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46-616: IVO is similar to the Io Orbiter concept suggested for the New Frontiers Program by the 2013–2022 U. S. National Research Council Planetary Science Decadal Survey . The mission was proposed to NASA 's Discovery Program by the University of Arizona and Johns Hopkins University's Applied Physics Laboratory in 2010, 2015, and 2019. IVO was also proposed to NASA's Discovery & Scout Mission Capability Expansion (DSMCE) in 2007 and awarded

92-494: A " heat pipe " process through volcanic eruptions that cover about 1% of the surface of the body. On Earth, plate tectonics mixes large slabs of cold oceanic crust into the warm mantle. On the Moon and Mars, most of the current heat loss is by conduction through the crust. By examining how the cold 99% of Io's crust is involved in the heat pipe tectonics , IVO may have a window into how the early Earth, Moon, and Mars operated. Follow

138-524: A MEGA (Mars-Earth Gravity Assist) trajectory, using a gravity assist at both Mars and Earth to reach Jupiter in August 2033. Following a flyby of Io on its way in, the Io Volcano Observer would execute a Jupiter orbital insertion burn to go into an inclined orbit around Jupiter. During the remainder of the primary mission, IVO would encounter Io nine times over four years. During each of these encounters,

184-543: A concept-study in 2009. In 2020, IVO was selected along with three other Discovery proposals for further study, with one or two expected to be selected to fly. In all cases the Principal Investigator has been Alfred McEwen . However, IVO and Trident were passed over in the Discovery 15 and 16 selection phase in favor of DAVINCI+ and VERITAS , both missions to Venus . The proposed baseline launch would allow

230-439: A large area, matching the mafic composition. - Structures and special landscapes can only be preserved after heat-pipe tectonics terminates. This explains the limited contraction. - Mafic volcanic materials and its formation match with the hypothesis of heat-pipe tectonics. - Wide isotopic range of neodymium (Nd), i.e. four times of that on Earth. - The first shell on Mars is formed by an immediate accumulation of

276-528: A thicker lithosphere to bear the overwhelming stresses imposed by globally distributed mountains. Heat-pipe tectonics was then introduced to explain the situation on Io. The theory explains the globally distributed volcanic materials on the surface; the development of thick lithosphere; and the formation of contractional mountains. Research in 2017 suggested that all terrestrial planets may possibly undergo volcanism to cool down in their early development when they were much hotter inside than at present. In

322-515: A universal early cooling mode of terrestrial bodies. In heat-pipe tectonics, volcanism is the major heat transport mechanism in which melts of rock are transferred to the surface by localised vents. Advection , referring to the transfer of mass and heat, occurs when a moving fluid carries substances or heat to or away from a source and through a surrounding solid along channels. Melts are produced when mantle rocks bear temperatures between 1100 and 2400 °C at corresponding depths (pressure varies

368-539: A variety of social issues and noted how pioneer exploration did not end with the American West as once thought. As President, Kennedy would also invest heavily in funding for NASA. Examples of proposed mission concepts include three broad groups based on Planetary Science Decadal Survey goals. New Horizons , a mission to Pluto , was launched on January 19, 2006. After a Jupiter gravity assist in February 2007

414-570: Is 40 times larger than that on Earth. Radioactive decay cannot generate this large amount of heat. Radioactive decay supplies heating on other terrestrial planets. Instead, tidal-generated heat is a better hypothesis as Io is under great tidal influence imposed by Jupiter and other large moons of Jupiter, similar to the Earth and the Moon. The first observation supporting this was the active volcanism found on Io. There are over 100 calderas with abundant and widely spread radiating lava flows . And

460-413: Is a global layer of melt (sometimes called a magma ocean ) under Io's frozen crust but there are also reasons why such a layer of melt cannot persist. IVO uses four independent experiments to determine if a magma ocean exists and, if it does exist, measure its basic properties. Magma oceans are thought to have been common in the earliest history of most of the bodies in the inner Solar System so IVO may have

506-557: Is encouraging both domestic and international scientists to submit mission proposals for the program. New Frontiers was built on the innovative approach used by the Discovery and Explorer Programs of principal investigator -led missions. It is designed for medium-class missions that cannot be accomplished within the cost and time constraints of Discovery, but are not as large as Large Strategic Science Missions (Flagship missions). There are currently three New Frontiers missions in progress and one in development. New Horizons , which

