Citation
Sanmartín Losada, Juan Ramón and Peláez Álvarez, Jesus
(2019).
Planetary exploration of Saturn moons Dione and Enceladus.
In: "8th European Conference for Aeronautics and Space Science EUCASS 2019", 1-4 Jul., Madrid, España.
Abstract
Search for habitability in moons of Outer planets, requires presence of sources of energy. Dissipation from
tidal forces is a major energy source in evolution of Icy moon systems. Heating always accompanies dissipation but, in case of tidal heating, it will additionally present complex spatial distribution, reflecting on a multi-layer structure in the particular case of Icy moons. Subsurface oceans are a generic feature of large icy bodies at some point in their evolution. A standard interior model for Icy moons consists of an outer solid (ice) layer, an intermediate liquid layer, and a solid (rocky) core.
As a satellite rises a tide on its planet, they exchange angular momentum, affecting satellite orbit and
planet spin; the moon gains orbital energy at the expense of the planet rotational energy. A complex 3-body
paradigm, Laplace resonance, involves two (or more) moons of a planet, forming by differential expansions
of orbits by tidal torques. At Jupiter, moons Io, Europa, and Ganymede are in 1:2:4 resonance.