This merged session welcomes a broad range of presentations about future missions and instrumentation. We encourage presentations on new Planetary science mission architectures and associated technologies, as well as dedicated instrumentation that can be developed for these applications.

Solar and planetary astronomy has always been a data-intensive science, and new observatories and spacecraft are gathering data at an unprecedented scale. However, to maximize the scientific return on this investment, researchers need access to an infrastructure that provides open access to data, correlative data, and common standards for communication and information exchange between repositories. Initiatives like NASA's Planetary Data Ecosystem, Europlanet/VESPA, ESA Datalabs, and NASA's Helio-Cloud are taking the first steps toward building such an infrastructure. We invite contributions showcasing open science opportunities and accomplishments in Heliophysics and Planetary science that highlight one or more of these capabilities, particularly those involving international standards such as IVOA, OGC, IPDA, and IHDEA.

Artificial intelligence (AI) refers to the development of computer software capable of performing tasks that would typically require human intelligence. Machine learning (ML) is a branch of computer science that explores algorithms that can learn from data. It is primarily divided into supervised learning, where the algorithm is presented with examples of labeled entries and the goal is to learn a general rule that maps inputs to outputs, and unsupervised learning, where no label is provided to the learning algorithm, allowing it to autonomously identify structures. Deep learning is a branch of machine learning based on multiple layers of artificial neural networks, which are computing systems inspired by the biological neural networks found in animal brains. This session aims to provide a forum for discussing recent advancements in the applications of AI and ML to planetary science.

Electromagnetic scattering phenomena play a key role in determining the properties of Solar System surfaces based on observations using different techniques and in a variety of wavelengths ranging from the ultraviolet to the radio. This session will promote a general advancement in the exploitation of observational and experimental techniques to characterize radiative transfer in complex particulate media. Abstracts are solicited on advances in numerical methods to extract relevant information from imagery, photometry, and spectroscopy in solid phase, reference laboratory databases, photometric modeling, interpreting features on planetary surfaces, mixing/unmixing methods, AI and machine learning, and software and web service applications.

A session on all aspects of in situ science on planets covering historical instrumentation as well as future developments. Possible topics include science returned by and lessons learned from instruments but equal emphasis is on development studies, models and laboratory tests of the next generation of in-situ instrumentation for planetary exploration.

Most of our knowledge about the origin and the evolution of the Solar System comes from our ability to decipher the processes that formed and processed planetary materials. These materials have diverse physical and chemical properties (volatile/refractory, organic/inorganic compounds) and are mixed in various ways. In the laboratory, the analyses of cosmo-materials coming from these objects (that felt on Earth or returned by space missions) and analogues reproducing some of their properties and evolutions, are both essential to understand the history of small bodies.

Natural and synthetic analogues of planets and small bodies materials can be produced and/or processed to simulate how their compositions and structures may evolve, and their chemical/physical properties can be measured. The results of these laboratory experiments are essential for the interpretations of measurements obtained by ground-based observations and space missions. They are also necessary for planning and preparing future in situ and sample-return space missions, ensuring their success in collecting valuable samples and data.

In this session, we invite submissions related to the analysis of cosmo-materials and to the production, evolution and analysis of planetary and small bodies analogues (interpretation of chemical/physical properties, predictions, preparation of analytical tools or space instruments, preparation of analytical chain for sample return analyses, etc.). Laboratory experiments necessary to interpret data of any past, present and future space missions will be particularly encouraged.

Exoplanets are being discovered in large numbers thanks to recent and ongoing surveys using state-of-the-art instrumentation from the ground and from space. In the next years, new astronomical instruments will scout ever more distant regions of our Galaxy and they will validate new technology for the ultimate direct characterisation of temperate exoplanets. Such a change of physical and technological horizon will allow us to overcome the current observational biases in the search of alien worlds, and to gain a deeper understanding of the chemical and physical properties of exoplanets and the environment that surround them. Ultimately we will be able to unveil processes of formation and evolution of planets, together with those of their atmospheres, on a scale much larger than our Solar Neighbourhood.

The goal of this session is to bring together the instrumentation and observational communities that are underpinning the future of this field. Contributions are invited to review ongoing programmes of exoplanet and circumstellar discs discovery and characterisation, to update on the progress of planned instrumentation programmes, and to present innovative ideas for future instrumentation.

