Moonraker -- Enceladus Multiple Flyby Mission
O. Mousis, A. Bouquet, Y. Langevin, N. Andr\'e, H. Boithias, G. Durry,, F. Faye, P. Hartogh, J. Helbert, L. Iess, S. Kempf, A. Masters, F. Postberg,, J.-B. Renard, P. Vernazza, A. Vorburger, P. Wurz, D.H. Atkinson, S. Barabash,, M. Berthomier, J. Brucato, M. Cable, J. Carter

TL;DR
Moonraker is a proposed ESA mission to orbit Saturn and perform multiple flybys of Enceladus, aiming to analyze its plumes and surface to assess habitability and understand its formation.
Contribution
It introduces a new mission concept with advanced instruments for detailed analysis of Enceladus's plume and surface, building on Cassini's findings and proposing a comprehensive exploration strategy.
Findings
Enhanced instrument suite for plume analysis
Quantification of key species and isotopic ratios
Investigation of habitability and formation conditions
Abstract
Enceladus, an icy moon of Saturn, possesses an internal water ocean and jets expelling ocean material into space. Cassini investigations indicated that the subsurface ocean could be a habitable environment having a complex interaction with the rocky core. Further investigation of the composition of the plume formed by the jets is necessary to fully understand the ocean, its potential habitability, and what it tells us about Enceladus' origin. Moonraker has been proposed as an ESA M-class mission designed to orbit Saturn and perform multiple flybys of Enceladus, focusing on traversals of the plume. The proposed Moonraker mission consists of an ESA-provided platform, with strong heritage from JUICE and Mars Sample Return, and carrying a suite of instruments dedicated to plume and surface analysis. The nominal Moonraker mission has a duration of 13.5 years. It includes a 23-flyby segment…
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Taxonomy
TopicsAstro and Planetary Science · Planetary Science and Exploration · Spacecraft and Cryogenic Technologies
