VenSAR on EnVision: Taking earth observation radar to Venus

Ghail, R. C.; Hall, David L.; Mason, Philippa J.; Herrick, R. R.; Carter, Lynn M.; Williams, E. A.

doi:10.1016/j.jag.2017.02.008

Cited by 34 publications

(21 citation statements)

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“…The proximity of Venus to Earth, the relatively calm (if extreme) surface conditions and lack of water, the absence of a large satellite and its moderately well-known geoid and topography, all help to ease the technical demands on the mission. Europe has developed a number of world-leading radar systems and could, for example, adapt a GMES Sentinel-1 or NovaSAR-S modular array antenna for use at Venus, providing higher-resolution imagery, topography, geoid, and interferometric change data that will revolutionise our understanding of surface and interior processes [16].…”

Section: Case For Next-generation Radarmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Light element isotopic ratios, namely H, C, O, N, etc., provide further insights into the origin and subsequent histories of planetary atmospheres. Measurement of 20 Ne/ 21 Ne/ 22 Ne and/or of 16 O/ 17 O/ 18 O would enable determination of whether Earth, Venus, and Mars came from the same or from different parts of the protoplanetary nebula, i.e. are they are truly sibling planets of common origin.…”

Section: Planetary Evolution As Revealed By Isotope Geochemistrymentioning

confidence: 99%

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Venus: key to understanding the evolution of terrestrial planets

2021

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In this paper, originally submitted in answer to ESA’s “Voyage 2050” call to shape the agency’s space science missions in the 2035–2050 timeframe, we emphasize the importance of a Venus exploration programme for the wider goal of understanding the diversity and evolution of habitable planets. Comparing the interior, surface, and atmosphere evolution of Earth, Mars, and Venus is essential to understanding what processes determined habitability of our own planet and Earth-like planets everywhere. This is particularly true in an era where we expect thousands, and then millions, of terrestrial exoplanets to be discovered. Earth and Mars have already dedicated exploration programmes, but our understanding of Venus, particularly of its geology and its history, lags behind. Multiple exploration vehicles will be needed to characterize Venus’ richly varied interior, surface, atmosphere and magnetosphere environments. Between now and 2050 we recommend that ESA launch at least two M-class missions to Venus (in order of priority): a geophysics-focussed orbiter (the currently proposed M5 EnVision orbiter – [1] – or equivalent); and an in situ atmospheric mission (such as the M3 EVE balloon mission – [2]). An in situ and orbital mission could be combined in a single L-class mission, as was argued in responses to the call for L2/L3 themes [3–5]. After these two missions, further priorities include a surface lander demonstrating the high-temperature technologies needed for extended surface missions; and/or a further orbiter with follow-up high-resolution surface radar imaging, and atmospheric and/or ionospheric investigations.

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Section: Case For Next-generation Radarmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Planetary Evolution As Revealed By Isotope Geochemistrymentioning

confidence: 99%

Venus: key to understanding the evolution of terrestrial planets

2021

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“…The most promising missions for SAP studies beyond Earth orbit are EnVision, an orbital mission to Venus proposed to ESA (ESA proposal, Ghail et al, 2018) and ISRO Venus Orbiter proposed by the Indian Space Research Organization (Haider et al, 2018). EnVision will be placed on a circular low altitude orbit (259 km) and will carry a radar designed for subsurface studies (SRS).…”

Section: Envisionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Active Experiments Beyond the Earth: Plasma Effects of Sounding Radar Operations in the Ionospheres of Venus, Mars, and the Jovian System

Voshchepynets

Barabash

Holmström

et al. 2019

Front. Astron. Space Sci.

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The operation of powerful satellite-and rocket-born sounding radars is often accompanied by a heating/acceleration of the local electrons and ions. Intense fluxes of sounder accelerated particles were detected in Earth's ionosphere when the frequency of the radar transmitter was close to one of the fundamental plasma resonances: harmonic of the electron-cyclotron frequency, plasma, or upper-hybrid frequencies. Recently it was found that running a sounder in the ionosphere of the non-magnetized Mars results in similar effects. Ion and electron sensors of the ASPERA-3 experiment (Analyzer of Space Plasma and Energetic neutral Atoms) onboard the Mars Express spacecraft discovered acceleration of the local ionospheric ions and electrons from thermal threshold energies to 100's of eV during the active sounding phase of the onboard sounder. ESA and NASA missions being studied or under development to Jupiter (JUICE-JUpiter ICy moon Explorer) in 2022, Europa Clipper in 2023 and to Venus (EnVision) in 2032 and ISRO Venus obiter in 2023 will also carry powerful sounding radars. The purpose of this study is to investigate what mechanisms can cause acceleration of the plasma particles during operations of the proposed sounding radars in the Jovian system and Venusian ionosphere. Using the results of the previous studies and characteristics of the proposed sounding radars onboard JUICE, Europa Clipper, EnVision, and ISRO Venus Obiter, we define the optimal conditions for observations of sounder accelerated particles, depending on the local conditions, such as plasma density, composition, and intensity of the magnetic field. The EnVision and ISRO Venus Obiter radar operations are expected to result in the most pronounced acceleration of ions and electrons, an effect that can be used to improve the local plasma diagnostics.

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“…A search for active volcanism is high on the list of intended investigations, but a history of volcanic and tectonic activity, as well as establishment of weathering rates, would all contribute to a better understanding of Venus' history. The payload comprises a state-of-the-art S-band radar, with image spatial resolutions of 1-30 m, 3-band polarimetry, and differential interferometry capability to measure cm-scale deformation (Ghail et al 2017); this is complemented by subsurface radar, and an IR emission mapper with IR and UV spectrometers to map volcanic gases, and geodetic investigations through Ka/X- (Fig. 6).…”

Section: Esamentioning

confidence: 99%

Future of Venus Research and Exploration

et al. 2018

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Despite the tremendous progress that has been made since the publication of the Venus II book in 1997, many fundamental questions remain concerning Venus' history, evolution and current geologic and atmospheric processes. The international science community has taken several approaches to prioritizing these questions, either through formal processes like the Planetary Decadal Survey in the United States and the Cosmic Vision in Europe, or informally through science definition teams utilized by Japan, Russia, and India. These questions are left to future investigators to address through a broad range of research approaches that include Earth-based observations, laboratory and modeling studies that are based on existing data, and new space flight missions. Many of the highest priority questions for Venus can be answered with new measurements acquired by orbiting or in situ missions that use current technologies, and several plausible implementation concepts have Venus III Edited

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VenSAR on EnVision: Taking earth observation radar to Venus

Abstract: Venus should be the most Earth-like of all our planetary neighbours: its size, bulk composition and distance from the Sun are very similar to those of Earth. How and why did it all go wrong for

Cited by 34 publications

References 93 publications

Venus: key to understanding the evolution of terrestrial planets

Venus: key to understanding the evolution of terrestrial planets

Active Experiments Beyond the Earth: Plasma Effects of Sounding Radar Operations in the Ionospheres of Venus, Mars, and the Jovian System

Future of Venus Research and Exploration

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