Juno Radio Science Observations and Gravity Science Calibrations of Io Plasma Torus: IPT Impacts to Europa Gravity Science
Abstract
Since July 2016, twenty-two closest approaches of NASA's Juno spacecraft provided opportunities to observe plasma electrons inside of the Io plasma torus using radio science measurements from the Juno Gravity Science Instrument. During each Perijove, Juno passed through the inner region (Perijove altitude of ~1.06 Jovian Radii) between Jupiter and the Io plasma torus (IPT). Juno's X-band and Ka-band radio links propagate through the IPT and the received frequency is measured by open-loop and closed-loop receivers at NASA's Deep Space Network. The IPT integrated electron content is measured with a combination of the X- and Ka-band links to be ~30 TECU. In this research, we present a comparison between observations of the radio link frequency and the corresponding IPT model simulations. Results improve our understanding of the IPT effect on Juno gravity science measurements and help to generate calibrations to reduce the corresponding (non-gravity field-induced) radio frequency shift. Furthermore, we investigate the impact the IPT has on the upcoming Europa Clipper mission. We apply the IPT simulation developed for Juno to determine the impact on the radio science measurements of Europa's gravitational field. The result indicates that IPT effects to the Europa gravity science measurements are approximately a factor of 4 larger than Juno mission.
- Publication:
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AGU Fall Meeting Abstracts
- Pub Date:
- December 2019
- Bibcode:
- 2019AGUFM.P34A..08Y
- Keywords:
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- 6297 Instruments and techniques;
- PLANETARY SCIENCES: SOLAR SYSTEM OBJECTS;
- 6964 Radio wave propagation;
- RADIO SCIENCE;
- 6979 Space and satellite communication;
- RADIO SCIENCE;
- 6994 Instruments and techniques;
- RADIO SCIENCE