[Paper Review] The ODINUS Mission Concept - The Scientific Case for a Mission to the Ice Giant Planets with Twin Spacecraft to Unveil the History of our Solar System

D. Turrini, R. Politi+13 more|arXiv (Cornell University)|Feb 11, 2014

Astro and Planetary Science2 references3 citations

TL;DR

The ODINUS mission concept proposes a twin-spacecraft exploration of the ice giants Uranus and Neptune to unravel the formation and evolution of the Solar System. By conducting comparative studies of their systems using identical instruments, the mission aims to address fundamental questions about planetary origins, dynamics, and interiors, advancing understanding of planetary system formation and the conditions for life.

ABSTRACT

The purpose of this document is to discuss the scientific case of a space mission to the ice giants Uranus and Neptune and their satellite systems and its relevance to advance our understanding of the ancient past of the Solar System and, more generally, of how planetary systems form and evolve. As a consequence, the leading theme of this proposal will be the first scientific theme of the Cosmic Vision 2015-2025 program: What are the conditions for planetary formation and the emergence of life? In pursuing its goals, the present proposal will also address the second and third scientific theme of the Cosmic Vision 2015-2025 program, i.e.: How does the Solar System work? What are the fundamental physical laws of the Universe? The mission concept we will illustrate in the following will be referred to through the acronym ODINUS, this acronym being derived from its main fields of scientific investigation: Origins, Dynamics and Interiors of Neptunian and Uranian Systems. As the name suggests, the ODINUS mission is based on the use of two twin spacecraft to perform the exploration of the ice giants and their regular and irregular satellites with the same set of instruments. This will allow to perform a comparative study of these two systems so similar and yet so different and to unveil their histories and that of the Solar System.

Motivation & Objective

• To investigate the scientific potential of a mission to the ice giant planets Uranus and Neptune to understand the formation and evolution of the Solar System.
• To address the Cosmic Vision 2015–2025 scientific themes: planetary formation, Solar System dynamics, and fundamental physical laws.
• To enable comparative analysis of two distinct yet similar ice giant systems using twin spacecraft with identical instrumentation.
• To explore the origins, internal structures, and satellite systems of Uranus and Neptune to reveal their shared and divergent histories.
• To contribute to the broader understanding of how planetary systems form and evolve, including conditions relevant to the emergence of life.

Proposed method

• The mission employs two identical spacecraft to perform simultaneous or sequential flybys of Uranus and Neptune.
• Each spacecraft carries a standardized suite of scientific instruments to ensure consistent data collection and comparative analysis.
• The mission design leverages gravity assists and trajectory optimization to enable efficient travel to both planets.
• Scientific observations focus on planetary atmospheres, magnetospheres, internal structures, and satellite systems.
• Data from both spacecraft will be analyzed in parallel to identify similarities and differences in system evolution.
• The mission concept is structured to align with the European Space Agency’s L2 and L3 mission calls, emphasizing scientific return and technological feasibility.

Experimental results

Research questions

• RQ1 What are the formation and evolutionary histories of the ice giant planets Uranus and Neptune, and how do they compare?
• RQ2 How do the internal structures and dynamics of Uranus and Neptune differ, and what do these differences reveal about their origins?
• RQ3 What role do regular and irregular satellites play in the formation and evolution of the ice giant systems?
• RQ4 How do the magnetospheres and atmospheric compositions of Uranus and Neptune reflect their distinct histories?
• RQ5 What insights do the ice giants provide into the broader processes of planetary system formation and the conditions for life?

Key findings

• The ODINUS mission concept provides a scientifically compelling case for exploring the ice giants, positioning them as critical to understanding planetary system formation.
• The twin-spacecraft approach enables high-fidelity comparative studies of Uranus and Neptune, enhancing the scientific return per mission cost.
• The mission directly addresses the three core scientific themes of the Cosmic Vision 2015–2025 program: planetary origins, Solar System dynamics, and fundamental physics.
• The use of identical instruments on both spacecraft ensures data consistency and enables robust cross-system analysis.
• The mission concept is formally submitted as a white paper to the European Space Agency, indicating strong institutional and scientific support.
• The proposal emphasizes the unique scientific value of the ice giants, which remain the least explored of the major planets in the Solar System.