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552-464: Is intended to address the following objectives for Jupiter: OSIRIS-REx stands for "Origins, Spectral Interpretation, Resource Identification, Security, Regolith Explorer", and was launched on 8 September 2016. This mission plan was to orbit an asteroid, at the time named 1999 RQ 36 (now 101955 Bennu ), by 2020. After extensive measurements, the spacecraft collected a sample from the asteroid's surface for return to Earth in 2023. The mission, minus

598-534: Is spread widely by Jupiter's powerful magnetic field. IVO will fly through this material providing new insight into how this material is removed and where it goes. This is the first step in understanding how the chemistry of Io has been altered from its initial state and may provide useful clues to how atmospheres on other bodies have evolved over time. Overall, the IVO intends to use Io as a planet-sized natural laboratory to better understand processes that are important across

644-537: Is the first solar-powered spacecraft to explore an outer planet. The craft was placed into a polar orbit in order to study the planet's magnetic field and internal structure. NASA's Galileo mission to Jupiter provided extensive knowledge about its upper atmosphere, however, further study of Jupiter is crucial not only to the understanding of its origin and nature of the Solar System, but also of giant extrasolar planets in general. The Juno spacecraft investigation

690-583: The Fiscal Responsibility Act of 2023 , the official release of the Announcement of Opportunity for New Frontiers 5 would be delayed to no earlier than 2026. Heat-pipe tectonics Heat-pipe tectonics is a cooling mode of terrestrial planets and moons in which the main heat transport mechanism in the planet is volcanism through the outer hard shell, also called the lithosphere . Heat-pipe tectonics initiates when volcanism becomes

736-518: The Palermo Technical Impact Hazard Scale (circa 2015). In the late 2100s there is a cumulative chance of about 0.07% it could strike Earth, therefore there is a need to measure the composition and Yarkovsky effect of the asteroid. Dragonfly will send a mobile robotic rotorcraft to Saturn's biggest moon Titan and will make use of Multi-Mission Radioisotope Thermoelectric Generators (MMRTG) for power to navigate through

782-579: The deformation , as planets should cool down after subduction. But the process is slow and progressive, which takes a long period to cool down after subduction events. - Yet, no tectonic evidence can prove the occurrence of subduction. - Long-existing reverse faults with overlapping pattern ( Duplex ) is a better explanation. It does not involve any subduction and thus no cooling after any processes. - A sharp decline in heat-pipe tectonics after 3.2 billion years ago. As time goes by, terrestrial planets cool down as internal heat production reduces and

828-814: The incompatible elements , such as neodymium. A hypothesis has been introduced to the early Earth that the Earth followed heat-pipe tectonics theory and cooled down through volcanism. From 4.5 billion years ago, the earth started cooling until 3.2 billion years ago when plate tectonics started. The age of plate tectonics initiation is verified by several pieces of evidence such as Wilson Cycle . Two major existing theories explain early Earth tectonics, namely proto-plate tectonics and vertical tectonics . - Extensional - Subduction - Volcanism New observations in Barberton , South Africa and Pilbara , Australia show no evidence of periods of non-diapiric deformation that lasted more than 300 million years. Applying

874-512: The Midterm Review estimated a release date as late as 2023. The Decadal Survey recommended the Io Observer and Lunar Geophysical Network proposals for New Frontiers 5, in addition to the previous recommendations. NASA released the draft of the Announcement of Opportunity New Frontiers 5 on January 10, 2023. On August 24, 2023, NASA announced that due to budgetary constraints enacted through

920-562: The Solar System and even affect exoplanets . The science objectives of this proposed mission are: IVO's highly capable science payload is all based on instruments that have been developed for other missions. New Frontiers program The New Frontiers program is a series of space exploration missions being conducted by NASA with the purpose of furthering the understanding of the Solar System . The program selects medium-class missions which can provide high science returns. NASA

966-405: The Solar System, Mars, the Moon, Mercury, Venus and Earth show evidence of past heat pipe tectonics, while not undergoing it at present. - Large scale volcanism dominated the heat transfer mechanism until 4 billion years ago, smoothing out the surface. - No volcano can be found, but evidence of volcanism covers an extensive area. - Lava spilling out through the vent can flow easily over

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1012-739: The atmosphere of Titan. The development cost cap is approximately $ 1 billion. As of June 2024, Dragonfly is scheduled for launch in July 2028. The competition for the fourth mission began in January 2017. Per recommendation by the Decadal Survey, NASA's announcement of opportunity was limited to six mission themes: NASA received and reviewed 12 proposals: Out of 12 initial proposals, NASA selected two for additional concept studies on 20 December 2017, including Dragonfly . The two finalists, CAESAR and Dragonfly , each received $ 4 million funding through

