Geoscience Reference
In-Depth Information
measurements close to the planet will allow the determination of the con-
ditions for access of the solar wind to the planetary surface and assessing
the role and importance of different current systems, including subsurface
induction currents and the conductivity of the regolith. These objectives
will be greatly assisted by the planned close association with the magnetic
field investigation on the MMO.
2.4.9.
Mercury orbiter radio-science experiment
Mercury orbiter radio-science experiment (MORE) addresses scientific goals
in geodesy, geophysics, and fundamental physics. It will help to determine
the gravity field of Mercury as well as the size and physical state of its core.
It will provide crucial experimental constraints to models of the planet's
internal structure and test theories of gravity with unprecedented accuracy.
MORE will also measure the gravitational oblateness of the Sun and test
and characterize the most advanced interplanetary tracking system ever
built. Finally, it will assess the performances of the novel tracking system in
precise orbit determination and space navigation. These scientific goals will
be achieved by means of several data types, generated by MORE itself at
the ground station, other onboard instruments (BELA, ISA, and SIMBIO-
SYS) and the onboard attitude determination and control system.
The goal of the BepiColombo rotation experiment is the determination
of Mercury's obliquity (i.e., the obliquity of the equator with respect to
the orbital plane) and the amplitude of its 88-day physical librations in
longitude. These two quantities, together with the coecients of the second-
degree harmonics of the gravity field, will indicate whether or not Mercury
has a molten core and provide the radius of this molten core.
2.4.10.
Italian spring accelerometer
Italian spring accelerometer (ISA) is a three-axis high-sensitivity accelerom-
eter is not only devoted to study the planet but also to test Einstein's the-
ory of general relativity (GR) to an unprecedented level of accuracy. To
perform such measurements it is necessary to combine data from four dif-
ferent instruments located on-board the MPO: star tracker, high-resolution
camera, accelerometer, and transponder. The scientific objectives of ISA
are strongly connected with those of the MORE Experiment. Together the
experiments can give information on Mercury's interior structure as well as
test Einstein's theory of the GR. The scientific goals are (1) to study the
global gravity field of Mercury and its time variations due to solar tides,
