Architectures and Instruments for Enceladus Exploration

Abstract

Enceladus, a moon of Saturn with a subsurface ocean containing potential hydrothermal activity, is a crucial target for habitability and life detection missions. While the Cassini mission provided important information about Enceladus, many unanswered and consequential questions remain, including its habitability, geochemical history, and whether Enceladus currently hosts life. We have developed a general science traceability matrix (STM) detailing a set of science objectives relating to its geology and habitability that can be applied to different mission architectures and concepts. This STM was designed to be broad and cover a broad science trade space for mission development; a companion paper discusses the scientific details of the STM (Rodriguez et al., 2025). In this paper, we discuss which mission architectural features would be needed to meet the STM's different science goals and observables. We identify direct access to ocean samples as an important architectural feature to fulfill measurements of habitability and life detection. We additionally propose using integrated instrument suites for life detection science objectives. We highlight opportunities for advancement in research and technology development that could enable different science objectives, including autonomy and instrument design. The results of this workshop detailed in this publication can be used as a framework for mission concept design and development. This document is designed to be used as a roadmap for the development of new technology maturation for future investigations to maximize science return.