On the difficulty to detect Mercury's mantle convection from future gravity data (2008)
Pauer, M., Cadek, O., Breuer, D., Spohn, T.
Thermo-chemical evolution and convection models of Mercury suggest that its thin mantle may still exhibit thermal convection. To confirm or disregard this assumption, future gravity and topography...
The influence of Mercury’s dynamic interior on its gravity field (2008)
Pauer, M., Čadek, O., Breuer, D., Spohn, T.
Mercury is today the least known terrestrial planet of the Solar System – however the first flyby of MESSENGER space-probe (NASA) earlier this year started the decade dedicated to its...
Planetary Heat Flow measurements and thermal disturbances caused by lander shadowing (2008)
Grott, M., Wieczorek, M. A., Richter, L., Spohn, T.
The planetary heat flow is one of the fundamental quantities describing the thermal state of a planet. It influences the tectonic and volcanic processes we see at the surface and is closely connected...
The magnetic dichotomy of the Galilean satellites Europa and Ganymede (2008)
Breuer, D., Hussmann, H., Spohn, T.
One of the most surprising discoveries of the Galileo mission was the detection of a self- generated magnetic field in the vicinity of Ganymede. Up to that discovery, it was widely believed that...
Grott, M., Richter, L., Spohn, T., Wieczorek, M.
The Heat flow and Physical Properties Package (HP3) is part of the Humboldt payload for ESA’s upcoming ExoMars mission and consists of an instrumented mole system, a self-penetrating probe designed...
Magnetism and Thermal History of the Terrestrial Planets - Revisited (2008)
In 1983 Stevenson et al. published a paper explaining the differences in the magnetism of the terrestrial planets from models of the thermal evolution of their cores. From their conclusions, Mercury...
Of Moonquakes and Marsquakes (2008)
Knapmeyer, M., Oberst, J., Spohn, T.
Introduction: We have investigated the seismicity of two planetary bodies. The observed deep seismicity of the Moon is triggered by external forcing and shows a spatial distribution, which was not...
The Geophysics and Environmental Package of the ExoMars Mission (2007)
Ulamec, S., Biele, J., Block, A., Lognonné, Ph., Mimoun, D., Spohn, T.
Rationale for a Geophysics and Geodesy Payload for Lunar Networks (2007)
Schmitz, N., Biele, J., Grott, M., Knapmeyer, M., Oberst, J., Sohl, F., ...
The interior evolution of Mercury (2007)
Breuer, D., Hauck, S. A., Buske, M., Pauer, M., Spohn, T.
The interior evolution of Mercury—the innermost planet in the solar system, with its exceptional high density—is poorly known. Our current knowledge of Mercury is based on observations from...
Mercury's interior structure, rotation, and tides (2007)
VanHoolst, T., Sohl, F., Holin, I., Verhoeven, O., Dehant, V., Spohn, T.
This review addresses the deep interior structure of Mercury. Mercury is thought to consist of similar chemical reservoirs (core, mantle, crust) as the other terrestrial planets, but with a...
Jaumann, R., Spohn, T., Hiesinger, H., Jessberger, E.K., Neukum, G., Oberst, J., ...
The German initiative for the Lunar Exploration Orbiter (LEO) originated from the national conference “Exploration of our Solar System”, held in Dresden in November 2006. Major result of this...
Interior Evolution and Habitability (2007)
Planetary habitability is usually thought to require water on (or near) the surface, a magnetic field to protect life against cosmic radiation, and transport mechanisms for nutrients. A magnetic...
The Geophysics Environmental Package of the ExoMars Mission (2007)
Ulamec, S., Biele, J., Block, J., Lognonné, P., Mimoun, D., Schmitz, N., ...
ExoMars will be the first Mission in the ESA Aurora Program, and is to be launched to Mars in 2013. The payload is currently foreseen to be distributed between a rover and a stationary, long-living...
Kulikov, Y., Lammer, H., Lichtenegger, H., Penz, T., Breuer, D., Spohn, T., ...
Because the solar radiation and particle environment plays a major role in all atmospheric processes such as ionization, dissociation, heating of the upper atmospheres, and thermal and non-thermal...
Water, Life, and Planetary Geodynamical Evolution (2007)
Van Thienen, P., Benzerara, K., Breuer, D., Gillmann, C., Labrosse, S., Lognonné, P., ...
In our search for life on other planets over the past decades, we have come to understand that the solid terrestrial planets provide much more than merely a substrate on which life may develop....
