Comparing NASA discovery and new frontiers class mission concepts for the Io volcano observer
File(s)
Published version
Author(s)
Type
Journal Article
Abstract
Jupiter’s moon Io is a highly compelling target for future exploration that offers critical insight into tidal dissipation processes and the geology of high heat flux worlds, including primitive planetary bodies, such as the early Earth, that are shaped by enhanced rates of volcanism. Io is important for understanding the development of volcanogenic atmospheres and mass exchange within the Jupiter system. However, fundamental questions remain about the state of Io’s interior, surface, and atmosphere, as well as its role in the evolution of the Galilean satellites. The Io Volcano Observer (IVO) would advance answers to these questions by addressing three key goals: (A) determine how and where tidal heat is generated inside Io, (B) understand how tidal heat is transported to the surface of Io, and (C) understand how Io is evolving. IVO was selected for Phase A study through the NASA Discovery program in 2020, and, in anticipation of the next New Frontiers (NF) opportunity, an enhanced IVO-NF mission concept would increase the Baseline mission from 10 flybys to 20, with an improved radiation design; employ a Ka-band communication system to double IVO’s total data downlink; add a wide-angle camera for color and stereo mapping; add a dust mass spectrometer; and lower the altitude of later flybys to enable new science. This study compares the architecture, instrument suite, and science objectives for Discovery (IVO) and NF (IVO-NF) missions to Io. IVO can achieve outstanding science results at the Discovery level, but we advocate for continued prioritization of Io for NF.
Date Issued
2025-06-05
Date Acceptance
2025-04-04
Citation
The Planetary Science Journal, 2025, 6 (6)
ISSN
2632-3338
Publisher
IOP Publishing
Journal / Book Title
The Planetary Science Journal
Volume
6
Issue
6
Copyright Statement
© 2025. The Author(s). Published by the American Astronomical Society. Original content from this work may be used under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 licence. Any further distribution of this work must maintain attribution to the author(s) and the title of the work, journal citation and DOI.
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Subjects
Astronomy & Astrophysics
Galilean satellites
GLOBAL MAGMA OCEAN
GRAVITATIONAL-FIELD
HEAT-FLOW
INTERNAL STRUCTURE
Io
Jovian satellites
NEUTRAL OXYGEN CLOUD
Physical Sciences
PLANETARY SCIENCE
PLASMA TORUS
Science & Technology
SILICATE VOLCANISM
Space vehicles
SPATIAL-DISTRIBUTION
TIDAL DISSIPATION
Tidal interaction
Volcanism
Publication Status
Published
Article Number
134
Date Publish Online
2025-06-05