RESEARCH TOPICS

On this page you find topics to be researched (by you) as part of phase-I.

You are always welcome to suggest additional topics as well as main categories (just E-mail us).
We are hoping to expand the list as the project progresses and through participation.

The research performed on these topics will become the foundation for phase-II and featured on this website.
If you want to have a more general discussion about these topics please go to the forum page.

Just follow these steps:

Please begin reading the guidelines.
Download the Objective Europa report template.
Pick a topic of you interest using “Claim topic via email”-button.
You must E-mail us about your choice, sending us your data and expected outcome before you begin.
Your name and data will be added the topics-list when your contribution has been registered.
E-mail us the final report with ideas, research or sketches.
Your work will be uploaded this site for everyone else to read and reference to.

If a topic has already been chosen by someone else you are still welcome to claim it as well.
More research on the same topics is only great.

Mission Architecture

TOPIC	RESEARCHERS	RESEARCH PAPERS
Overall mission architecture concept General ideas and concepts of mission architecture. CLAIM TOPIC Keywords: launcher, launch capacity, on-orbit assembly, trajectory, flight, gravity-assist trajectories, ascent concept, descent concept, mission life time.	Ben Bingham Edward Ge Timothy Marquardt Ruslan Merzlyakov Shane White	Europa Ascent Vehicle Concept, Edward Ge, 2013 On the Physiology and Chemistry of Europa, Shane White, 2015 VASIMR Thruster Concept, Timothy Marquardt, 2014
Mission architecture trade-off analysis Development and comparison of various exploration mission concepts to maximize scientific/exploration objectives while minimizing cost. This should include a comparison between single robotic exploration missions (e.g. NASA style mars rover missions) vs. multi-mission human/robotic exploration or colonization. The intent here is to compare long term vs. short term strategies for exploration and robotic vs. human exploration approaches. CLAIM TOPIC	Christopher Remde
Launch vehicle studies Research on current and future launch vehicles for the mission. CLAIM TOPIC Keywords: launch vehicle, payload capacity, reliability, launch provider	Ralfs Krists Virkstenis
Trajectory theories and calculations Research on possible flight trajectories to moon Europa. CLAIM TOPIC Keywords: orbit cycles, launch windows, interplanetary mission time, eta.	Hari Shankar
Launch windows Launch windows studies for leaving Earth passing Mars towards Jupiter and Europa. CLAIM TOPIC Keywords: launch window, sling-shot, gravity, mars, jupiter,europa, distance, eta.
Ground control operations Concepts related to ground control operation during the entire flight. CLAIM TOPIC Keywords mission control, communication, deep space telescopes, coverage, support
Communication systems Communication strategies for supporting manned as well as precursor missions. CLAIM TOPIC Keywords Relay satellites, link budgets, optical links, modulation schemes, DSN utilization, delay-time.
Power systems Strategies for power generation and distribution. CLAIM TOPIC Keywords RTGs, fission reactors, solar panels.
Risk Risk assessment and studies for potential mission architecture and scenarios. CLAIM TOPIC Keywords Risk, damage, mission failure, likelihood, outcome.
Technical challenges and TRL assessment Identification of critical technical challenges with the human and robotic exploration of Europa, a summary of potential solutions, and assessment of technology readiness level of candidate solutions. The purpose of this task is to develop a list of key technologies to be addressed such that emphasis can be placed on solving the key problems. Long term strategies to develop the necessary technologies may also be proposed in the form of technology roadmaps, precursor missions and other risk mitigating strategies. CLAIM TOPIC	Santiago Carranza
Precursors Topics related to relevant precursor missions before we launch human beings. CLAIM TOPIC Keywords: precursors, preparation, mission setup.
Cost analysis Creating cost analysis and estimates for general or specific mission scenarios. CLAIM TOPIC Keywords: cost, TRL, mission scenarios, analysis