The Geophysics and Environmental Package (GEP) of the ExoMars Mission (2007)
Biele, J., Ulamec, S., Block, J., Mimoun, D., Spohn, T., Lognonne, P.
The Geophysics and Environmental Package (GEP) of the ExoMars Mission (2007)
Ulamec, S., Biele, J., Block, J., Mimoun, D., Spohn, T., Lognonne, P.
MUPUS – a Thermal and Mechanical Properties Probe for the Rosetta Lander Philae (2007)
Spohn, T., Seiferlin, K., Hagermann, A., Knollenberg, J., Ball, A.J., Banaszkiewicz, M., ...
MUPUS, the multi purpose sensor package onboard the Rosetta lander Philae, will measure the energy balance and the physical parameters in the near-surface layers – up to about 30 cm depth- of the...
The Bepi Colombo Laser Altimeter (BELA): Concept and baseline design (2007)
Thomas, N., Spohn, T., Benz, W., Beutler, G., Christensen, U., ...
The BepiColombo Laser Altimeter (BELA) has been selected for flight on board the European Space Agency’s BepiColombo Mercury Planetary Orbiter (MPO). The experiment is intended to be Europe’s...
Lunar Exploration Orbiter (LEO) (2007)
Jaumann, R., Spohn, T., Hiesinger, H., Jessberger, E.K., Neukum, G., Oberst, J., ...
Exploring the asteroid belt with ion propulsion: Dawn mission history, status and plans (2007)
Russell, C.T., Barucci, M.A., Binzel, R.P., Capria, M.T., Christensen, U., Coradini, A., ...
In this report, we describe the journey Dawn has taken in the recent past, its present status, and its future mission. The overall objective of Dawn is to explore backward in time via its...
The Geophysics and Environmental Package of the ExoMars Mission (2007)
Ulamec, S., Biele, J., Block, A., Lognonné, Ph., Mimoun, D., Spohn, T.
The BepiColombo laser altimeter (BELA): Concept and baseline design (2007)
Thomas, N., Spohn, T., Barriot, J. P., Benz, W., Beutler, G., Christensen, U., ...
Exploring the asteroid belt with ion propulsion: Dawn mission history, status and plans (2007)
Russell, C. T., Barucci, M. A., Binzel, R. P., Capria, M. T., Christensen, U., Coradini, A., ...
The Magnetic Dichotomy of the Galilean Satellites Europa and Ganymede (2006)
Breuer, D., Hussmann, H., Spohn, T.
AB: A major discovery of the Galileo mission was the detection of Ganymede's self-generated magnetic field. The magnetic field also proves beyond doubt that Ganymede is fully differentiated into an...
Grott, M., Helbert, J., Nadalini, R., Spohn, T.
The Heat flow and Physical Properties Package (HP3) is one of the possible payloads for ESA's upcoming ExoMars mission and includes an instrumented mole system, a self-penetrating probe designed for...
Instrumented Moles for Planetary Subsurface Regolith Studies (2006)
Richter, L.O., Coste, P.A., Grzesik, A., Knollenberg, J., Magnani, P., Nadalini, R., ...
Soil-like materials, or regolith, on solar system objects provide a record of physical and/or chemical weathering processes on the object in question and as such possess significant scientific...
Michaelis, Harald, Spohn, T., Oberst, J., Thomas, N., Seiferlin, K., Christensen, U., ...
The Bepi-Colombo Laser Altimeter (BELA) is the first European Laser Altimeter for planetary exploration which has been selected by ESA for flight aboard of ESA's BepiColombo mission to planet...
The rheology of the Martian mantle and the planet’s initial temperature is constrained with thermal evolution models that include crust growth and test the conditions for magnetic field generation...
Hussmann, H., Sohl, F., Spohn, T.
The detection of induced magnetic fields in the vicinity of the jovian satellites Europa, Ganymede, and Callisto is one of the most surprising findings of the Galileo mission to Jupiter. The observed...
Thermal model of the MUPUS penetrator (2005)
Sewery, K., Banaszkiewicz, M., Grunwald, B., Grygorczuk, J., Spohn, T.
MERTIS – The MERcury Thermal infrared Imaging Spectrometer for the Bepi-Colombo mission (2005)
Helbert, J., Jessberger, E. K., Benkhoff, J., Arnold, G., Lorenz, E., Peter, G., ...
