects is important for furthering our understanding of the formation and evolution of the planets, and unravelling the fundamental physical and chemical processes in the Solar System. The importance of filling these gaps in our knowledge of the Solar System is particularly acute when trying to apply our understanding to the numerous planetary systems that have been discovered around other stars. The Uranus Pathfinder (UP) mission thus represents the quintessential aspects of the objectives of the European planetary community as expressed in ESA's Cosmic Vision 2015-2025. UP was proposed to the European Space Agency's M3 call for medium-class missions in 2010 and proposed to be the first orbiter of an Ice Giant planet. As the most accessible Ice Giant within the M-class mission envelope Uranus was identified as the mission target. Although not selected for this call the UP mission concept provides a baseline framework for the exploration of Uranus with existing low-cost platforms and underlines the need to develop power sources suitable for the outer Solar System. The UP science case is based around exploring the origins, evolution, and processes at work in Ice Giant planetary systems. Three broad themes were identified: (1) Uranus as an Ice Giant, (2) An Ice Giant planetary system, and (3) An asymmetric magnetosphere. Due to the long interplanetary transfer from Earth to Uranus a significant cruise-phase science theme was also developed. The UP mission concept calls for the use of a Mars Express/Rosetta-type platform to launch on a Soyuz-Fregat in 2021 and entering into an eccentric polar orbit around Uranus in the 2036-2037 timeframe. The science payload has a strong heritage in Europe and beyond and requires no significant technology developments.

KW - Dynamo

KW - Giant planet atmosphere

KW - Ice Giant

KW - Interior

KW - Magnetosphere

KW - Natural satellite

KW - Orbiter

KW - Ring system

KW - Uranus

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Uranus Pathfinder: Exploring the origins and evolution of Ice Giant planets

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