中国空间科学技术

中国空间科学技术 ›› 2025, Vol. 45 ›› Issue (3): 175-184.doi: 10.16708/j.cnki.1000.758X.2025.0049

• 空间科学与试验专栏 • 上一篇    

冰卫星宜居性探测任务构想

陈晓1，2，*，李奎1，*，郝记华1，陈刚1，杜洋2，庞涪川1，李东禹2，李海洋1，2
  

  1. 1.深空探测实验室（天都实验室），合肥230031
    2.上海卫星工程研究所，上海201109
  • 收稿日期:2023-10-19 修回日期:2024-03-12 录用日期:2025-02-09 发布日期:2025-05-15 出版日期:2025-06-01

Conception on the habitability exploration mission of the icy moon

CHEN Xiao1，2，*， LI Kui1，*， HAO Jihua1， CHEN Gang1， DU Yang2， PANG Fuchuan1， LI Dongyu2， LI Haiyang1，2   

  1. 1.Deep Space Exploration Laboratory （Tian Du Laboratory）， Hefei 230031， China
    2.Shanghai Institute of Satellite Engineering， Shanghai 201109， China
  • Received:2023-10-19 Revision received:2024-03-12 Accepted:2025-02-09 Online:2025-05-15 Published:2025-06-01

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摘要： 探测冰卫星冰壳下的液态海洋、探索冰卫星的宜居性可为了解太阳系的起源、演化、生命起源和地外生命探索提供重要的线索和信息，也是当前国际深空探测最受关注的领域之一。在对国内外冰卫星探测任务及主要成果进行归纳总结的基础上分析了发展趋势，总结了冰卫星探测任务的科学目标与探测手段，提出了采用环绕+着陆+深钻探测的组合探测任务构想，通过探测土卫二的重力场、温度场、磁场、以及潜在的地震波、质谱、色谱、光谱等信息，同时采集土卫二的自然样品并且分析其元素和同位素组成，探索冰卫星土卫二的宜居性，并梳理了亟待突破的新型探测载荷、生源元素高精度探测等关键技术。通过规划实施冰卫星探测任务，可提升中国深空探测技术水平和在行星科学领域的地位。

关键词: 冰卫星, 宜居性, 液态海洋, 任务构想, 探测目标

Abstract: The exploration of liquid oceans beneath the icy crusts of icy moons and the investigation of their habitability provide critical clues for understanding the origin and evolution of the solar system， the emergence of life， and the search for extraterrestrial life. This field has become one of the most prominent frontiers in international deep space exploration. Based on a comprehensive review of domestic and international icy moon exploration missions and their key achievements， current development trends are analyzed， the scientific objectives and detection methodologies for icy moon exploration are summarized， and a novel multi-mode exploration concept is proposed combining orbital reconnaissance， surface landing， and deep drilling. Focusing on Enceladus as a primary target， the mission aims to investigate its gravitational field， thermal profile， magnetic environment， potential seismic activity， and geochemical characteristics through mass spectrometry， chromatography， spectroscopy， and biological detection. Concurrently， it will collect natural samples to analyze elemental and isotopic compositions， thereby advancing our understanding of Enceladus' habitability.  Critical technologies requiring breakthroughs are further identified， including next-generation detection payloads and high-precision analysis of biogenic elements. The implementation of such icy moon exploration missions will significantly enhance China's technological capabilities in deep space exploration and strengthen its leadership in planetary science.

Key words: Icy Moon, Habitability, liquid ocean, mission concept, target of detection