Jupiter: Atmospheric Sounding and Sensing of the Interior (JASSI)
Abstract
The formation of the giant planets is one of the most fundamental questions in solar system exploration. Understanding the process that led to the creation of Jupiter is essential to understanding the nature of the primordial solar nebula, and the formation of our solar system and others currently being discovered. Data from Galileo combined with HST and Ulysses results validated our basic understanding of Jupiter as a giant planet whose gaseous envelope consists of solar nebula gas enriched in elements heavier than He by in falling icy planetesimals. However, the current Galileo Probe data set does not itself allow firm conclusions about the original planetesimal composition or the process of giant planet formation - we crucially need the O and N abundances that Galileo could not determine. We propose a new and simple concept capable of determining these abundance in Jupiter plus substantial gravity science. Additional information is contained in the original extended abstract.
- Publication:
-
Forum on Innovative Approaches to Outer Planetary Exploration 2001-2020
- Pub Date:
- January 2001
- Bibcode:
- 2001iaop.work...12B
- Keywords:
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- Atmospheric Sounding;
- Jupiter Atmosphere;
- Remote Sensing;
- Flyby Missions;
- Galileo Probe;
- Ulysses Mission;
- Space Exploration;
- Lunar and Planetary Exploration