Embed Size (px)
Citation preview
Uranus Working Group!Report!
Mark Hofstadter, JPL
30 March 2012 St. Louis, MO
Outline 1) UWG findings from October.
2) New UWG Charter.
3) Next meeJng.
3) RecommendaJons to NASA. Near-‐IR image of the uranian system from the VLT (2002). Credit: ESO.
Why Uranus is Important!
The Ice Giants, Uranus and Neptune, represent a disJnct type of planet about which very liWle is known. Uranus is the most accessible of these, and challenges our understanding of some fundamental processes in ways that Neptune does not.
• FormaJon and evoluJon. • Interior structure. • Energy balance. • Our only sampling of naJve Ice Giant satellites. • OrientaJon of magneJc field and interacJons with the Solar Wind.
Kepler results tell us that Ice Giants are much more common in our galaxy than Gas Giants.
In the Planetary Decadal Survey, both the Giant Planets Sub-‐Panel and the Exoplanet community White Paper idenJfied Uranus as the top priority Solar System object for detailed study.
2004 Sromovsky, Univ.
Wisc./Keck
2007 de Pater, Hammel
October Results (1/2)!
A wriWen report is in dra] form. Will be on OPAG website.
1) Iden(fica(on of cri(cal, outstanding science ques(ons. • High-‐level objecJves are covered by the Decadal Surveys. • IdenJfied lower-‐level science quesJons in the areas of Magnetosphere, Satellites, Rings, Atmosphere, Interior. Some require a flight mission (in-‐situ, close-‐range, or high phase angles).
2) Iden(fica(on of specific Earth-‐based measurements, efforts, and collabora(ons for the near future. Many idenJfied. Some common themes are
• The importance of temporal sampling and spaJal resoluJon.
• Ge`ng our first look at the Northern Hemisphere of the satellites and the planet.
• Ice-‐giants vs. gas-‐giants, leveraging Cassini and Juno.
2004 Sromovsky, Univ.
Wisc./Keck
2007 de Pater, Hammel
October Results (2/2)!
3) Provide feedback to NASA on the Uranus Equinoc(al Campaign.
The 2007 ROSES language supported many exciJng discoveries: • New rings and satellites, intriguing ring/satellite interacJons.
• Seasonal variaJons in upper-‐tropospheric cloud and storm paWerns.
• Unexplained verJcal structure in the liquid-‐water cloud region.
• Evidence for circulaJon paWerns yet to be explained by dynamics.
• Observing Jme on ground and space-‐based telescopes.
This has been a tremendous success!
4) October’s recommenda(ons to OPAG. • Extend the UWG charter.
• Endorse the UWG report, which can be referred to by proposals.
2004 Sromovsky, Univ.
Wisc./Keck
2007 de Pater, Hammel
The Future of the UWG!
de Pater et al. 2006
New Charter (proposed)
The Uranus Working Group will explore and assess the science and measurement objectives of Flagship missions to Uranus, and identify important technologies requiring development. It will also serve as a forum for coordination and assessment of Earth-based studies.
Next Mee6ng
Associated with the next OPAG meeJng, subject to the availability of funds and other developments.
Why is a New Study Needed?!
NaJonal Academy of Sciences
The Decadal Survey study had limita6ons
• Time pressure did not allow closure on a mature point design.
• Various assumpJons (e.g. launch vehicle performance) need to be updated.
• New design tools (e.g. navigaJon) and instruments can be used.
A new study will
• Inform policy decisions regarding implementaJon of the current and future Decadal Surveys.
• IdenJfy long lead-‐Jme technology and R&A needs.
New OPAG Recommendation!
NaJonal Academy of Sciences
NASA should ini6ate a Uranus Flagship study to
• Develop an implementaJon plan (~1 mission point design) to achieve the Decadal Survey high-‐level science goals.
• IdenJfy specific science and measurement objecJves (instruments).
• IdenJfy technology needs. • IdenJfy needed Earth-‐based R&A work (observaJons, lab, theoreJcal).
