Exploration of Enceladus and titan: investigating ocean worlds’ evolution and habitability in the Saturn system
Journal
Date Issued
2021
Author(s)
Mitri, Giuseppe
•
Barnes, Jason
•
Coustenis, Athena
•
Flamini, Enrico
•
Hayes, Alexander
•
Lorenz, Ralph D.
•
•
•
Postberg, Frank
•
Reh, Kim
•
Soderblom, Jason M.
•
Sotin, Christophe
•
Tobie, Gabriel
•
Tortora, Paolo
•
Vuitton, Veronique
•
Wurz, Peter
Abstract
We present a White Paper with a science theme concept of ocean world evolution and habitability proposed in response to ESA’s Voyage 2050 Call with a focus on Titan and Enceladus in the Saturn system. Ocean worlds in the outer Solar System that possess subsurface liquid water oceans are considered to be prime targets for extra-terrestrial life and offer windows into Solar System evolution and habitability. The Cassini-Huygens mission to the Saturn system (2004–2017) revealed Titan with its organic-rich evolving world with terrestrial features and Enceladus with its active aqueous environment to be ideal candidates to investigate ocean world evolution and habitability. Additionally, this White Paper presents a baseline for a multiple flyby mission with a focused payload as an example of how ocean world evolution and habitability in the Saturn system could be investigated building on the heritage of the Cassini-Huygens mission and complementing the recently selected NASA Dragonfly mission.
Issn Identifier
0922-6435
Ads BibCode
2021ExA...tmp...94M
Rights
open.access
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