Human Factors

TOPIC	RESEARCHERS	RESEARCH PAPERS
General health issues and threats Research and ideas based on general health issues concerning the astronauts during flight and the stay on Europa. A combined lists of topics which should be addressed in further studies. CLAIM TOPIC Keywords: health, dangers, stress, isolation, psychology, teamwork, radiation, sickness, confinement.
Health, sickness and treatment Estimation of possible sickness, symptoms and treatments during the entire mission. CLAIM TOPIC Keywords: sickness, death, treatment
Radiation mitigation Ideas on radiation mitigation for the astronauts during flight and stay on Europa. CLAIM TOPIC Keywords: radiation, mitigation, protection, shelter.	Adam Daniels Kailash Nath Menon	Radiation Mitigation for OE, Kailash Nath Menon, 2014
Extravehicular activity (EVA) Space-walk might be required. Concept design for in-flight EVA-systems and Europa surface operations EVA-suits. CLAIM TOPIC Keywords: surface operations, space-suit, EVA, space-walk, maintenance, field-work.	Matthew Cavallaro
Fire mitigation Fire mitigation and prevention design and concepts. CLAIM TOPIC Keywords: fire
Environmental control and life support system (ECLSS) Research and ideas on the ECLSS system for the astronauts during flight and stay on Europa: CLAIM TOPIC Keywords: ECLSS, humidity, lighting, atmosphere, temperature, pressure, out-gassing, trash management, fecal, urine, recycling.
Crops Growing foods during flight and Europa might be necessary. Estimate of requirements, possibilities and outcome. CLAIM TOPIC Keywords: food, crops, water, soil, ice-water, lighting, human needs.	Jarid Kroes Matt Noonan
Food, water and nutrition Estimation of the food, water and nutrition requirements based on mission scenario, crew and factors like crops, production, open/close loop systems and Europa in-situ systems. CLAIM TOPIC Keywords: food, water, nutrition, isru, closed loop, open loop. production, crops.
Astronaut requirements What is required for a Europa-astronaut? CLAIM TOPIC Keywords: age, gender, psychology, physiology, skills, know-how, requirements.
Training and familiarization How should Europa-astronaut be trained and prepared? CLAIM TOPIC Keywords: training, familiarization, skills, know-how, training, preparation, requirements.
Group size and gender Topics, concepts and studies related to group size and gender studies. CLAIM TOPIC Keywords: group, size, organization, hierarchy, structure, command, conflict.
Psychological aspects Research on topics with a psychological impact. CLAIM TOPIC Keywords: isolation, circadian rhythm, lighting, stress, team-work, one-way-trip aspect, long range communication, sacrifice.	Daniel Gschwend Juliette Simpkins
Long term settlement Research and ideas for long term settlements on Europa. CLAIM TOPIC Keywords: isolation, circadian rhythm, lighting, stress, ISRU, resources, supply, crops, food, water, team-work, one-way-trip aspect, long range communication, sacrifice.

Moon Europa

TOPIC	RESEARCHERS	RESEARCH PAPERS
Surface operations Topics related to Europa surface operations. CLAIM TOPIC Keywords: landing, habitation, movement, caves, crust, ice, lighting, shelter, mission base.	James Wise	Igloo Concept, James Wise, 2013
Ice crust Research Gathering known research on ice crust data, composition and depth. CLAIM TOPIC Keywords: ice crust, ice composition, chemistry, review.	Elias Fernando Solorzano	A fluxgate magnetometer and an EMIS algorithm to study Europa's subsurface, Elias Fernando Solorzano, 2013
Oceanic operation Oceanic operations are likely to become a part of the mission scenario. Topics related to such operations. CLAIM TOPIC Keywords: oceanic ops, submersible, cryobot, sampling, extraterrestrial life, contamination, isolation.
Landing sites Topics related to potential landing sites or operational sites. CLAIM TOPIC Keywords: landing sites, crust, surface, Jupiter, cover, caves, operations, cryobot, descent, ascent, shelter.	Rick Faulkner
In-situ resources Local resources such as ice, water, rocks may become a part of the life support system or systems maintenance. CLAIM TOPIC Keywords: ISRU, water, ice, oxygen, propellant, energy, robotics, precursor mission, crops, food.
Jupiter gravitation Topics related to the gravity of Jupiter. CLAIM TOPIC Keywords: trajectory, ascent, descent, gravity.
Jupiter magnetosphere Topics related to the powerful magnetosphere of Jupiter. CLAIM TOPIC Keywords: magnetosphere, radiation, shelter, protection, ascent, descent. communication.
Europa orbit Europa has an elliptical orbit around Jupiter. How does this impact the mission or become a benefit. CLAIM TOPIC Keywords: orbit, Jupiter, coverage, lighting, gravity.	Simon de Regt Benjamin Schoemaker	A study on the elliptical orbit of Europa when leaving Earth: is the strength of the ellipse a complication or negligible?, Simon de Regt, Benjamin Schoemaker, 2013
Europa radiation Europa radiation level is very high posing issues to materials, computers and humans. Studies related to this. CLAIM TOPIC Keywords: radiation, levels, rad, europa, jupiter

