Mapping Imaging Spectrometer for Europa

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MISE
EDT)
RocketSLS
Launch siteKennedy Space Center

The Mapping Imaging Spectrometer for Europa (MISE) is an imaging near infrared spectrometer on board the Europa Clipper mission to Jupiter's moon Europa. MISE will examine Europa's surface composition and relate it to the habitability of its internal water ocean.

Overview

Imaging Spectrometer's Scanning Mirror and Data Processing Unit

Since NASA's

photolysis and radiolysis and the transformation and generation of new organic compounds.[2] The compounds at the surface are likely recycled back into the ocean below.[2]
Visible to Short Wavelength Infrared (VSWIR) spectroscopy is a well-understood technique for mapping from orbit key inorganic, organic, and volatile compositions on planetary surfaces.

MISE was selected for the Europa Clipper mission in May 2015, and it is built by the

Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory (APL). The instrument's Principal Investigator is Diana Blaney.[1]

Goal

tholins
, which are a wide mix of complex organic compounds

A primary goal of the MISE instrument is to determine if Europa is capable of supporting life by searching for amino acid signatures in the infrared spectra.[3] MISE can distinguish between different types of amino acids, such as isoleucine, leucine, and their enantiomers.[3]

The MISE spectrometer is designed to enable the identification and mapping of organics, salts, acid hydrates, water ice phases, altered silicates, and radiolytic compounds at global (≤ 10 km), regional (≤ 300 m), and local scales (~ 25 m).[4] Distribution maps of astrobiologically relevant compounds and evaluating geological processes can be used to determine if Europa's ocean possesses the chemical energy necessary to support life.[5] MISE could provide fundamental information on where future Europa landers would have the highest probability of detecting organic biosignatures.[4]

Description

The MISE design is an imaging

tholins have spectral features at 4.57 μm and 3.4 μm.[6]
These longer wavelengths can also be used to measure thermal emissions from currently active regions.

The prototype also underwent a planetary protection bakeout to ensure that the design was compatible with dry heat microbial sterilization.[4][5]

See also

References

  1. ^ a b "Europa Mission to Probe Magnetic Field and Chemistry". Jet Propulsion Laboratory. 27 May 2015. Retrieved 2017-10-23.
  2. ^
    Bibcode:2010DPS....42.2604B
    .
  3. ^ a b MISE: A Search for Organics on Europa. Whalen, Kelly; Lunine, Jonathan I.; Blaney, Diana L. American Astronomical Society, AAS Meeting #229, id.138.04. January 2017.
  4. ^ a b c Mapping Imaging Spectrometer for Europa (MISE) (PDF); D. L. Blaney, R. Clark, J. B. Dalton, A. G. Davies, R. Green, M. Hedman. K. Hibbits, Y. Langevin, J. Lunine, T. McCord, C. Paranicas, S. Murchie, F. Seelos, J. Soderblom, M. Cable, P. Moroulis, Wousik Kim1, L. Dorsky, K. Strohbehn, and Diana. L. Blaney. EPSC Abstracts. Vol. 10, EPSC2015-319, European Planetary Science Congress 2015.
  5. ^ a b Europa Clipper Mission Concept Preliminary Planetary Protection Approach. Jones, Melissa; Schubert, Wayne; Newlin, Laura; Cooper, Moogega; Chen, Fei; Kazarians, Gayane; Ellyin, Raymond; Vaishampayan, Parag; Crum, Ray. 41st COSPAR Scientific Assembly, July 2016.
  6. ^ The First Akon Europa Penetrator Workshop[permanent dead link]. The Royal Astronomical Society, January 21, 2016.
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