DIAS researchers help guide lunar flyby as part of European Space Agency mission
A team of three researchers from the Dublin Institute for Advanced Studies (DIAS) will play a key role in the first ever spacecraft attempt to fly past the Moon, and then Earth. The flyby is set to take place over tomorrow and Tuesday (19-20 August).
The manoeuvre is part of the European Space Agency (ESA)’s Jupiter Icy Moons Explorer (JUICE) mission. As well as conducting detailed observations of Jupiter and its moons, the mission will be investigating Jupiter’s moons as possible habitats for life.
The lunar-Earth flyby will be an opportunity for the DIAS team to test their ideas about the spacecraft’s behaviour in the environment of a moon, in preparation for the actual flybys of Jupiter’s moons.
DIAS’s work on this mission will explore how the spacecraft itself affects the measurement of particles, and will use an advanced computer model to investigate this.
The DIAS contributors are Senior Prof Caitriona Jackman, Dr Mika Holmberg and Dr Hans Huybrighs, all from the DIAS Planetary Magnetospheres Group, which is the only Irish research group involved in the mission.
DIAS research fellow and co-investigator on the radio and plasma wave investigation instrument Dr. Mika Holmberg (pictured), said: “The measurements from the lunar-Earth flyby could have a significant impact on our research going forward. The effects of the interaction between the spacecraft and its environment influences our interpretation of the measurements. For example, it might change our understanding of where the moon particles that we are trying to detect come from, or how many there are.
“The computer simulations account for the environment of the spacecraft and models how the moon particles will be affected, so that we can correct potential misleading effects for later in the mission. When Juice flies by the Moon we have the first opportunity to test our correction techniques during an actual moon encounter, which is exciting. It’s the perfect opportunity for us to calibrate our instruments and smooth out any remaining issues, and who knows what it could lead to.”
Prof Jackman added: “This is the first step in JUICE’s journey through the solar system on its way to Jupiter. The spacecraft will use the gravity of the Moon and then Earth to bend its path through space and redirect it on course for a flyby of Venus in August 2025. This will help to ensure it arrives at Jupiter with the right speed and direction. It’s a journey that requires perfect accuracy and in-depth planning.
“Having this opportunity to test our ideas about the spacecraft’s behaviour in the environment of a moon is truly exciting and will be a huge boost in confidence for our research once Juice arrives at Jupiter. The encounter of Earth’s moon is a practice-run for when we get to Jupiter, where we will study moons with underground oceans that might support life.”
The JUICE mission is being led by the European Space Agency, of which Ireland is a member state. Eighteen different research institutes, 23 countries, 83 different companies and more than 2000 people have contributed to the mission.
DIAS’ work on this mission is funded by Science Foundation Ireland and a European Space Agency fellowship held by Dr Holmberg.
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