Robotics and Autonomy

TOPIC	RESEARCHERS	RESEARCH PAPERS
Requirements definition for robotic missions Outline high level objectives which can/should be accomplished by robotic systems. This also includes an identification of key technical challenges facing robotic exploration of Europa. CLAIM TOPIC Keywords: environmental protection, landing site selection, deep space/sub-surface communications, power self-sufficiency, increased autonomy for long comms delay, ISRU.
Robotic exploration mission architectures and strategies Investigate and optimize approaches to exploring the orbit, atmosphere, surface and sub-surface of Europa to maximize scientific and exploration return while minimizing costs. This will include developing multi-mission robotic exploration architectures, swarm robotics concepts for surface/sub-surface exploration and human-robotic collaboration concepts. CLAIM TOPIC
Autonomous Systems Identification of key tasks to be accomplished autonomously and proposed concepts to solve technical challenges. CLAIM TOPIC Keywords: Landing site selection, vision, machine learning, autonomous navigation and localization, multi-agent systems, evolutionary robotics.
Surface mobility concepts Concepts for crewed and robotic transportation on the planetary surface. CLAIM TOPIC Keywords: rovers, landers, hoppers, aerial vehicles, propulsion system concepts, modular designs, biomimetics.
Ice surface penetration concepts Concepts and approaches to penetrating the icy surface using autonomous or crewed systems. CLAIM TOPIC Keywords: cryobots, drills, radioisotope thermoelectric generators, modular designs, penetrators/micro-penetrators.
Sub-surface mobility concepts Mobility, propulsion and transportation concepts for sub-surface oceans. CLAIM TOPIC Keywords: cryobots, submersibles, modular designs, underwater autonomous vehicles, biomimetics, vision and autonomy, power and communications concepts, smart materials, environmental protection systems.
Robotic payloads supporting human exploration activities Robotic payload concepts and instruments utilized by robotic systems to accomplish or support human exploraiton activities. CLAIM TOPIC Keywords: Infrastructure development, In-situ Resource Utilization, radiation dosage measurement and other human exploration/colonization objectives.	Valletta Verezen
Robotic payloads supporting exploration and science objectives Robotic payload concepts and instruments utilized by robotic systems to accomplish exploration/science objectives. CLAIM TOPIC Keywords: sub-surface/surface mapping, atmospheric characterization, Ice thickness characterization, ocean characterization, search for life, radiation dosage measurement.
Precursor cryobot mission concept Mission and concept definition for a precursor cryobot exploration mission. This will focus on the systems level design and conceptual design of a cryobot to explore the sub-surface ocean of Europa. CLAIM TOPIC Keywords: cryobot, robotics, ice, autonomy, ascent, descent.

Conceptual Design

TOPIC	RESEARCHERS	RESEARCH PAPERS
Habitation design Concept sketching and planning on habitations modules. CLAIM TOPIC Keywords: habitation, capsules, private, social, organization, modules, man-machine integration, submersible, daily life, mission operation, lighting.	Matthew Cavallaro
Detailed interior design Concept sketching and planning on detailed interior systems. CLAIM TOPIC Keywords: habitation, capsules, man-machine integration, submersible, daily life, mission operation.
Transformation cryobot/submersible Concept sketching on potential module transformation from capsule, lander, cryobot and submersible. CLAIM TOPIC Keywords: transformation, cryobot, submersible, habitation, structure, shelter, design.
Overall spacecraft design Concept sketching on entire spacecraft system or system from Earth to Europa. CLAIM TOPIC Keywords: capsule, spacecraft, assembly, structure, materials design.	Aaron DeVries	General spacecraft conceptual designs, Aaron DeVries, 2015
Cryobot and submersible Concept sketching on crewed cryobots and submersibles. CLAIM TOPIC Keywords: manned, crewed, submersible, cryobot, ice crust, operations, oceanic.

