View source for Mapping Imaging Spectrometer for Europa

{{short description|Near infrared spectrometer}}
{{Infobox spacecraft instrument
| Name = MISE
| Image = Europa Clipper’s Mapping Imaging Spectrometer for Europa.jpg
| Caption =

| Operator = [[NASA]]
| Manufacturer = JPL & APL
| Type = [[Infrared spectroscopy|Near infrared spectrometer]]
| Function = Mapper
| Mission_Duration = Cruise: 3-6 years<br/> Science phase: ≥ 3 years
| Began = <!--date operations began (single instruments only)-->
| Ceased = <!--date operations ceased (single instruments only)-->
| Webpage =

| Mass = 
| Dimensions = 
| Number = <!--number launched-->
| Power_consumption = 
| Resolution = 
| Spectral_Band = Near infrared
| Data_Rate =

| Spacecraft = ''[[Europa Clipper]]'' <!--spacecraft it is hosted aboard-->
| SC_Operator = [[NASA]]
| Launch = ≈ 2025 <ref name='Launch 2025'>[https://spacenews.com/europa-clipper-passes-key-review/ Europa Clipper passes key review.] Jeff Foust, ''Space News.'' 22 August 2019.</ref><!--NASA noted launch NET 2023. However, the mission has a formal launch readiness date of 2025.--><!--Launch date (single instruments only)-->
| Rocket = [[Space Launch System|SLS]]
| Launch_Site = [[Kennedy Space Center]] 
| COSPAR = <!--COSPAR ID of host spacecraft-->
}}
The '''Mapping Imaging Spectrometer for Europa''' ('''MISE''') is an imaging [[Infrared spectroscopy|near infrared spectrometer]] on board the ''[[Europa Clipper]]'' mission to Jupiter's moon [[Europa (moon)|Europa]]. MISE will examine Europa's surface composition and relate it to the [[Planetary habitability|habitability]] of its internal water ocean.

==Overview==
[[File:Imaging Spectrometer's Scanning Mirror and Data Processing Unit.jpg|thumb|Imaging Spectrometer's Scanning Mirror and Data Processing Unit]]

Since NASA's [[Voyager mission|''Voyager'' mission]] flew past Europa in 1979, scientists have worked to understand the composition of the reddish-brown material known as [[tholin]] that coats fractures and other geologically youthful features on Europa's surface.<ref name='JPL2015'>{{cite news |url=http://www.jpl.nasa.gov/news/news.php?feature=4602 |title=Europa Mission to Probe Magnetic Field and Chemistry |work=Jet Propulsion Laboratory |date=27 May 2015 |accessdate=2017-10-23}}</ref> Material from the ocean is probably being transported to the surface by active processes in the interior. At the surface, the material is exposed to the effects of vacuum, temperature, irradiated by solar [[UV]], and bombarded by material entrained in Jupiter's magnetic field, causing [[photolysis]] and [[radiolysis]] and the transformation and generation of new organic compounds.<ref name='Blaney 2010'>{{cite news |last=Blaney |first=Diana L. |title=Europa Composition Using Visible to Short Wavelength Infrared Spectroscopy |bibcode=2010DPS....42.2604B| work=JPL |publisher=American Astronomical Society, DPS meeting #42, #26.04; Bulletin of the American Astronomical Society, Vol. 42, p.1025 |date=2010 }}</ref> The compounds at the surface are likely recycled back into the ocean below.<ref name='Blaney 2010'/> Visible to Short Wavelength Infrared (VSWIR) spectroscopy is a well-understood technique for mapping from orbit key inorganic, organic, and volatile compositions on planetary surfaces.

