AOGS Singapore 20.-24. June 2005 Paper ID: 58-PS-A0320 Johannes.Benkhoff@esa.int BepiColombo – Mission to Mercury System Update MPO Scientific Aspects.

AOGS Singapore 20.-24. June 2005 Paper ID: 58-PS-A0320 Johannes.Benkhoff@esa.int

BepiColombo – Mission to Mercury

System Update

MPOScientific Aspects

&

Rita Schulz Johannes Benkhoff

AOGS Singapore 20.-24. June 2005 Paper ID: 58-PS-A0320 Johannes.Benkhoff@esa.int

BepiColombo Elements

AOGS Singapore 20.-24. June 2005 Paper ID: 58-PS-A0320 Johannes.Benkhoff@esa.int

Mercury Planetary Orbiter

Mercury Magnetospheric Orbiter

MMO orbit optimized for study of magnetosphere

MPO orbit optimized for study of planet itself

AOGS Singapore 20.-24. June 2005 Paper ID: 58-PS-A0320 Johannes.Benkhoff@esa.int

MMO:400 x 11,800 km

9.3 hours

Direction of Sun at perihelion

4000 2000 0 2000 4000 6000 8000 1 104

1.2 104

1.4 104

1.6 104

8000

6000

4000

2000

0

2000

4000

6000

8000

X (km)

Z (

km

)

MPO: Parameter NominalValue

Tolerance

Apocentre height (hA) 1,500 km ±20 kmPericentre height (hP) 400 km ±20 kmInclination (i) 90° ±2°Argument ofpericentre

180° ±20°

Period 2.32hours

Right ascension ofascending node

248° ±20°

Eclipse duration <42 min

Mercury Orbits

AOGS Singapore 20.-24. June 2005 Paper ID: 58-PS-A0320 Johannes.Benkhoff@esa.int

MPO InstrumentsMPO Instruments(Selected by SPC; Nov. 2004)(Selected by SPC; Nov. 2004)

&&Scientific ObjectivesScientific Objectives

Origin of MercuryEvolution of

Mercury

Nature of surface

modifications on Mercury

Structure and variability

of the magnetosphere of

Mercury

AOGS Singapore 20.-24. June 2005 Paper ID: 58-PS-A0320 Johannes.Benkhoff@esa.int

BELA BepiColombo Laser Altimeter

Science Goals

• Figure of the Planet

• Interior Structure and Composition of Mercury

• Formation and Evolutionof the Planet

CoPI’s: N. Thomas / T. Spohn

AOGS Singapore 20.-24. June 2005 Paper ID: 58-PS-A0320 Johannes.Benkhoff@esa.int

MERTISMERCURY (RADIOMETER and) THERMAL

INFRARED SPECTROMETER

Science goals:

– to study the surface composition of Mercury

– to identify the key rock-forming minerals

– to map the surface mineralogy

– to measure surface temperature and thermal inertia

PI: E.K. Jessberger

AOGS Singapore 20.-24. June 2005 Paper ID: 58-PS-A0320 Johannes.Benkhoff@esa.int

Mercury Imaging X-ray Spectrometer (MIXS)

PI: S. Dunkin•To produce global elemental maps of key rock-forming elements

•To perform high spatial resolution mapping of these elemental abundances where solar conditions permit

•To confirm that the auroral zone is an intense source of continuum and line X-rays

AOGS Singapore 20.-24. June 2005 Paper ID: 58-PS-A0320 Johannes.Benkhoff@esa.int

SIXS (Solar Intensity X-ray and particle

Spectrometer) PI: J. Houvelin

Scientific Objectives

accurate physical estimates of solar X-ray and particle irradiation at the surface of Mercury.

Data provided by SIXS are mandatory for a valid fluorescence analysis of MIXS spectra.

