Alan Stern and the New Horizons Team presented a PPT at the recent Plenary Session with Masursky Lecture, Monday, March 16, The 47th Lunar and Planetary Science Conference will be held at The Woodlands Waterway Marriott Hotel and Convention Center, The Woodlands, Texas, March 21,25, 2016.
PLUTO SYSTEM
MEASUREMENT OBJECTIVES
Group 1 Objectives ...
1. Characterize the global geology and morphology of Pluto and Charon
2. Map surface composition of Pluto and Charon
3. Characterize the neutral atmosphere of Pluto and its escape rate
Group 2 Objectives ...
1. Characterize the time variability of Pluto surface and atmosphere
2. Image Pluto and Charon in stereo
3. Map the terminators of Pluto and Charon with high resolution
4. Map the composition of selected areas of Pluto and Charon at high resolution
5. Characterize Pluto ionosphere and solar wind interaction
6. Search for neutral species including H, H2, HCN, and CxHy, and other hydrocarbons and nitriles in Pluto upper atmosphere
7. Search for an atmosphere around Charon
8. Determine bolometric Bond albedos for Pluto and Charon
9. Map the surface temperatures of Pluto and Charon
Group 3 Objectives ...
1. Characterize the energetic particle environment of Pluto and Charon
2. Refine bulk parameters (radii, masses, densities) and orbits of Pluto & Charon
3. Search for magnetic fields of Pluto and Charon
4. Search for additional satellites and rings
PRIMARY CHALLENGES
1. Cost
2. Development Schedule
3. Launch Vehicle Development
4. Instrument Miniaturization
5. Nuclear Launch Approval
Recap:
1. Breakthrough Mission Cost and Development Time.
2. All flyby objectives met or exceeded.
3. First PDS Archiving Delivery, April
4. About 20 Publications Submitted to date.
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