Ice-embedded transceivers for Europa cryobot communications

Bryant, Scott

doi:10.1109/aero.2002.1036854

Cited by 12 publications

(9 citation statements)

References 6 publications

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“…Mätzler and Wegmüller (1987) have performed measurements of the real and the imaginary part of the dielectric constant ε + iε of ice at temperatures between 0 and −30 • C, showing a very weak temperature dependency of ε , and a (strong) frequency dependency of ε (responsible for attenuation). As summarized by Bryant (2002) (and the references therein), ε has a minimum at around 1 GHz and a temperature dependency leading to lower values with lower temperatures. (1/e) penetration depth in pure ice is in the range of 100 m around −20 • C and in the range of kilometers at −60 • C (there are no measurement points at lower temperatures).…”

Section: Communicationsmentioning

confidence: 97%

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Key Technologies and Instrumentation for Subsurface Exploration of Ocean Worlds

Dachwald

Ulamec

Postberg³

et al. 2020

Space Sci Rev

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In this chapter, the key technologies and the instrumentation required for the subsurface exploration of ocean worlds are discussed. The focus is laid on Jupiter's moon Europa and Saturn's moon Enceladus because they have the highest potential for such missions in the near future. The exploration of their oceans requires landing on the surface, penetrating the thick ice shell with an ice-penetrating probe, and probably diving with an underwater vehicle through dozens of kilometers of water to the ocean floor, to have the chance to find

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Section: Communicationsmentioning

confidence: 97%

“…A signal with 10 kHz can only penetrate some tens of meters in salt water. It has therefore been considered to deploy relay transceiver pods behind the probe as it melts through Europa's surface (Bryant 2002). However, this raises new challenges regarding the number of relay stations, their power supply, and their thermal control.…”

Section: Communicationsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Key Technologies and Instrumentation for Subsurface Exploration of Ocean Worlds

Dachwald

Ulamec

Postberg³

et al. 2020

Space Sci Rev

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“…Depending on the thickness and other properties of the ice, as many as three dozen of these transceivers would be required to establish a reliable link to the surface, although each is anticipated to be a relatively small cylinder 10 cm in diameter and 2-3 cm thick. 32 Each transceiver may also carry sensors that record data about the ice and its movement (tidal flexing and seismicity), which they also transmit to the surface unit. The surface unit receives all of the data from its associated cryobot, hydrobots, and transceivers and broadcasts the data to one or more relay satellites in orbit around Europa or at one of Europa's Lagrange points using laser communication.…”

Section: Proposed Communication Architecturementioning

confidence: 99%

Mapping a mission profile for the exploration of Europa’s ocean

Allen

Jones

Woolsey

et al. 2013

AIAA SPACE 2013 Conference and Exposition

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One of the most enticing targets for space exploration is Europa. It is widely believed that there is an ocean of liquid water, perhaps a hundred kilometers deep, a few kilometers beneath Europa's icy surface. The conditions in this ocean are likely similar to Earth's oceans. Furthermore, the ocean floor may have hydrothermal vents, providing energy and elements necessary for life. Therefore, Europa is considered one of the most likely locations beyond Earth and within the solar system for extant life. In this paper, detailed analysis of the primary engineering challenges of a mission to explore the ocean on Europa is presented. Candidate system designs and a timeline, or "roadmap," for the development of these systems is then discussed. A range of mission architectures are presented and evaluated relative to the various science objectives that an Europan exploration mission might address. In order to compare the various architectures, a value system has been designed following an analytical hierarchy process. Lastly, a science traceability matrix for the proposed mission is evaluated. I. EuropaEuropa is an alluring target for exploration due to its hypothesized interior oceans warmed and stirred by tidal forces. Decades of NASA and National Academy studies, including the most recent planetary science decadal survey, 1 have affirmed the pre-eminence of Europa as a destination for astrobiology research. There are three aspects of Europa that make it such an intriguing place: ocean, structure, and tides. In this section the authors summarize current knowledge of Europa and anticipated near-future results.The presence of an ocean of liquid water within Europa was the domain of science fiction 2 until the Galileo spacecraft observed compelling evidence for magnetic fields induced in an electrically conductive layer within Europa. 3, 4 The conductivity of this layer is compatible with that of seawater, 5 but precise constraints on its composition, depth, or thickness could not be obtained from these measurements. 6, 7 Combined with spectroscopic evidence for hydrated salts at the surface of Europa, 8-10 the presence of a salty, liquid water ocean within a few tens of kilometers from the surface is all but confirmed.The interior structure of Europa was also revealed by Galileo by Doppler tracking of its telemetry stream during close fly-bys of the moon. 11-13 Under the assumption that the non-ice part of Europa is similar to Io, the permanent tidal and rotational deformation of Europa reveals an internal structure with a water/ice layer 115 km thick lying above a rocky mantle that encircles a core of about one-third to one-half Europa's radius. This structure is shown on the left of Figure 1 including a 40 km thick ice shell. If the interior is less dense than Io (it is unlikely to be more dense), the water/ice layer could be thinner, perhaps as thin as 80 km. 12 These observations support the intriguing conclusion that Europa's ocean is in direct contact with its rocky mantle, since high-pressure phases of ice (Ice II...

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“…Bryant [29] describes a study into the use of small patch antennas as a possible solution to the problem. Based on the design of antennas originally developed for the MUSES-C spacecraft [30], the devices operate at 1 GHz (the 1-10 GHz region is near a minimum in the imaginary part of the index of refraction of ice, and hence offers reduced absorption of the signal).…”

Section: Messages From the Subsurface Oceanmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…4 Left: schematic illustrating the principal elements of a single antenna unit for Europa Cryobot communications. Right: overall system concept showing stack of deployable antennas joined to the Cryobot using a short (300 m) tether [29] radioisotope heat source to reach the liquid water environment beneath. It carries a stack of transceivers (Fig.…”

Section: Messages From the Subsurface Oceanmentioning

confidence: 99%

Communication Challenges for Solar System Exploration Missions

Bannister

2011

Proceedings of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers, Part G:

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Obtaining detailed information from solar system exploration missions requires the use of reliable, high-performance communications systems. Planetary landers and orbiters experience a wide variety of challenges, which complicate the design of communications architecture, and which affect the ability of the spacecraft to transmit significant quantities of data back to Earth. Aside from the large distances involved, the spacecraft environment dominates the design and capability of the communications system. As missions become more ambitious in the quantity of data to be generated and the types of environment to be explored, new technologies and techniques are required to meet these communication needs. This article reviews some of the major challenges facing the next generation of solar system missions, and outlines some of the solutions which have been proposed to address them.

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Ice-embedded transceivers for Europa cryobot communications

Cited by 12 publications

References 6 publications

Key Technologies and Instrumentation for Subsurface Exploration of Ocean Worlds

Key Technologies and Instrumentation for Subsurface Exploration of Ocean Worlds

Mapping a mission profile for the exploration of Europa’s ocean

Communication Challenges for Solar System Exploration Missions

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