MERTIS - A Thermal Infrared Imaging Spectrometer for the Bepi-Colombo Mission (2005)
Helbert, J., Jessberger, E., Benkhoff, J., Arnold, G., Banaszkiewicz, M., Bischoff, A., ...
Schumacher, S., Breuer, D., Spohn, T.
The thermal state of the immediate subsurface is mainly defined by the thermal properties of the regolith, which covers extensive areas of Mars. Although the exact vertical extend of the regolith,...
Geophysical constraints on the composition and structure of the Martian interior (2005)
Sohl, F., Schubert, G., Spohn, T.
Most recent Martian interior structure models are based on the planet's polar moment of inertia C, although the mean moment of inertia I is required for constructing spherically symmetric models of...
Sub-surface oceans on mid-sized icy satellites and large TNO's (2005)
Hussmann, H., Sohl, F., Spohn, T.
The detection of induced magnetic fields in the vicinity of the Jovian satellites Europa, Ganymede, and Callisto was one of the most surprising findings of the Galileo mission to Jupiter. The...
The BepiColombo Laser Altimeter BELA: Instrument Description (2005)
Seiferlin, K., Thomas, N., Spohn, T., Oberst, J., Michaelis, H., Gunderson, K., ...
BELA The BepiColombo Laser Altimeter (2005)
Spohn, T., Thomas, N., Christensen, U., Oberst, J., Seiferlin, K., Micheaelis, H., ...
Leben auf Io, Europa, Ganymed und Kallisto (2005)
Spohn, T., Sohl, F., Hussmann, H.
Hat es auf den vier Galileischen Trabanten des Jupiters Leben gegeben? Neue Studien weisen auf Wasserozeane im Innern dieser Himmelskörper hin. Mit Raumsonden und Modellrechnungen gehen die Forscher...
A multi-disciplinary investigation of the Jovian system (2005)
Thomas, N., Baumjohann, W., Dehant, V., Chassefiere, E., Leblanc, F., Drossart, P., ...
Lander and penetrator science for near-Earth object mitigation studies (2004)
Ball, Andrew, Lognonné, P., Seiferlin, K., Pätzold, M., Spohn, T.
Book description: It is known that large asteroids and comets can collide with the Earth with severe consequences. Although the chances of a collision in a person's lifetime are small, collisions are...
Prelaunch performance evaluation of the cometary experiment MUPUS-TP (2004)
Marczewski, W., Schroer, K., Seiferlin, K., Usowicz, B., Banaszkiewicz, M., Hlond, M., ...
This paper discusses test results obtained in both laboratory and terrestrial environment conditions for the “Multipurpose Sensors for Surface and Sub-Surface Science” Thermal Probe (MUPUS-TP),...
A Model for the Interior Structure Evolution and Differentiation of Callisto (2004)
Nagel, K., Breuer, D., Spohn, T.
The recently measured dimensionless moment of inertia (MoI) factor for Callisto of 0.3549+/-0.0042 (Anderson et al., 2001, Icarus, 153, 157-161) poses a problem: its value cannot be explained by a...
A Laser Altimeter for Bepicolombo (2004)
The first European development of a laser altimeter for a planetary mission will be built by a consortium led by the Physikalisches Institut of the University of Bern (UBE) and the Deutsches Zentrum...
Connerney, J.E.P., Acuna, M.H., Ness, N.F., Spohn, T., Schubert, G.
Mars lacks a detectable magnetic field of global scale, but boasts a rich spectrum of magnetic fields at smaller spatial scales attributed to the spatial variation of remanent magnetism in the crust....
Banaszkiewicz, M., Marczewski, W., Seiferlin, K., Spohn, T.
The MUPUS set of thermal sensors will be placed inside the penetrator to be inserted into the nucleus of comet Czurumov-Gerasimenko as a part of scientific program performed by lander experiments of...
International scientific collaboration for a network mission to Mars (2004)
Banert, B., Dehand, V., Lognonne, P., Spohn, T.
For the past 15 years here has been a strong consensus within the international scientific community in favor of sending a network of geophysical observatories to Mars. These landers would probe the...
Laser Altimetry on Bepi Colombo (2004)
A consortium led by Physikalisches Institut, Universität Bern und and the DLR Institut für Planetenforschung Berlin will be proposing a Laser Altimeter for the upcoming Bepi Colombo mission to...
MERTIS - Mercury Radiometer and Thermal Infrared Spectrometer for the Bepi Colombo mission (2004)
Benkhoff, J., Helbert, J., Arnold, G., Hirsch, H., Spohn, T., Calcutt, S., ...
