Next Generation Planetary Geodesy

Abstract

Geodesy has the capability to address some of the highest-priority questions in planetary science. Despite their utility, geodetic measurements have been limited at other planets and moons, and have not received the same focus as they have at the Earth and the Moon. This issue motivated our Keck Institute for Space Studies (KISS) study program. We reviewed the state-of-the-art methods for next-generation geodesy, and identified science questions that could be advanced by future geodetic investigations at Mars, Venus, and Ocean Worlds. Essential geodetic investigations at Venus would be conducted by NASA's VERITAS mission, and we recommend that mission be flown as planned as soon as possible. By the conclusion of our study, we determined that Mars, Europa, and Enceladus were the solar system destinations where currently unplanned next-generation geodesy investigations would lead to the most transformative advances in the near future. For these worlds, we identified a set of priority science themes: Priority Science Themes for Mars: Terrestrial planet geodynamics and climate change. Priority Science Themes for Europa and Enceladus: Ocean World interior structure, mass and energy budget, and habitability. We identified four mission concepts that would provide compelling tests of key science hypotheses related to these priority science themes. These mission concepts are, in no particular order: 1. Mars Gravity Mapper with InSAR: an orbital mission at Mars that collects gravity data using spacecraft-to-spacecraft tracking and collects surface deformation measurements using InSAR, 2. Mars Geophysical Helicopter : a mobile aerial platform at the Martian surface with geophysics-focused instrumentation including a gravimeter and magnetometer, 3. Enceladus Geophysical Orbiter : a geophysical orbiter at Enceladus that collects gravity, topography, and deformation measurements, and 4. Europa Geophysical Orbiter : an orbiter at Europa with a gravity gradiometer and magnetometer. We conclude that the geodesy community should continue to be established as an important subfield within planetary science, including through topical meetings, conference sessions, and mission concept studies.

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