sst |
Analysis of gravity and rotation measurements using probabilistic inference of planetary interior for the design of geodesic experiments: application to icy moons by Valerio FILICE -
Vendredi 28 novembre 2025 à 14h00 - Auditoire MERC12 - Bâtiment MERCATOR - Place Louis Pasteur, 3 - 1348 Louvain-la-Neuve -
Analysis of gravity and rotation measurements using probabilistic inference of planetary interior for the design of geodesic experiments: application to icy moons In this thesis, we address the limitations of conventional iterative mission design in planetary science. We define, apply, and validate a novel "reverse mapping" framework that employs a probabilistic approach based on Markov Chain Monte Carlo (MCMC) inference. Our methodology enables the translation of high-priority scientific goals—such as constraining the interior properties of icy moons—into specific, quantitative requirements for geodetic experiments.
We apply this new approach to the Uranus Orbiter and Probe (UOP) mission. In this work, we first perform a covariance analysis using Precise Orbit Determination (POD) simulations to demonstrate the limitations of the current nominal UOP tour. We then develop "lookup tables" for the Uranian moons. These maps link desired uncertainties in key interior parameters (e.g., ice shell thickness and ocean depth) to the required measurement precisions of the geodetic observables, namely the Mean Moment of Inertia (MoI), the tidal Love number k2, libration, and obliquity.
Our findings indicate that while the UOP Gravity Science (GS) experiment can feasibly constrain the ice shell thickness and the rock-to-ice ratio, its ability to robustly characterize a subsurface ocean is limited by the challenge of accurately measuring the tidal Love number k2. To address this limitation, we also analyze the performance of a complementary in-situ six-degree-of-freedom (6DoF) motion sensor. We conclude that such an instrument, when deployed on the surface, would be capable of measuring the required tidal acceleration signals. Overall, this work introduces a new, science-driven paradigm for mission design in the future exploration of ocean worlds and provides quantitative scientific requirements for the geophysical investigation of the Uranian satellites.
Jury members :
Prof. Hugues Goosse (UCLouvain) (Supervisor)
Dr. Sébastien LE Maistre (UCLouvain & ROB) (Supervisor)
Prof. Qiuzhen Yin (UCLouvain) (Chairperson)
Prof. Véronique Dehant (UCLouvain & ROB) (Secretary)
Prof. Tim Van Hoolst (KULeuven & ROB)
Dr. Erwan MAZARICO (NASA Goddard Space Flight Center)
Pay attention : the public defense of Valerio FILICE will also take place in the form of a videoconference