This session is to oversee the current and fast changing roles of drones (unmanned aerial vehicles, UAVs) and resemble mission types in planetary science. The presentations will provide examples, experiences and case studies how various drones have been used and planned to be applied in planetary science in the future, what type of instruments could be carried onboard and which strategy to follow in their planning. Among the targets of drones Venus, Mars, Titan and Earth analogues provide rich and diverse conditions to work under, while the understanding of applied technologies from this session help to formulate next steps.

In October 2024, the ESA Hera mission will be launched to reach the binary asteroid Didymos in fall 2026, which will provide detailed measurements of the outcome of the first asteroid deflection experiment successfully achieved by the NASA DART mission. Studies of mission concepts to visit Apophis in 2029 are ongoing (such as RAMSES at ESA), while NASA OSIRIS-APEX will visit the asteroid a few days after its closes approach to Earth on April 13, 2029. The NASA NEOSurveyor spacecraft, to be launched in 2028, LSST and other observational programs will increase drastically the number of discoveries of NEOs. Planetary defense is thus a field that keeps growing with a wide range of activities, from active space missions to space mission concepts and observations from the ground and from space, numerical modeling of asteroid properties and of deflection techniques as well as public communication. This session will present recent progresses and perspectives.

After the joint ESA/JAXA mission BepiColombo completed 3 successful swingbys of Mercury with closest approaches of only 200 km, spacecraft observations and numerical modelling give us insight into the unexplored regions around the innermost terrestrial planet.
Together with data obtained by the late NASA mission MESSENGER, BepiColombo’s swingbys and orbit phase will lead to new understanding about the origin, formation, evolution, composition, interior structure, and magnetospheric environment of Mercury.
This session hosts contributions to planetary, geological, exospheric and magnetospheric science results based on spacecraft observations by Mariner 10, MESSENGER, BepiColombo, and Earth-based observations, modelling of interior, surface and planetary environment and theory.
In particular, studies investigating the required BepiColombo observations during the nominal mission to validate the existing theoretical models about the interior, exosphere and magnetosphere are welcome,
as well as presentations on laboratory experiments useful to confirm potential future measurements.

A great wealth of knowledge of our Moon stems from sampling and observing its surface. This session aims to attract a variety of scientific contributions addressing lunar surface processes and (mega)regolith evolution in terms of geology, geochronology, geophysics, geodynamics, geochemistry, numerical modeling, and remote sensing.

Lunar science and exploration are developing further with new and exciting missions being developed by China, the US, Japan, India, Russia, Korea and Europe, and with new stakeholders. This session will address open lunar science and innovation:

- Celebrating the legacy of Apollo and Luna programmes after 50+ years
- Recent lunar results: geochemistry, geophysics in the context of open planetary science and exploration
- Synthesis of results from Clementine, Prospector, SMART-1, Kaguya, Chang’e 1, 2 and 3, Chandrayaan-1, LCROSS, LADEE, Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter, Artemis and GRAIL
- First results from Chang'E 4, Chang'E 5 , Chandrayaan2,
- Goals and Status of missions under preparation: orbiters, CLPS, Luna25-27, SLIM, Commercial landers, Lunar sample return missions, Future cargo landers, EL3
- Precursor missions, instruments and investigations for landers, rovers, sample return, and human cis-lunar activities, Gateway, and human lunar surface sorties (Artemis and International Lunar Base)
- Next International Lunar Decade: databases, instruments, missions, terrestrial field campaigns, support studies
- ILEWG and Global Exploration roadmaps towards a global robotic/human Moon village
- Strategic Knowledge Gaps, and key science Goals relevant to Lunar Global Exploration
- The Moon for planetary science, life sciences, astronomy, fundamental research, resources utilisation, human spaceflight, peaceful cooperation, economical development, inspiration, training and capacity building.
- How a laboratory on the Moon should be equipped to be useful for a variety of disciplines, including geology, biology, and chemistry
- Historical, societal, humanistic aspects of lunar exploration

The EPSC 2024 TP12 Lunar Science and Exploration Open Session is co-sponsored by ILEWG, COSPAR, Moon Village Association, LUNEX EuroMoonMars, International Moonbase Alliance, EuroSpaceHub Academy, IAF committees (ITACCUS, Space Habitats, and Space Exploration), and contributes to ICEUM2024

The aim of this session is to share the knowledge and experience gained by all Mars exploration programmes, both in Europe and worldwide, to promote synergies among the various missions in operations and development. We welcome contributions from any field of Mars science (observation or modelling) and exploration, in particular mission status and instrument overviews of latest scientific results and technical developments. These may include latest scientific results and mission overviews, as well as new challenges, for orbiters (Mars Express, ExoMars TGO, Odyssey, MRO, MAVEN, Mangalyaan/Mars Orbiter Mission, Tianwen-1, Hope), surface assets (Mars Science Laboratory, Insight, Mars2020, Tianwen-1), and future missions (ExoMars Rosalind Franklin Mission, Martian Moons eXploration (MMX), Mars Sample Return, and beyond).