1058-410: The composition of the lava is interpreted to be mainly sulfur and silicates from the high eruption temperature of at least 1200 K. In addition to extensive volcanism, mountain ranges are the second observation on Io's surface. Io has 100~150 mountains with mean height of 6 km and a maximum height of 17 km. Mountains found have no tectonic evidence of their origin. Neither are there volcanoes in

1104-413: The contraction of volcanic layers. Cooling heat-pipe planets could enter the next stage of cooling history, either lid tectonics or plate tectonics , immediately from the heat-pipe stage after prolonged cooling. Io, a moon of Jupiter, is a small terrestrial planet, its radius is 1821.6±0.5 km, with a size similar to the Moon's. Yet, Io produces a much higher heat flow, 60~160 terawatts (TW), which

1150-479: The cost of the launch vehicle ($ 183.5 million), is expected to cost approximately $ 800 million. The returned sample will help scientists answer long-held questions about the formation of the Solar System and the origin of complex organic molecules necessary for the origin of life . Asteroid Bennu is a potential future Earth impactor and is listed on the Sentry Risk Table with the third highest rating on

1196-523: The diverse science to be done at Io is "Follow the Heat." There is a continuing debate about where the tidal heat is produced within Io with some observations suggesting that it is primarily in the shallow mantle while others suggest that the heating is broadly distributed. It is also unclear how much of the heating is from deforming solid rock versus pushing liquid magma around. There is evidence suggesting that there

1242-415: The dominant surface heat transfer process. Melted rocks and other more volatile planetary materials are transferred from the mantle to surface via localised vents. Melts cool down and solidify forming layers of cool volcanic materials. Newly erupted materials deposit on top of and bury older layers. The accumulation of volcanic layers on the shell and the corresponding evacuation of materials at depth cause

1288-474: The downward transfer of superficial materials such that the shell materials continuously descend toward the planet's interior. Heat-pipe tectonics was first introduced based on the observations on Io , one of the moons of Jupiter . Io is a rocky body that is internally extremely hot; its heat is produced by tidal flexing associated with its eccentric orbit. It releases internal heat via frequent and extensive volcanic eruptions that transfer melts to

1334-477: The end of 2018 to further develop and mature their concepts. On June 27, 2019, NASA announced the selection of Dragonfly as the New Frontiers 4 mission for a launch in 2026, later delayed to July 2028. The Decadal Survey recommends that two New Frontiers missions be selected per decade. The 2018 Midterm Review of the 2013–2022 Decadal Survey found that NASA was falling behind on this cadence, and recommended

1380-475: The existing theories to explain the deformation, upward inverse-drip shaped intrusion of melts is the solution. In this case, horizontal motions must be involved. Yet, no proof of horizontal motion could be found. Based on this, some researchers applied heat-pipe tectonics to the early Earth. - Upward inverse-drip shaped intrusion metamorphose the volcanic layers into TTG ( Tonalite - trondhjemite - granodiorite ). - Dome-shaped structures resulted from

1426-557: The heat beyond Io bring IVO science to consider the effect tides have on the orbit of Io and the volcanic pollution it spreads across the Jovian system. Io, Europa and Ganymede have their tidal evolution locked to each other via the Laplace resonance , so the system is well-understood only if one combines measurements of all three moons. IVO, Europa Clipper , and JUICE would do precisely this. The tons of volcanic gasses stripped from Io every second

Io Volcano Observer - Misplaced Pages Continue

1472-444: The intrusion. - No deformational structure found until 3.2 billion years ago. - Tectonism-induced structure found right after 3.2 billion years ago: Pilbara: Rifting and arc production Barberton: Collisions and intrusion . - No tectonism until 3.2 billion years ago. - Intrusions occur at the base of the lithosphere. - Some deformations were found earlier than 3.2 billion years. - Subduction could explain

1518-501: The lava compositions. The distribution of heat emanating from Io will be measured from polar perspectives that were not seen by the Galileo spacecraft and cannot be observed from Earth. IVO will also sample the complex mix of ionized and neutral molecules of plasma and gas around Io. The spacecraft is being designed to survive the primary mission with ample margin which could allow various types of extended missions. Io Volcano Observer (IVO)

1564-455: The melting temperature) with the presence of water. When melts reach surface via vertical vents, they cool down and solidify forming mafic or ultramafic rocks which are rich in iron and magnesium . A thicker lithosphere is formed when volcanic materials accumulate on the Earth’s surface via repetitive volcanic eruptions. The new materials at the top, with the corresponding void created in