Telescopic Measurements have shown that the surface composition of Mercury can be derived only indirectly from VIS/NIR-spectra: The spectral slopes and the absence of any feature in the range von 0.5...
Sinking FE-Diapirs: A model for planetary core formation (2004)
The formation of a planetary core in terrestrial planets ist still not well understood. However, core formation is generally thought to have occured concurrently with or soon after planet formation...
Where do the Mars quakes occur? (2004)
Oberst, J., Deuchler, C., Wählisch, M., Hauber, E., Knapmeyer, M., Spohn, T.
The EXTASE thermal probe - state of affairs (2004)
Schröer, K., Spohn, T., Multhaupt, K., Marszewski, W., Gadomski, S., Seiferlin, K.
EXSTASE is a spin-off project from the MUPUS (Rosetta Lander) thermal probe, both funded by DLR. The thermal probe will be tested in various environments and fields, e.g. in snow research,...
A European Laser Altimeter for Planetary Exploration (LAPE) (2004)
Oberst, J., Michaelis, H., Groussin, O., Schreiber, U., Leike, I., Spohn, T.
In the past year, our team has developed a concept for a high-performance planetary laser altimeter fo fly on the BepiColombo Mercury Planetary Orbiter. Hence, the instrument must be capable to...
Heat flow measurements on Mercury from the BepiColombo orbiter (2004)
The heat flux from the interior of Mercury is a key diagnostic for understanding the interior state of the planet and the source of the magnetic field. Now that plans for BepiColombo no longer...
Seismometer Network Configurations Optimized for the Observed Fault Distribution on Mars (2004)
Knapmeyer, M., Oberst, J., Spohn, T.
By providing a direct view into the interior of the planet, a seismological network on Mars would be of utmost importance for the further restriction of geodynamical modeling. A seismic network needs...
Thermal-orbital evolution of Io and Europa (2004)
Coupled thermal-orbital evolution models of Europa and Io are presented. It is assumed that Io, Europa, and Ganymede evolve in the Laplace resonance and that tidal dissipation of orbital energy is an...
Prelaunch performance evaluation of the cometary experiment MUPUS-TP (2004)
Marczewski, W., Schröer, K., Seiferlein, K., Usowicz, B., Banaszkiewicz, M., Hlond, M., ...
This paper discusses test results obtained in both laboratory and terrestrial environment conditions for the "Multipurpose Sensors for Surface and Sub-Surface Science'' Thermal Probe (MUPUS-TP),...
Lander and penetrator science for near Earth object mitigation studies (2004)
Ball, A.P., Lognonne, A.P., Seiferlin, K., Pätzold, M., Spohn, T.
Interior composition, structure and dynamics of the Galilean satellites (2004)
Schubert, G., Anderson, J.D., Spohn, T., McKinnon, W.B.
Gravitational fiels of the satellites: flyby determination of C22, gravity results; Io, Europa, Ganymede, Callisto - interior models; Thermal considerations in the maintenance of intra-ice oceans on...
Block, J., Marsal, O., Venet, M., Ferri, F., ...
Simultaneous measurements collected by a network of landers spread over the surface of Mars will provide a unique leap forward in our knowledge of the planet. This is the objective of the NetLander...
Ball, Andrew, Gadomski, S., Banaszkiewicz, M., Spohn, T., Ahrens, T. J., Whyndham, M., ...
The MUPUS experiment on the Rosetta Lander will measure thermal and mechanical properties as well as the bulk density of the cometary material at and just below the surface of the nucleus of comet...
Geophysical Constraints on the Evolution of Mars (2001)
Spohn, T., Acuna, M.H., Breuer, D., Golombek, M., Greeley, R., Halliday, A., ...
The Rosetta Lander - Science objectives (2000)
Bibring, J-P., Auster, H-U., Finzi, A., Kofman, W., Möhlmann, D., Mottola, S., ...
Scientific accomplishments expected from the Rosetta Lander (1998)
Rosenbauer, H., Wittmann, K., Ulamec, S., Schiewe, B., Moura, D., ...
Laboratory simulation of cometary processes (1991)
Grün, E., Bar-Nun, A., Benkhoff, J., Bischoff, A., Düren, H., Hellmann, H., ...
In situ observations of comet Halley provided the first photographs of a cometary nucleus and yielded information about its environment, including the emitted gas and dust. The relation between these...