Future opportunities in solar system plasma science through ESA's exploration programme.

Area of Science:

• Space Physics
• Planetary Science
• Astrophysics

Background:

• The solar wind, a stream of charged particles from the Sun, interacts with all solar system bodies.
• These interactions create unique dynamics influenced by a body's atmosphere and magnetic field.
• Understanding these interactions is crucial for planetary evolution and space exploration.

Purpose of the Study:

• To identify key open scientific questions regarding solar wind interactions with the Moon and Mars.
• To propose how future European Space Agency (ESA) missions can address these questions.
• To outline observational strategies for studying plasma interactions.

Main Methods:

• Focus on multi-point and remote sensing measurements.
• Incorporate energetic particle observations.
• Analyze plasma interactions with bodies possessing different atmospheric and magnetic environments.

Main Results:

• Identified critical knowledge gaps in solar wind-Moon and solar wind-Mars interactions.
• Proposed specific scientific investigations for future ESA missions.
• Recommended observational approaches for comprehensive data acquisition.

Conclusions:

• Future missions to the Moon and Mars offer opportunities to resolve fundamental questions about solar wind interactions.
• A coordinated approach using diverse measurement techniques is essential.
• Further research will enhance our understanding of planetary environments and space weather effects.