The renewed ExoMars Rosalind Franklin Mission (RFM), a partnership between ESA and NASA, is scheduled for launch in 2028 and will address one of the most important scientific objectives of our time: to search for signs of life on Mars. Oxia Planum remains the selected landing site and the eight scientific instruments aboard the Rosalind Franklin Rover comprise the ‘Pasteur’ Payload. The unique ability to drill to a depth of 2m and extract samples for processing and analysis by three instruments in the rover’s Analytical Laboratory Drawer (ALD), coupled with its mobility, are key enabling capabilities for the search for biosignatures and for investigation of paleo-environments on early Mars.

This session welcomes submissions regarding the mission and its Pasteur Payload instruments, its scientific investigations, and on research activities pertinent to mission science objectives, including but not limited to: study of the Oxia Planum landing site and related locations, terrestrial analogue studies, astrobiological and sample analysis studies, and other relevant research topics. We also invite submissions regarding synergies between the ExoMars Rosalind Franklin Mission and other Mars missions and programmes.

Venus is commonly referred to as the twin planet of the Earth because of their similarities in mass, size, and distance to the Sun. However, the planet has embarked on a distinct evolutionary path that remains a puzzle. Studying Venus not only enhances our understanding of the history and properties of terrestrial planets in our Solar System but also permits for a better characterization of Earth-sized exoplanets.

The key role of Venus in the future of planetary exploration has been spotlighted in recent years, marked by the selection of several new missions, such as EnVision (ESA), VERITAS and DAVINCI (NASA). In addition, other missions are in preparation, such as Shukrayaan-1 (ISRO) and Venus Life Finder (Rocket Lab). This sets off a new era for Venus science and exploration, that will dramatically advance our understanding of the atmosphere, surface, and interior of our sister planet.

"Unveiling Venus from atmosphere to core" aims to holistically address the recent and upcoming advancements in Venus science and technology. We welcome a wide range of contributions from interior modeling, surface investigation, atmosphere research, laboratory experiments, and data analysis that can help us better understand the mysterious history of Venus and prepare us for space missions ahead.

Volcanism and tectonics are two of the most ubiquitous processes at work in the Solar System, substantially shaping the diverse surfaces of terrestrial planets, moons, and icy satellites. High-resolution orbital data, samples from the lunar surface, and seismic data from the Moon and Mars, have provided important constraints on the evolution of planetary bodies and their tectonic regimes. This gives us a much better understanding of how these worlds evolved, how they are internally structured, and why their surfaces look the way they do. Following the success of InSight on Mars, the selection of e.g., Dragonfly, VERITAS, EnVision, Chang’e 6 and the Farside Seismic Suite promise a wealth of additional observations of Titan, Venus, and the Moon that will contribute to furthering knowledge not only of the extent of volcanic and tectonic activity on these worlds, but also of their seismicity. Small body seismology is also becoming a hot topic, with space agencies considering seismometers for inclusion in future missions to asteroids and comets.

This session invites observational, analytical, theoretical, and analogue fieldwork research into any aspect of planetary endogenic processes. We welcome submissions on comparing landforms and processes on multiple bodies; geochemical and chronological data from planetary material; numerical modeling studies; tectonics and seismicity across the Solar System; theoretical and technical designs for current or future missions; as well as data analysis and insights on the seismicity and interior structures of planets and small bodies.

The ocean worlds of the solar system are now considered to be amongst the places in the solar system most likely to offer answers to a whole catalogue of questions concerning the origins and evolution of life. In this session, we will cover topics raging from the conditions for habitability, to ways of exploring these environments. Contributions including, but not purely limited to, results of past instruments and missions, and proposals for future missions and techniques are welcome.

