AXE: A New Frontiers Enceladus Astrobiology Mission Concept Study - AbGradCon 2023

Explore the concept of a New Frontiers mission to Enceladus in this 27-minute conference talk from AbGradCon 2023. Delve into the AXE (Enceladus Astrobiology Mission) study, presented by Marshall Seaton at the Scripps Institution of Oceanography. Learn about Enceladus' composition, science objectives, thermal equilibrium, and plume formation mechanisms. Examine the proposed mission trajectory, requirements, and key takeaways. Gain insights into cryovolcanism and the potential for astrobiology research on this intriguing Saturnian moon. Understand the significance of this mission concept within NASA's New Frontiers program and its implications for the search for life beyond Earth.

Introduction
Enceladus
Composition
Science Objectives
Thermal Equilibrium
plume formation mechanisms
mission trajectory
mission requirements
key takeaways
New Frontiers mission
PSS
UCSD
Caltech
Cryovolcanism
Orbit