AOGS Singapore 20.-24. June 2005 Paper ID: 58-PS-A0320 Johannes.Benkhoff@esa.int

ISA (ITALIAN SPRING ACCELEROMETER)

PI: V. Iafolla

AN ACCELEROMETER TO MEASURE THE INERTIAL ACCELERATIONS ACTING ON THE MPO

• the global gravity field of Mercury and its temporal variations

• the local gravity anomalies

• the rotation state of Mercury

• the orbit of the Mercury center–of–mass around the Sun

AOGS Singapore 20.-24. June 2005 Paper ID: 58-PS-A0320 Johannes.Benkhoff@esa.int

MERMAGMagnetic Field Investigation

PI: A. BaloghThe primary objective• to provide magnetic field measurements that will lead to the

detailed description of Mercury’s planetary magnetic field, and thereby constrain models of the evolution and current state of the planetary interior.

The secondary objective • to contribute to the study of the interaction of the solar wind with

the Hermean magnetic field and the planet itself, the formation and dynamics of the magnetosphere as well as to the processes that control the interaction of the magnetosphere with the planet.

AOGS Singapore 20.-24. June 2005 Paper ID: 58-PS-A0320 Johannes.Benkhoff@esa.int

PHEBUS: A FUV-EUV Spectrometer

PI: E. Chassefiere

1) Vertical/ geographic/ seasonal mapping of already detected elements (H, He, O, Na, K, Ca).

2) Search for still non-detected compounds (Si, Mg, Al, Fe, S, C, N, OH, H2), and vertical/ geographic/ seasonal mapping.

3) Search for noble gases other than He (Ne, Ar, Xe, Kr) and mapping/ monitoring if possible.

4) Search for ion species (He+, Na+, O+, Mg+, Al+, Ca+, C+, N+, S+, …) and mapping/ monitoring if possible.

5) Measurement of surface reflectance at 121.6 nm in polar craters in order to search for surface ice layers.

AOGS Singapore 20.-24. June 2005 Paper ID: 58-PS-A0320 Johannes.Benkhoff@esa.int

Spectrometer and Imagers for MPO BepiColombo Integrated Observatory SYStem

SIMBIO-SYS SIMBIO-SYS package:

It incorporates capabilities to perform:

medium space resolution global mapping in stereo and colour imaging using two pan-chromatic and 3 broad-band filters Stereo Channel STC;

high spatial resolution imaging in a pan-chromatic and 3 broad-band filters High Resolution Imaging Channel HRIC;

imaging spectroscopy in the spectral range 400 2000 nm Visible Infrared Hyperspectral Imager VIHI .

• Classification of Mercury surface features• Mercury surface composition

PI: E. Flamini

AOGS Singapore 20.-24. June 2005 Paper ID: 58-PS-A0320 Johannes.Benkhoff@esa.int

SIMBIO-SYS Science

- Surface geology: stratigraphy, geomorphology

– Volcanism: lava plain emplacement, volcanoes identification

- Global tectonics: structural geology, mechanical properties of

lithosphere

- Surface age: crater population and morphometry, degradation

processes

- Surface composition: maturity and crustal differentiation,

weathering, rock forming minerals abundance determination

- Geophysics: libration measurements, internal planet dynamics

AOGS Singapore 20.-24. June 2005 Paper ID: 58-PS-A0320 Johannes.Benkhoff@esa.int

MOREMercury Orbiter Radio-science Experiment

Scientific ObjectivesScientific Objectives

• Determine the gravity field of Mercury

• Determine the size and physical state of its core

• Provide crucial experimental constraints to models of Mercury’s internal structure

• Test theories of gravity

• Measure the gravitational oblateness of the Sun

• Test and characterize the most advanced interplanetary tracking system ever built

• Assess the performances of the novel tracking system in precise orbit determination and space navigation. 

