Astronomical Observations in Support of Planetary Entry-probes to the Outer Planets

A team of Earth-based astronomical observers supporting a giant planet entry-probe event substantially enhances the scientific return of the mission. An observers’ team provides spatial and temporal context, additional spectral coverage, viewing geometries that are not available from the probe or the main spacecraft, tracking, supporting data in case of a failure, calibration benchmarks, and additional opportunities for education and outreach. The capabilities of the support program can be extended by utilizing archived data. The existence of a standing group of observers facilitates the path towards acquiring Director’s Discretionary Time at major telescopes, if, for example, the probe’s entry date moves. The benefits of a team convened for a probe release provides enhanced scientific return throughout the mission. Finally, the types of observations and the organization of the teams described in this paper could serve as a model for flight projects in general.

一支地球天文观测团队对巨行星进入探测器（giant planet entry-probe）任务事件的支援，可显著提升该任务的科学回报。该观测团队可提供时空背景信息、额外的光谱覆盖范围、探测器与主航天器无法获取的观测几何构型、测控支持、故障应急辅助数据、定标基准，以及更多科普与公众传播的机会。通过利用存档数据，可拓展该支援项目的能力边界。若探测器进入日期发生变更，常设观测团队的存在可助力申请大型望远镜的主任专属观测时间（Director’s Discretionary Time）。为探测器投放任务组建的观测团队所产生的效益，可在整个任务周期内持续提升任务的科学回报。最后，本文所阐述的观测类型与团队组织模式，可作为通用航天飞行项目的参考范本。