Summary
The
goal of ACRAS is to demonstrate viable techniques for the mitigation of
ionospheric disturbance and surface clutter on sub-surface low frequency
radar observations, in the context of icy regions on Earth, Mars and
Europa. The key prize for success is the potential of ground-breaking
science related to the viability of life on planetary bodies and the
threat to our own life through sea level rise here on Earth. There are
almost certainly other areas of science that will benefit too, including
surveys of arid regions on Earth and frozen ground regimes.
The
specific objectives of this study are as follows:
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Identify quantitative requirements for surface clutter and ionospheric mitigation in the light of our up-to-date knowledge of their properties in Antarctic, Mars and Europa environments;
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Identify the extent to which previous mission designs reach or fall short in addressing these requirements;
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Identify and assess promising techniques for surface clutter and ionosphere mitigation, considering both the along-track and across-track directions, taking into account modelling as well as sensor design and on-board and ground processing techniques;
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Broaden the assessment of the techniques to consider their implications in terms of mission trade-off issues including power, mass, payload complexity, etc;
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Define, implement and test selected techniques, delivering software to ESA that they can use in future as a valuable test-bed for techniques and simulations, including a maturing mission design;
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Carry out a final trade-off, consolidate the three missions, and summarize conclusions and recommendations from the team for ESA, thus paving the way for future ESA Earth and Planetary missions aimed at exploring sub-surface environments.