PI: L. Iess

AOGS Singapore 20.-24. June 2005 Paper ID: 58-PS-A0320 Johannes.Benkhoff@esa.int

SERENASearch for Exospheric Refilling and Emitted Natural Abundances

PI: S. OrsiniUnits:Units:

• ELENA: Emitted Low-Energy Neutral Atoms

• STROFIO: Start from a ROtating FIeld spectrOmeter

• MIPA: Miniature Ion Precipitation Analyser

• PICAM: Planetary Ion CAMera

To measure chemical, elemental, and isotopic composition of the exosphere; to investigate the exo-ionosphere; to derive gas density profile as a function of altitude; to estimate the particle loss rate from Mercury environment; to measure the surface emission rate and investigate the surface release processes;

Major Objectives

to measure the plasma precipitation rate; to remote sense the surface composition; to derive the magnetosphere structure and dynamics; to observe the solar wind characteristics at 0.3 AU;

Other Objectives

to study the ENA imaging applications for comparative solar-planetary relationship;

AOGS Singapore 20.-24. June 2005 Paper ID: 58-PS-A0320 Johannes.Benkhoff@esa.int

Mercury Gamma-ray and Neutron SpectrometerMercury Gamma-ray and Neutron SpectrometerMGNSMGNS

PI: I.G.MitrofanovPI: I.G.MitrofanovScientific goals:Scientific goals:

• to determine the elemental compositions by the measurements of nuclear lines of major soil-composing elements • to determine the elemental compositions by the measurements of the leakage flux of neutrons and of the lines of natural radioactive elements • to determine the regional distribution of volatile depositions on the polar areas of Mercury which are permanently shadowed from the Sun, and to provide a map of column density of this depositions

AOGS Singapore 20.-24. June 2005 Paper ID: 58-PS-A0320 Johannes.Benkhoff@esa.int

MGNS Backup:MGNS Backup: MANGAMANGA

MMercury composition ercury composition AAnalysisnalysisby by NNeutron and eutron and GaGamma-ray spectoscopymma-ray spectoscopy

PI: C. d'Uston

AOGS Singapore 20.-24. June 2005 Paper ID: 58-PS-A0320 Johannes.Benkhoff@esa.int

MPO Payload Selection by SPC (Nov. 2004)

BELA Laser Altimeter N. Thomas / T. Spohn

ISA Radio Science V. Iafolla Accelerometer

MERMAG Magnetometer A. Balogh

MERTIS IR Spectrometer E.K. Jessberger  

MGNS or Gamma Ray and I. Mitrofanov

MANGA Neutron Spectrometer C. d'Uston

MIXS / X-ray Spectrometer S. Dunkin SIXSSolar Monitor J. Houvelin

MORE Radio Science L. IessKa-band Transponder

PHEBUS UV Spectrometer E. Chassefiere  

SERENA Neutral Particle Analyser/ S. Orsini (Elena, MIPA, Ion Spectrometers PICAM, Strofio)

SIMBIO-SYS High Res.+ Stereo Cameras E. Flamini (HIRC, STC, VIHI) visual and NIR Spectrometer

AOGS Singapore 20.-24. June 2005 Paper ID: 58-PS-A0320 Johannes.Benkhoff@esa.int

InstrumentsInstruments

Magnetosphere

High Resolution Colour Camera Stereo Camera

Vis-Near-IR Mapping Spectrom.TIR Map. Spectrom/RadiometerX-ray Spectrom/Solar Monitorγ-Ray Neutron Spectrometer

Ultraviolet SpectrometerNeutral & Ion Particle Analyser

Laser AltimeterRadio Science ExperimentMagnetometer

plus MMO Payloadplus MMO PayloadStructure, dynamics

Morphology

State of Core

Composition

Surface

Interior

Exosphere

Temperature

TopographyComposition

Core/MantleComposition

Magnetic Field

DynamicsSurface ReleaseSource/Sink Balance

CompositionInteractions

Science TopicsScience TopicsMPOMPO

AOGS Singapore 20.-24. June 2005 Paper ID: 58-PS-A0320 Johannes.Benkhoff@esa.int