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Advancing the Exploration of Enceladus: Integrating Internal Structure Models, Orbit Determination, and Mission Design for Future Exploration

Delaram Darivasi, Sonasha Auer Wilkins, Taruna Parihar, Victor Alejandro

Enceladus, Saturn's sixth-largest moon with a radius of 252.0±0.2 km, was observed in 2005 by NASA’s Cassini spacecraft. Cassini's close flybys revealed a geologically active region near Enceladus’ South Pole, which was identified as the source of fine icy particles forming Saturn’s E ring. This discovery suggests a subsurface ocean and a potentially habitable environment. Our study integrates four interconnected research efforts to advance the understanding of Enceladus’ internal structure, dynamic environment, and orbit determination. First, we expand on models of Enceladus’ internal structure, focusing on core composition and matching these models with observed data, particularly moment of inertia coefficients. We explore various crust and core densities, finding that these are interdependent, offering insights into the moon’s internal dynamics and composition. Second, the German Space Agency’s Enceladus Explorer (EnEx) initiative seeks to search for extraterrestrial life on Enceladus and study its geophysical properties. This mission relies on stable satellite orbits, identified using DLR's Particle Integrator (PInt). Our research compares two versions of PInt and benchmarks the orbit determination software 'Tudat' for precise satellite positioning, critical for mapping and geophysical analysis. Third, we address the challenge of finding stable orbits around Enceladus, given its complex gravitational environment influenced by Saturn and its moons. Through extensive numerical analysis, we identify suitable orbits for a future mission to Enceladus. A polar orbit is preferred for studying the tiger stripes region and mapping the subsurface ocean. We also propose a preliminary orbit control strategy to maximise the orbit lifetime. Finally, we focus on the use of stereo-imaging in future missions to explore Enceladus' surface and subsurface. Since only one camera will be available for photogrammetry, it is essential to design stable orbits that allow images to be captured from different perspectives, enabling detailed 3D surface modeling. Given the complexities of orbiting a moon of a gas giant, precise trajectory planning is crucial. This study builds on existing research to develop optimal orbits for imaging and remote sensing on Enceladus.