Icy moon plume simulator chamber

The design of a laboratory recreation of an icy moon plume

Master thesis (2019)

Authors

T.J. Becx Aerospace Engineering

Contributors

S.M. Cazaux Astrodynamics & Space Missions - Aerospace Engineering (mentor)
Faculty
Aerospace Engineering, Aerospace Engineering
Copyright: © 2019 Tom Becx
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Published Date

21-02-2019

Language

English

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Faculty

Aerospace Engineering

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.