By 
September 6th, 2018
Pluto in enhanced color showing the vast Sputnik Planitia (SP) N2-dominated
glacier and surrounding mountain ranges.
Credit: NASA/Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory/Southwest Research Institute
Continued exploration of Pluto is advocated in a community White Paper on the case for Pluto follow on missions, and most particularly a Pluto orbiter.
Now being circulated is “A White Paper on Pluto Follow on Missions: Background, Rationale, and New Mission Recommendations.”
Credit: Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory/Southwest Research Institute (JHUAPL/SwRI)
An executive summary explains:
“The exploration of the binary Pluto-Charon and its small satellites during the
New Horizons flyby in 2015 revealed not only widespread geologic and compositional diversity across Pluto, but surprising complexity, a wide range of surface unit ages, evidence for widespread activity stretching across billion of years to the near-present, as well as numerous atmospheric puzzles, and strong atmospheric coupling with its surface.”
Charon as seen by New Horizons, featuring its red polar stain, ancient
terrains, and clear signs of massive tectonics.
Credit: NASA/Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory/Southwest Research Institute
Diversity of landforms
NASA’s New Horizons spacecraft also found an unexpected diversity of landforms on its binary companion, Charon. “Pluto’s four small satellites yielded surprises as well, including their unexpected rapid and high obliquity rotation states, high albedos, and diverse densities,” the paper notes.
Those findings made by New Horizons helps build the case for a follow up mission to investigate the Pluto system in more detail.
The spectacular Pluto-Charon binary in montage
from the New Horizons color imager.
Credit: NASA/Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory/Southwest Research Institute
Next step
“As the next step in the exploration of this spectacular planet-satellite system, we recommend an orbiter to study it in considerably more detail, with new types of instrumentation, and to observe its changes with time,” the paper recommends, and calls for the in-depth study of Pluto orbiter missions as a precursor to the 2023 Planetary Science Decadal Survey.
The White Paper explains that an orbiter is the best next step.
“However, many aspects of such a mission remain open and require study in order to properly compare a Pluto orbiter to other choices that the next Planetary Decadal Survey must evaluate,” the paper points out. “Accordingly, we recommend that in advance of the 2023 Decadal Survey, NASA fund one or more Pluto orbiter studies.”
Pluto remains a puzzle.
Credit: My Science Shop
Open scientific questions
The White Paper adds that there are numerous, compelling, open scientific issues surrounding Pluto itself and the Pluto system in general, and the relationship of the Pluto system to the Kuiper Belt.
That being the case, there is strong motivation for follow on Pluto system exploration, the White Paper concludes. “Among the various options for that exploration is a second flyby, an orbiter, or a lander.”
To read the entire White Paper, go to:
Posted in Space News