Structures and Materials

TOPIC	RESEARCHERS	RESEARCH PAPERS
General structural concepts Topics related to main structural concepts and design. CLAIM TOPIC Keywords: landers, habitats, protective covers, submersibles, cryobots, orbiters, satellites, ISRU-robotics.
Materials study Study on relevant materials used throughout the entire mission. CLAIM TOPIC Keywords: materials, mission cycle, endurance, maintenance, ISRU, external environmental exposure.
Maintenance Materials and structural maintenance will be required on all modules and systems. Topics related to potential methods, difficulties and mission set-backs. CLAIM TOPIC Keywords: maintenance, materials, structure, ISRU, risk
Environmental exposure Topics related to external and internal environmental exposure to materials and structure. CLAIM TOPIC Keywords: materials, structure, maintenance, exposure, radiation, temperature, corrosion, micro-meteorites, orbital debris.

Life Science

TOPIC	RESEARCHERS	RESEARCH PAPERS
Contamination mitigation In searching for extraterrestrial life we might discover "ourselves". Topics related to contamination prevention and mitigation during this process. CLAIM TOPIC Keywords: Keywords: contamination, prevention, mitigation, life science, sampling, search, biology.
Sampling and research Concepts and methods for sampling in search for extraterrestrial life and topics related to what kind of scientific research is required. CLAIM TOPIC Keywords: Keywords: sampling, life science, research, contamination, glove box, clean room.	Pierre Estienne Fabio Rezzonico	Nanopore-Based Instruments as Biosensors for Future Planetary Missions, Fabio Rezzonico, 2014
Europa life Topics and ideas related to known or estimated potential life on Europa. CLAIM TOPIC Keywords: Keywords: extraterrestrial life, life-form, oceanic, ice, biology.	Dr. Fabio Rezzonico, Zurich University for Applied Sciences
Life science sites Studies on potential sites for searching after extraterrestrial life. CLAIM TOPIC Keywords: Keywords: ocean, ice, geology, caves, atmosphere, sites.

Philosophy and Life

TOPIC	RESEARCHERS	RESEARCH PAPERS
Human sacrifice Topics related to the need or nature of human sacrifice for a one-way mission. CLAIM TOPIC Keywords: Keywords: sacrifice, society, acceptance, suicide, human nature, mankind	Ahmed Elsayyad, President of Hopkins Undergraduate Bioethics Society
Human exploration Topics related to human exploration as a general driver for mankind and progress. CLAIM TOPIC Keywords: Keywords: exploration, progress, evolution, history
Suicide Suicide may become a desired outcome for the astronauts during the mission cycle. How do we act on this and what options are preferred. CLAIM TOPIC Keywords: Keywords: Suicide, mission ending, sacrifice.	Si Egan
Extraterrestrial life Topics related to searching for and finding extraterrestrial life. CLAIM TOPIC Keywords: Keywords: religion, theology, life, extraterrestrial, panspermia, society, culture.
Societal impact Review of the impact of setting long term, deep space exploration objectives which include so-called big picture questions such as colonization and search for life. This also should an analysis of using open-source, global strategies to accomplishing space exploration objectives versus government, capitalist or military appro CLAIM TOPIC Keywords: Keywords: Species survival, solar system colonization, inter-planetary species, long term space exploration strategies and renewal of interest in space exploration.
Spin-off technologies Economic impact of the development of new technologies necessary for the exploration and eventual colonization of Europa. CLAIM TOPIC Keywords: Keywords: sustainability, closed biosphere, poverty, overpopulation, green/sustainable energy, food/resource scarcity, communications, access to information

RESEARCH TOPICS

Mission Architecture

Overall mission architecture concept

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Mission architecture trade-off analysis

Launch vehicle studies

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Trajectory theories and calculations

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Launch windows

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Ground control operations

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Communication systems

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Power systems

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Risk

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Technical challenges and TRL assessment

Precursors

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Cost analysis

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Human Factors

General health issues and threats

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Health, sickness and treatment

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Radiation mitigation

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Extravehicular activity (EVA)

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Fire mitigation

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Environmental control and life support system (ECLSS)

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Crops

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Food, water and nutrition

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Astronaut requirements

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Training and familiarization

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Group size and gender

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Psychological aspects

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Long term settlement

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Moon Europa

Surface operations

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Ice crust Research

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Oceanic operation

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Landing sites

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In-situ resources

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Jupiter gravitation

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Jupiter magnetosphere

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Europa orbit

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Europa radiation

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Robotics and Autonomy

Requirements definition for robotic missions

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Robotic exploration mission architectures and strategies

Autonomous Systems

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Surface mobility concepts

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Ice surface penetration concepts

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