The Saturn system inspires awe with its brilliant bright rings, its diversity of moons from large to small, and the rapidly rotating planet itself with its polar hexagon and dramatic storm outbursts. The data from the Cassini-Huygens mission has aded more questions than answers, including whether the system has always looked this way, or it still rapidly evolving at recent times. This session welcomes submissions that address the many facets of the Saturn system, including those that seek to place it in the wider context of the solar system and exoplanetary systems.

Saturn's moon Titan, despite its satellite status, has nothing to envy the planets: it has planetary dimensions, a substantial and dynamic atmosphere, a carbon cycle, a variety of geological features (dunes, lakes, rivers, mountains and more), seasons, and a hidden ocean. It even now has its own mission: Dragonfly, selected by NASA in the frame of the New Frontiers program. In this session, scientific presentations are solicited to cover all aspects of current research on Titan: from its interior to its upper atmosphere, using data collected from the Cassini-Huygens mission (2004-2017) and/or from telescopes (e.g., ALMA, JWST) and/or based on modelling and experimental efforts to support the interpretation of past and future observations of this unique world.

This session covers two general related topic analysis of binary and multiple systems, and analysis of gravitational aggregates, their characterisation, formation, evolution, etc. Models and observations from ground to space, from numerical to laboratory experiments.
It is dedicated to discussions and recent research on granular systems applicable to the study of small bodies (asteroids comets, irregular satellites) as gravitational aggregates. New development on modelling, numerical simulations, laboratory and zero-G experiments are welcome. Physical and dynamical features of binary/multiple asteroids and asteroid pairs, their formation and evolution, will also be addressed. Recent results from space missions (sample returns, kinetic impactors), ground-based & space-based surveys, occultations, astrometry, spectroscopy, and photometry are welcome. An opportunity to discuss future research plans and needs for further progressing in the field.

Icy ocean worlds, comets and asteroids offer a rich, diverse array of targets to explore that address science questions ranging from origin and evolution to habitability and even biosignature searches. The Cassini mission discovered spectacular findings about the chemistry, physics and geology of Saturn’s moon Enceladus. JUICE and Europa Clipper will shed light on Jupiter’s moons. The Stardust mission returned samples from comet 81P/Wild2 and Hayabusa2 and OSIRIS-REx recently returned samples from carbonaceous asteroids Ryugu and Bennu.
To fully exploit space mission data and prepare for upcoming missions, laboratory experiments are an essential part of calibrating instruments on board future spacecraft, verifying data returned by missions and informing numerical models of the diverse environments present on these bodies.
Analyzing returned samples from asteroids and comets substantially furthers our understanding of these small bodies in the Solar System. Both carbonaceous asteroids and comets are potentially analogous to the rocky interiors and primordial icy crusts of icy moons.
We seek contributions discussing laboratory experiments or studies with a laboratory component, including the analysis of returned samples, and their applications to icy ocean worlds, comets or asteroids.

The session includes results from sample return missions, in particular those achieved by the recent OSIRIS-Rex (NASA), Hayabusa2 (JAXA), and Chang’e 5 (CNSA). The aim is to stimulate the discussion on the perspective of future sample return missions, in terms of both sciencific return and technological value, specifically in view of NASA’s Mars Sample Return mission.
The session is opened, but not restricted, to the following topics: a) new results from in-orbit observations of sample return missions; b) new laboratory analyses on samples returned from OSIRIS-REx, Hayabusa2, Chang’e 5 and past missions (e.g., Luna, Apollo, Stardust, Hayabusa); c) preliminary activities for the Mars Sample Return mission; d) preparation, performed studies and expected results from future sample return missions (e.g., Mars Sample Return, Tianwen2); e) new sample return mission concepts; f) technologies and methods for sample return; g) technologies and concepts for curation facilities; h) technologies and concepts for handling, transport and analysis of returned samples.

Knowledge creation is a collaborative process including synergies between different disciplines, communities and stakeholders. The framework of open science is also connected to the involvement of people outside academia, such as amateur societies, school students, corporate partners etc. Open science has a variety of aspects and applications. What are the efforts done in the field of planetary sciences to establish and increase openness? To what degree planetary science researchers and practitioners endeavour accessibility within the various communities - academics and non-academics? During this session these and other relevant questions will be addressed through the presentation of open planetary science projects, tools, data and platforms. Furthermore, the current status and the potential for future efforts towards an open and public planetary science scheme will be discussed. Building upon the success of the session in the previous years, planetary scientists, researchers and other stakeholders are welcome to present new projects and the developments of previous ones, in the context of promoting open & public science.