The increasing accessibility of space, fueled by the rise of commercial players, is unlocking new frontiers for technological innovation and scientific discovery. These advancements are providing unparalleled insights into the solar system and beyond, with planetary science emerging as a key field for the application of fluid dynamics and applied mathematics.

In this two-part presentation, Véronique Dehant will highlight the exciting scientific opportunities from space missions involving researchers from UCLouvain and the Royal Observatory of Belgium. Jérémy Rekier will delve into current research on astrophysical and planetary interiors, with a special focus on internal fluid dynamics.

The first part of the seminar will introduce the Hera mission to the double asteroid Didymos, an ESA planetary defense mission set to launch on October 7, 2024 (see Figure 1). We will  also provide an overview of the GENESIS mission, in which UCLouvain plays also a significant role. This Earth-centered mission aims to improve the accuracy of terrestrial and celestial reference frames to the millimeter level, addressing societal challenges such as determining mean sea level with a precision of millimeters and ensuring long-term stability of better than 0.1 mm/year (see Figure 2 for other challenges).

The second part of the presentation will cover missions to planets and moons and detail the crucial role of applied fluid dynamics in unveiling the deep internal structure and dynamics of terrestrial planets like the Earth and Mercury, the latter being the target of the ongoing BEPI Colombo mission slated to insert in orbit in late 2026, as well as the mysterious icy moons of Jupiter and their presumed deep subglacial oceans, the target of the ongoing JUICE mission, currently on its way to the Jovian system. Discussions of the booming interest in the rotating fluid modes of stars following the recent discovery of inertial modes in the Sun’s convecting envelope will also be discussed. The presentation will highlight the key role of fluid dynamics in uncovering the internal structures of planets such as Earth and Mercury, the latter being the target of the BEPI Colombo mission, set to enter orbit in 2026, as well as the mysterious deep subglacial oceans on Jupiter’s icy moons, the focus of the ongoing JUICE mission (see figure 3). The recent discovery of inertial modes in the Sun’s convective envelope will also be discussed, along with the revolutionary impact it has had on the field of astroseismology.