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VERITAS Mapping, spectroscopy and geologic analysis of Earth’s “sister” planet
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Venus The Basics, pre-1960 Radius 95% of Earth, mass 82% 92X Earth atmospheric pressure, 97% CO2 462°C surface temp Atmospheric thickness = less diverse study Surface structure and composition? Plate tectonics? etc, etc
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Venus The Basics, pre-1960 Radius 95% of Earth, mass 82% 92X Earth atmospheric pressure, 97% CO2 462°C surface temp Atmospheric thickness = less diverse study Surface structure and composition? Plate tectonics? etc, etc
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Magellan Overview Launched 1989 aboard Space Shuttle Solely radar mapping (S-band, λ 12 cm) Imagery: globally 300-m, 70% at 120-m Topography: ~50-m alt, 5x5 km pixel Limitations Very little interferometry capability Inadequate for detailed geologic analysis
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Magellan Overview Launched 1989 aboard Space Shuttle Solely radar mapping (S-band, λ 12 cm) Imagery: globally 300-m, 70% at 120-m Topography: ~50-m alt, 5x5 km pixel Limitations Very little interferometry capability Inadequate for detailed geologic analysis
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Answers, Questions Global resurfacing several hundred mya? Volcanoes: active? extinct? Geologic irregularities, relation to tectonics? Does Venus have a hot core at all? Where’s the water, like Earth has? A glimpse into Earth at another time. Future or past? Young surface (<800 mya): lack of craters No apparent plate tectonics Very flat surface, 80% deviates <1km Volcanically-formed surface features
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Answers, Questions Global resurfacing several hundred mya? Volcanoes: active? extinct? Geologic irregularities, relation to tectonics? Does Venus have a hot core at all? Where’s the water, like Earth has? A glimpse into Earth at another time. Future or past? Young surface (<800 mya): lack of craters No apparent plate tectonics Very flat surface, 80% deviates <1km Volcanically-formed surface features
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Answers, Questions Global resurfacing several hundred mya? Volcanoes: active? extinct? Geologic irregularities, relation to tectonics? Does Venus have a hot core at all? Where’s the water, like Earth has? A glimpse into Earth at another time. Future or past? Young surface (<800 mya): lack of craters No apparent plate tectonics Very flat surface, 80% deviates <1km Volcanically-formed surface features
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Answers, Questions Global resurfacing several hundred mya? Volcanoes: active? extinct? Geologic irregularities, relation to tectonics? Does Venus have a hot core at all? Where’s the water, like Earth has? A glimpse into Earth at another time. Future or past? Young surface (<800 mya): lack of craters No apparent plate tectonics Very flat surface, 80% deviates <1km Volcanically-formed surface features
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Venus Emissivity, Radio Science, InSAR, Topography and Spectroscopy Keep It Simple, Spacefarer: Two instruments, COTS gear Two-year mission in low orbit Objectives Understand Venus’ geologic evolution Determine current geological processes Find evidence for water—past or present
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Venus Emissivity, Radio Science, InSAR, Topography and Spectroscopy Keep It Simple, Spacefarer: Two instruments, COTS gear Two-year mission in low orbit Objectives Understand Venus’ geologic evolution Determine current geological processes Find evidence for water—past or present
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Instrumentation: VEM and more VEM: IR emissivity mapping Result: composition maps, 60 x 60 km pixel 100x previous missions’ capabilities Gravitational science Tracking spacecraft orbit through comms 145 km resolution, accuracy 2-3x previous Additional atmospheric probe Mass spectrometer-equipped nanosat
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Instrumentation: VEM and more VEM: IR emissivity mapping Result: composition maps, 60 x 60 km pixel 100x previous missions’ capabilities Gravitational science Tracking spacecraft orbit through comms 145 km resolution, accuracy 2-3x previous Additional atmospheric probe Mass spectrometer-equipped nanosat
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Instrumentation: VISAR Interferometric radar (X-band, λ 3.8 cm) Mapping Imagery: globally 30-m, ~23% at 15-m Topography: 5-m alt, 0.25 x 0.25 km pixel High-precision topo results can be extrapolated
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Instrumentation: VISAR Interferometric radar (X-band, λ 3.8 cm) Mapping Imagery: globally 30-m, ~23% at 15-m Topography: 5-m alt, 0.25 x 0.25 km pixel High-precision topo results can be extrapolated
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Instrumentation: VISAR Interferometric radar (X-band, λ 3.8 cm) Mapping Imagery: globally 30-m, ~23% at 15-m Topography: 5-m alt, 0.25 x 0.25 km pixel High-precision topo results can be extrapolated Global survey: a wealth of data
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VISAR Interferometry Repeat-pass interferometry Sub-centimeter accuracy Sufficient to detect surface deformation ~12 target sites, 200x200 km size
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VISAR Interferometry Repeat-pass interferometry Sub-centimeter accuracy Sufficient to detect surface deformation ~12 target sites, 200x200 km size Seismic/tectonic activity?
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Answers VERITAS’ instruments can answer key questions about Venus and Earth alike. Is Venus truly tectonically inactive? Are its volcanoes extinct? Is it actually beginning its geologic life? A glimpse into Earth’s past… or its future.
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Answers VERITAS’ instruments can answer key questions about Venus and Earth alike. Is Venus truly tectonically inactive? Are its volcanoes extinct? Is it actually beginning its geologic life? A glimpse into Earth’s past… or its future.
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