This is a $422,833 grant awarded by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) to the University of Texas at Austin (UT Austin) to improve the physical understanding of the dynamics of the plumes observed on Saturn's moon Enceladus. The research aims to determine how the observed grains, atoms, molecules, and photons relate to the flow field and driving source properties of the plumes. The project will use detailed physical modeling and Bayesian analysis techniques to optimize the determination of near-surface plume source properties from the sparse observational data obtained by the Cassini spacecraft. This grant does not have a set-aside designation. UT Austin, as the prime grantee, is leveraging its expertise in planetary science, numerical modeling, and Bayesian inference to advance the state of the art in interpreting remote planetary atmospheric observations. The University of Texas System, which includes UT Austin, has an extensive track record of receiving federal research grants and contracts across a wide range of scientific and technical domains.
Generated 4/2/25, 11:49 PM