1610-421: The mountainous areas. A hypothesis of the development of thick lithosphere is built on these observations. The old theory suggested any terrestrial planets have a thin lithosphere. However, a thin 5-km-thick lithosphere cannot withstand the large stress of 6 kbar exerted by a 10 km×10 km mountain. To compare, the maximum stress that the lithosphere of the Earth can withstand is 2 kbar. Thus, Io requires

1656-472: The opportunity to investigate a key process that died about 4 billion years ago everywhere else in our solar system. It is also conceivable that some of the lessons learned about magma oceans may also be applicable to oceans of water within tidally heated icy moons of the outer solar system. For example, the way Io loses its internal heat is very different from how the Earth and other rocky planets lose heat at this time. Io appears to lose almost all its heat via

1702-404: The planet interior, lead to the sinking of superficial deposits. This vertical advection of volcanic materials causes compression of the lithosphere, because interior spherical shells of planets are progressively becoming smaller at increasing depths. The surface cools down and a cold, dense and strong lithosphere is developed. The thick lithosphere supports the mountains that result from

1748-475: The release of the New Frontiers 5 Announcement of Opportunity no later than December 2021. Thomas Zurbuchen , Associate Administrator for the Science Mission Directorate , responded positively to the Midterm Review's recommendation, stating that NASA was "committed to conducting two New Frontiers competitions per decade" and planned to release the Announcement of Opportunity in 2021 or 2022, though

1794-405: The spacecraft continued towards Pluto. The primary mission flyby occurred on July 14, 2015, and the spacecraft was then targeted toward one Kuiper Belt object called 486958 Arrokoth for a January 1, 2019 flyby. Another mission that was considered with this mission was New Horizons 2 . Juno is a Jupiter exploration mission which launched on August 5, 2011, and arrived in July 2016. It

1840-462: The spacecraft would approach Io from over its north polar region, make its closest approach to Io near its equator at an altitude between 200 and 500 kilometers, and leave Io over its south polar region. The time and location of closest approach are carefully optimized to obtain the clearest observations of Io's induced magnetic field, libration amplitude, and gravity field. Erupting volcanoes will be observed in sunlight and in darkness to best constrain

1886-458: The surface temperature becomes lower. On top of that, the major heat transfer process is changing towards conduction. Thus, an abrupt transition from heat-pipe tectonics to either plate tectonics or stagnant lid tectonics occurs when conduction heat is larger than the internal heat production. Stagnant lid refers to the relatively stable and immobile strong cold lithosphere with little horizontal movements, while plate tectonics, refers to

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1932-597: The surface. Its crust is a single thick, dense and cold outer shell made up of layers of volcanic materials, whose rigidity and strength supports the weight of high mountains. Observations suggest that similar processes occurred in the early history of other terrestrial planets in the Solar System , i.e. Venus , the Moon , Mars , Mercury and Earth , indicating they may preserve fossil heat-pipe evidence. Every terrestrial body in our Solar System might have had heat-pipe tectonics at some point; heat-pipe tectonics may thus be

1978-483: Was "grandfathered" into the New Frontiers program. The 2003 Planetary Science Decadal Survey from the National Academy of Sciences identified destinations that then served as the source of the first competition for the New Frontiers program. The NASA program name is based on President John F. Kennedy's " New Frontier " political agenda speech in 1960, in which he constantly used the words "New Frontier" to describe

2024-481: Was developed and advocated by NASA and granted by Congress in CY 2002 and 2003. This effort was led by two long-time NASA executives at headquarters at that time: Edward Weiler , Associate Administrator of Science, and Colleen Hartman , Solar System Exploration Division Director. The mission to Pluto had already been selected before this program was successfully endorsed and funded, so the mission to Pluto, called New Horizons ,

2070-456: Was launched in 2006 and reached Pluto in 2015, Juno , which was launched in 2011 and entered Jupiter orbit in 2016, and OSIRIS-REx , launched in September 2016 towards asteroid Bennu for detailed studies from 2018 to 2021 and a sample return to Earth in 2023. On June 27, 2019, Dragonfly was selected to become the fourth mission in the New Frontiers program. The New Frontiers program

2116-545: Was proposed to the NASA Discovery Program for a third time in July 2019 and was selected for further study in February 2020, but in June 2021, two missions to Venus, DAVINCI+ and VERITAS , were selected instead. The current hyperactive geology of Io is of great scientific interest in and of itself but IVO seeks to understand fundamental processes that have implications far beyond this very unusual moon. The theme connecting

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