Updating the Jovian Plasma and Radiation Environments: The Latest Results for 2015

Since publication in 1983 by Divine and Garrett ("Charged Particle Distributions in Jupiter's Magnetosphere," Journal of Geophysical Research, Vol. 88, No. 9, Sept. 1983, pp. 6889-6903.), the Jet Propulsion Laboratory's plasma and radiation models have been the design standard for NASA's missions to Jupiter. These models consist of representations of the cold plasma and electrons, the warm and auroral electrons and protons, and the radiation environment (high-energy electrons, protons, and heavy ions). The current status of these models, which have been undergoing extensive revision, is reviewed, and examples of their uses in modeling the effects of the environment on Jovian missions are provided. Of particular importance are recent changes in the plasma-environment models for modeling the charging effects on the proposed Europa mission, and the extension of the high-energy proton model from similar to 12 to similar to 50RJ to study the radiation effects on the solar arrays for that mission concept.