Lessons From Pluto for Uranus Moons

Introduction: Small patches of starkly different albedo on both Oberon and Umbriel may be evidence for frost segregation and volatile migration. The high obliquity of the Uranian system makes it a good candidate for volatile transport activity. CO2 and ammonium species have been detected on some Uranian satellites, and CH4 is at least theoretically viable as a resident volatile. The OWL-recommended UOP Orbiter spacecraft should be equipped with instruments capable of evaluating the nature and extent of volatiles in the Uranian satellite system.