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Particle energization in space plasmas: towards a multi-point, multi-scale plasma observatory
Sorriso-Valvo, Luca; Retinò, Alessandro; McWilliams, Kathryn +27 more
This White Paper outlines the importance of addressing the fundamental science theme "How are charged particles energized in space plasmas" through a future ESA mission. The White Paper presents five compelling science questions related to particle energization by shocks, reconnection, waves and turbulence, jets and their combinations. Answering t…
A Case for Electron-Astrophysics
Verscharen, Daniel; D'Amicis, Raffaella; Bruno, Roberto +27 more
The smallest characteristic scales, at which electron dynamics determines the plasma behaviour, are the next frontier in space and astrophysical plasma research. The analysis of astrophysical processes at these scales lies at the heart of the research theme of electron-astrophysics. Electron scales are the ultimate bottleneck for dissipation of pl…
Determination of stellar parameters for Ariel targets: a comparison analysis between different spectroscopic methods
Danielski, Camilla; Adibekyan, Vardan; Delgado-Mena, Elisa +9 more
Ariel has been selected as the next ESA M4 science mission and it is expected to be launched in 2028. During its 4-year mission, Ariel will observe the atmospheres of a large and diversified population of transiting exoplanets. A key factor for the achievement of the scientific goal of Ariel is the selection strategy for the definition of the inpu…
AMBITION - comet nucleus cryogenic sample return
Henri, Pierre; Bianchi, Eleonora; Codella, Claudio +27 more
We describe the AMBITION project, a mission to return the first-ever cryogenically-stored sample of a cometary nucleus, that has been proposed for the ESA Science Programme Voyage 2050. Comets are the leftover building blocks of giant planet cores and other planetary bodies, and fingerprints of Solar System's formation processes. We summarise some…
A journey of exploration to the polar regions of a star: probing the solar poles and the heliosphere from high helio-latitude
Schmutz, W.; Fineschi, Silvano; Romoli, Marco +29 more
A mission to view the solar poles from high helio-latitudes (above 60°) will build on the experience of Solar Orbiter as well as a long heritage of successful solar missions and instrumentation (e.g. SOHO Domingo et al. (Solar Phys. 162(1-2), 1-37 1995), STEREO Howard et al. (Space Sci. Rev. 136(1-4), 67-115 2008), Hinode Kosugi et al. (Solar Phys…
Cometary plasma science
Gunell, H.; Glassmeier, K. -H.; Andre, N. +27 more
Comets hold the key to the understanding of our Solar System, its formation and its evolution, and to the fundamental plasma processes at work both in it and beyond it. A comet nucleus emits gas as it is heated by the sunlight. The gas forms the coma, where it is ionised, becomes a plasma, and eventually interacts with the solar wind. Besides thes…
On the synergy between Ariel and ground-based high-resolution spectroscopy
Sozzetti, Alessandro; Bonomo, Aldo S.; Guilluy, Gloria +2 more
Since the first discovery of an extra-solar planet around a main-sequence star, in 1995, the number of detected exoplanets has increased enormously. Over the past two decades, observational instruments (both onboard and on ground-based facilities) have revealed an astonishing diversity in planetary physical features (i. e. mass and radius), and or…
Orbit determination methods for interplanetary missions: development and use of the Orbit14 software
Schettino, Giulia; Serra, Daniele; Tommei, Giacomo +1 more
In the last years, a new generation of interplanetary space missions have been designed for the exploration of the solar system. At the same time, radio-science instrumentation has reached an unprecedented level of accuracy, leading to a significant improvement of our knowledge of celestial bodies. Along with this hardware upgrade, software produc…
Mars and the ESA Science Programme - the case for Mars polar science
Becerra, P.; Thomas, Nicolas; Smith, I. B.
Current plans within the European Space Agency (ESA) for the future investigation of Mars (after the ExoMars programme) are centred around participation in the Mars Sample Return (MSR) programme led by NASA. This programme is housed within the Human and Robotic Exploration (HRE) Directorate of ESA. This White Paper, in response to the Voyage 2050 …
ICARUS: in-situ studies of the solar corona beyond Parker Solar Probe and Solar Orbiter
Krucker, Säm; Sorriso-Valvo, Luca; Bruno, Roberto +51 more
The primary scientific goal of ICARUS (Investigation of Coronal AcceleRation and heating of solar wind Up to the Sun), a mother-daughter satellite mission, proposed in response to the ESA "Voyage 2050" Call, will be to determine how the magnetic field and plasma dynamics in the outer solar atmosphere give rise to the corona, the solar wind, and th…