Special issue editorial – Plasma interactions with Solar System Objects: Anticipating Rosetta, Maven and Mars Orbiter Mission

Abstract

Within our solar system, the planets, moons, comets and asteroids all have plasma interactions. The interaction depends on the nature of the object, particularly the presence of an atmosphere and a magnetic field. Even the size of the object matters through the finite gyroradius effect and the scale height of cold ions of exospheric origin. It also depends on the upstream conditions, including position within the solar wind or the presence within a planetary magnetosphere. Soon after ESA's Rosetta reached comet Churyumov-Gerasimenko, NASA's Maven and ISRO's Mars Orbiter Mission (MOM) reached Mars, and ESA's Venus Express mission was completed, this issue explores our understanding of plasma interactions with comets, Mars, Venus, and moons in the solar system. We explore the processes which characterise the interactions, such as ion pickup and field draping, and their effects such as plasma escape. Papers are based on data from current and recent space missions, modelling and theory, as we explore our local part of the 'plasma universe'.

Morphological and Functional Modifications of Optical Thin Films for Space Applications Irradiated with Low-Energy Helium Ions

“…Moreover, it should be stressed that the increase of the exposure doses may determine a significant increase of the potential damage to the components of the missions operating in a sun-close environment 26,27 and in planet orbits. 28,29 The impact of the dose on the damaging processes needs, therefore, to be clarified.…”

“…This means that there is a difference of some orders of magnitude between the fluxes experienced in real application and in the laboratory tests. Moreover, it should be stressed that the increase of the exposure doses may determine a significant increase of the potential damage to the components of the missions operating in a sun-close environment , and in planet orbits. , The impact of the dose on the damaging processes needs, therefore, to be clarified.…”