Planetary science is now in its “Golden Age”. Dozens of spacecrafts developed and operated by ESA, NASA and other space agencies have delivered a wealth of valuable data about Solar System planets and exoplanets. Data analysis, theoretical studies and numerical modelling, aiming at understanding of the conditions and processes on the planets in the Solar System and beyond, especially those relevant to habitability, are in high demand. Future more sophisticated and challenging planetary missions are being planned and developed by space agencies.
This course will provide an overview of the methods and instrumentation currently used in planetary research supported by representative examples from recent Solar System missions. The course will deliver a broad picture of conditions and processes on the Solar System planets in their complexity and diversity. The students will also get a preliminary understanding of how concepts of planetary missions payload are designed, including setting up science objectives and requirements, defining priorities and complementarities. The course will provide a “bridge” to exoplanet investigations where appropriate.
The detailed outline of the course is:
Remote sensing methods and instrumentation
Methods and instruments for in-situ investigations
Grand Tour of planetary surfaces
Grand Tour of planetary atmospheres
Science payload concepts: from objectives to requirements
Output:
Upon completion of this course, students will be able to:
Understand the areas of applicability of various remote sensing and in-situ methods in planetary physics, their main features, advantages, limitations and main results
Acquire a broad picture of main features and conditions on the planets in the Solar System
Discuss and explain major open questions in the planetary physics
Understand and discuss the logics and the way science payload concepts for ESA planetary missions are being designed
Discuss and follow current literature in the field of planetary physics
