Planetary atmospheric science realized by space telescope mission, TOPS

The planetary space telescope mission named TOPS, telescope observatory for planets on small-satellite, will be launched in 2012 as a new small satellite mission series of JAXA. TOPS will be on 200kg-class satellite bus and consist of two 30-cm reflecting telescopes, which cover the wavelength range of 60-1100 nm. The precise pointing technique realizes spatial resolution less than about 0.6 arcsec in the visible wavelength range. Continuous measurements from the earth orbit enable us to monitor meso-scale atmospheric dynamics on planets in the solar system as well as the dynamics of exospheric plasma and ultraviolet auroras. Making use of complementary aspects of in-situ mission and TOPS, ground-based and balloon-born telescopes are the important strategy for planetary atmospheric science. In this presentation scientific application to the monitoring of planetary atmosphere, especially for Jupiter, Saturn and Venus will be introduced, adding to the brief outline of the mission.