MISE was selected for the ''Europa Clipper'' mission in May 2015, and it is built by the [[JPL]] in collaboration with the [[Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory]] (APL). The instrument's Principal Investigator is [[Diana Blaney]].<ref name='JPL2015'/>

==Goal==
[[Image:PIA20028 - Europa's varied surface features (rotated).jpg|thumb|right|Intricate pattern of linear fractures on Europa's surface, likely colored by [[tholins]], which are a wide mix of complex organic compounds]]
A primary goal of the MISE instrument is to determine if Europa is capable of supporting life by searching for [[amino acid]] signatures in the [[infrared]] spectra.<ref name='amino acids'>[http://adsabs.harvard.edu/abs/2017AAS...22913804W MISE: A Search for Organics on Europa]. Whalen, Kelly; Lunine, Jonathan I.; Blaney, Diana L. ''American Astronomical Society'', AAS Meeting #229, id.138.04. January 2017.</ref> MISE can distinguish between different types of amino acids, such as [[isoleucine]], [[leucine]], and their [[enantiomer]]s.<ref name='amino acids'/>

The MISE spectrometer is designed to enable the identification and mapping of organics, salts, acid [[hydrate]]s, water ice phases, altered [[silicate]]s, and [[radiolysis|radiolytic compounds]] at global (≤ 10&nbsp;km), regional (≤ 300 m), and local scales (~ 25 m).<ref name='EPSC 2015'>[http://meetingorganizer.copernicus.org/EPSC2015/EPSC2015-319-2.pdf Mapping Imaging Spectrometer for Europa (MISE)] (PDF); D. L. Blaney, R. Clark, J. B. Dalton, A. G. Davies, R. Green, M. Hedman. K. Hibbits, Y. Langevin, J. Lunine, T. McCord, C. Paranicas, S. Murchie, F. Seelos, J. Soderblom, M. Cable, P. Moroulis, Wousik Kim1, L. Dorsky, K. Strohbehn, and Diana. L. Blaney. ''EPSC Abstracts''. Vol. 10, EPSC2015-319,
European Planetary Science Congress 2015.</ref>  Distribution maps of astrobiologically relevant compounds and evaluating geological processes can be used to determine if Europa's ocean possesses the chemical energy necessary to support [[Extraterrestrial life|life]].<ref name=Protection/>   MISE could provide fundamental information on where future Europa landers would have the highest probability of detecting organic [[biosignature]]s.<ref name='EPSC 2015'/>

==Description==

The MISE design is an imaging [[Infrared spectroscopy|infrared spectrometer]] that could observe effectively throughout a flyby or in orbit around Europa. It is designed to operate within Europa's harsh radiation environment. MISE would cover a [[Electromagnetic spectrum|spectral range]] from 0.8 μm to 5 μm (near [[infrared]] to mid-infrared), with an instantaneous field of view of 250 [[Radian|μrad]]/[[pixel]] and a swath width of 300 active pixels. The 0.8–2.5 μm region is essential for quantifying [[hydrate]]s and bulk surface composition, while the 3–5 μm spectral region is required for detecting low abundances of [[Organic compound|organics]], most [[radiolysis|radiolytic products]], and discriminating salts from acid [[hydrate]]s. Large organic molecules such as [[tholins]] have spectral features at 4.57 μm and 3.4 μm.<ref>[https://www.ucl.ac.uk/mssl/planetary-science/documents/akonworkshop1 The First Akon Europa Penetrator Workshop]{{Dead link|date=September 2023 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}. ''The Royal Astronomical Society'', January 21, 2016.</ref> These longer wavelengths can also be used to measure thermal emissions from currently active regions.

The prototype also underwent a [[planetary protection]] bakeout to ensure that the design was compatible with dry heat microbial sterilization.<ref name='EPSC 2015'/><ref name=Protection>[http://adsabs.harvard.edu/abs/2016cosp...41E.901J Europa Clipper Mission Concept Preliminary Planetary Protection Approach]. Jones, Melissa; Schubert, Wayne; Newlin, Laura; Cooper, Moogega; Chen, Fei; Kazarians, Gayane; Ellyin, Raymond; Vaishampayan, Parag; Crum, Ray. ''41st COSPAR Scientific Assembly'', July 2016.</ref>

==See also==

*[[Abiogenesis]]
*[[Astrobiology]]
*[[Cosmochemistry]]
*[[Europa Lander (NASA)]]
*[[Jovian Infrared Auroral Mapper]] (Infrared imaging spectrometer used at Jupiter)

==References==
{{reflist}}

{{Europa Clipper}}
{{Astrobiology}}
{{Europa}}
{{Satellite and spacecraft instruments}}

[[Category:Space imagers]]
[[Category:Europa (moon)]]
[[Category:Europa Clipper]]