Solar System Exploration

In 2006 I was asked to help develop a new track, “Planetary Exploration” in the Faculty of Aerospace Engineering, TU Delft. Since the development of new instrumentation, satellites and small spacecraft is key to further advance the field of Planetary Sciences, it seems quite natural to combine basic research of our Solar System with technological innovations. Hence my interest to help develop this at the TU Delft. The overall goal in exploring our Solar System is to understand how our Solar System formed, how life on Earth started and evolved, and if there are other planetary systems like ours, which may harbor life. In this inaugural talk I will start giving some background about myself, and show some aspects of my own research, mostly focused on Jupiter (Jupiter’s atmosphere, impacts, and magnetic field). I will discuss in a broad sense the connection between my research and past and current missions. Towards the end of the talk I will discuss some science highlights from more recent and future missions, which leads up to our “vision” for the future in the Faculty of Aerospace Engineering in Delft.

I. de Pater

18-2-2011 14:00:00