In our first Planetary Exploration Project, our team must design an efficient transportation method on a foreign celestial body, both without wasting excess energy and without wasting time, capable of a 5-kilometre-long round trip on Ganymede, one of Jupiter’s moons. This vehicle must handle extreme conditions including temperatures as low as -180C, low gravity(a tenth of Earth’s), rocky terrain, and interference from the planet’s magnetic field affecting electronics.
The first step was choosing the best fitted moon and in our case, it was between Europa and Ganymede.
Europa was by far the most habitable of all of Jupiter’s moons, but transport over distances would be a struggle. almost half of the terrain is known as “chaos” terrain, filled with massive ridges, valleys, holes, etc.
Ganymede on the other hand features lightly rocky and icy terrain, similar gravitational limitations, and oxygen in the atmosphere opens the possibility to combustion engines.
As a result, we chose Ganymede, seen in above photo and we began the lengthy research portion.
OPPORTUNITIES:
Ganymede has the most opportunity for creativity in terms of vehicle design.
On one hand, the gentle terrain and oxygen present in the atmosphere may allow for a more traditional method of a combustion engine and tires moving the car forward. This was one of the more serious options present as it seems to be protected from the majority of shortcomings(see below) that exist on the moon.
On the other hand, scientists theorize and have found evidence pointing toward an underground saltwater ocean present in Ganymede. From this, we theorized about a submarine capable of drilling through the first layer of the moon and entering the ocean underneath. From there, we could use similar technology to traverse the planet from this subterranean ocean.
OBSTACLES:
Despite the confidence I feel in making the best decision, each and every one of those planets have their own set of shared and individual shortcomings. The list of issues can be broken down into 4 categories.
1. Temperature - as cold as -180°C
2. Low gravity - approximately a tenth of Earth's
3. Rocky/Icy terrain
4. Magnetic Field
Some possible issues that could arise would be:
- Efficiently maintaining temperature inside the vehicle, maintaining operating temperature throughout the vehicle.
- Necessary to include improved downforce/traction.
- Must design vehicle to navigate changing terrain.
- Radiation affecting vessel as well as electronics as well as increased power consumption to counteract its effects.
HOW DO WE KNOW WHAT WE KNOW?
The simple answer is we know what we know because massive research corporations such as NASA and EBSCO tell us. But how do they know?
As a child, when you were curious about things, you would try to touch them, feel them, smell them, even taste them at times.
Similarly, these massive research corporations learn about these planets by sending probes deep into space near these moons.
In the example of Ganymede, NASA’s Galileo spacecraft discovered Ganymede’s magnetic field back in 1996 and NASA’s Hubble telescope found evidence toward underground oceans as well as evidence of oxygen in the atmosphere.
Photo of NASA’s Galileo spacecraft.
From then on, various probes were used to determine various characteristics of the planet. Some of these include: Pioneer 10-11, Galileo, Voyager 1-2, any many more.
From then on, what tools did they use?
DISCOVERY:
Galileo Galilei was the first to observe Ganymede through a telescope back in the 16th century. At first he believed it to be three stars near Jupiter, but was eventually discovered as the moon we know today as Ganymede.
That was the catalyst that started our journey of understanding and took it to where we are today. From there, some findings and instruments include:
JunoCam Imager: Took first high resolution images of Ganymede’s surface.
Originally, Juno did not need a camera at all to complete the tasks it was designated to do. It was however, a crime to send a spacecraft equipped with all the nations most advanced technology and not include a camera. So it was decided. JunoCam takes images in a 58 degree field of view with a methane sensitive camera. The spacecraft then rotates to capture both Jupiter as well as its moons when the planet was not in focus.
Image of Earth from Junocam.(NASA)
Microwave Radiometer: Provided information on Ganymede’s magnetic field.
The Microwave Radiometer(MWR) uses 6 microwave antennae to determine the composition of the planet. Unfortunately, the public documentation provided was for Jupiter, Juno’s intended purpose. However, we do know that it was capable and intended to determine the composition of Jupiter’s atmosphere. It was likely used the same way for multiple of Jupiter’s moons, Ganymede included.
Image of Juno’s Microwave Radiometer.(NASA)
Jovian Infrared Auroral Mapper: Detected salts and other organic compounds on Ganymede’s Surface.
Juno’s Jovian Infrared Auroral Mapper(JIRAM) is a type of image spectrometer. An image spectrometer measures reflected radiation(solar radiation for JIRAM) to form an “image” or display of some sort. In combination with JunoCam, this was able to make some of the largest discoveries we know today.
Diagram of image spectrometer.
As well as many more building on these findings and many more to come.
BIBLIOGRAPHY:
“Colorado.” Jupiter, lasp.colorado.edu/mop/files/2015/08/jupiter_ch16-1.pdf. Accessed 23 Nov. 2024.
What to expect from Junocam at Jupiter. The Planetary Society. (n.d.). https://www.planetary.org/articles/06090600-what-to-expect-from-junocam
NASA. (n.d.). Juno:Microwave Radiometer (MWR) – the NSSDCA – NASA. https://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/nmc/experiment/display.action?id=2011-040A-04
Hassel, Alton, C., Fischer, & G, D. (2023). Research databases: EBSCO. EBSCO Information Services, Inc. | www.ebsco.com. https://research.ebsco.com/c/m7jfwd/viewer/html/oenkvkdw3r
Home Page: EBSCO. EBSCO Information Services, Inc. | www.ebsco.com. (n.d.). https://www.ebsco.com/
NASA. (n.d.). Europa – NASA Science. NASA. https://science.nasa.gov/jupiter/moons/europa/
Libretexts. (2023, February 13). 2.1.5: Spectrophotometry. Chemistry LibreTexts. https://chem.libretexts.org/Bookshelves/Physical_and_Theoretical_Chemistry_Textbook_Maps/Supplemental_Modules_%28Physical_and_Theoretical_Chemistry%29/Kinetics/02%3A_Reaction_Rates/2.01%3A_Experimental_Determination_of_Kinetics/2.1.05%3A_Spectrophotometry
NASA. (2023, July 26). NASA’s Hubble observations suggest underground ocean on Jupiter’s largest moon. NASA. https://www.nasa.gov/news-release/nasas-hubble-observations-suggest-underground-ocean-on-jupiters-largest-moon/#:~:text=NASA’s%20Hubble%20Space%20Telescope%20has,the%20water%20on%20Earth’s%20surface.
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