Maximising the scientific outcome of planetary missions with ESA’s Spacecraft Plasma Interaction Software

Project Details

Project Title: Maximising the scientific outcome of planetary missions with ESA’s Spacecraft Plasma Interaction Software

Lead Researcher: Dr. Mika Holmberg

Core Project Group: Caitriona Jackman, Matthew Taylor, Olivier Witasse, Jan-Erik Wahlund, Stas Barabash, Nicolas Altobelli, Fabrice Cipriani, Gregoire Deprez

Duration: 2022/03/21- 2024/03/20

Funding Scheme Website: https://www.esa.int/Enabling_Support/Preparing_for_the_Future/Discovery_and_Preparation/The_Open_Space_Innovation_Platform_OSIP

Total Budget: € 90,000

Project Summary:

In-situ particle and field measurements are a fundamental part of planetary exploration. But the measurements can rarely be validated by comparisons with overlapping data sets from other instruments, since the high cost of planetary missions limits the number of spacecraft and instruments. Instead, computer simulations provide an important way to both analyse and validate in-situ measurements.

The simulation software Spacecraft Plasma Interaction Software (SPIS) is commonly used to assess the risk of electrostatic discharges on European Space Agency (ESA) missions. However, SPIS also holds the potential to be an important part of spacecraft data analyses. For this co-funded research project we propose novel applications of SPIS: to develop an interplanetary and planetary plasma environment ’tool’ capability, to better understand the effects of environment perturbations on in-situ measurements and improve calibration and data analysis routines. The method will be based on the analysis of the first measurements of ESA’s Jupiter Icy Moons Explorer (JUICE) spacecraft, which will be performed soon after launch in 2023. The project will be an important step in preparing JUICE to fulfil its scientific objectives, in particular to accurately characterise the plasma and field environment of Jupiter’s magnetosphere and to determine if Jupiter’s moon Ganymede is habitable. The project will not only provide improved analysis codes for the particle and field instrumentation of JUICE, but also a new method to optimise the analysis of space plasma and field measurements of current and future missions with the relevant instrumentation.

This research project aims to answer the question: How can simulation softwares, like SPIS, be used to optimise the complex process of analysing and validating in-situ particle and field measurements?

Contact: mika.holmberg@dias.ie

Latest News

• We are currently looking for a masters student to work with us in collaboration with the Swedish Institute of Space Physics. Visit their webpage for more information.
• A press release related to the project can be found at this webpage.
• The project kicked off in March 2022 with a Zoom meeting of the core team!