Icy moon plume simulator chamber
The design of a laboratory recreation of an icy moon plume
T.J. Becx (TU Delft - Aerospace Engineering)
Stephanie Cazaux – Mentor (TU Delft - Astrodynamics & Space Missions)
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Abstract
Since the discovery of plumes on Saturn's icy moon Enceladus' southern pole by Cassini in 2005, these phenomena have been observed and simulated by computer models. This study takes a next step in icy-moon plume research and proposes a design for a laboratory set-up that recreates such a plume here on Earth. This set-up consists of a cylindrical ice-block with a crevasse reaching from the top to the reservoir of liquid water at the bottom, tailored such that a hypersonic plume will form when placed in a vacuum chamber. This laboratory set-up can for example assist in proving current hypotheses on the plumes’ mechanism, subsurface ocean content, grain growth, organic macromolecular material origin, serve as a test ground for future landers and much more.