1
|
Dreyer CB, Abbud-Madrid A, Atkinson J, Lampe A, Markley T, Williams H, McDonough K, Canney T, Haines J. A new experimental capability for the study of regolith surface physical properties to support science, space exploration, and in situ resource utilization (ISRU). THE REVIEW OF SCIENTIFIC INSTRUMENTS 2018; 89:064502. [PMID: 29960559 DOI: 10.1063/1.5023112] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/08/2023]
Abstract
Many surfaces found on the Moon, asteroids, Mars, moons, and other planetary bodies are covered in a fine granular material known as regolith. Increased knowledge of the physical properties of extraterrestrial regolith surfaces will help advance the scientific knowledge of these bodies as well as the development of exploration (e.g., instrument and robotic) and in situ resource utilization (ISRU) systems. The Center for Space Resources at the Colorado School of Mines as part of the Institute for Modeling Plasma, Atmospheres, and Cosmic Dust of NASA's Solar System Exploration Research Virtual Institute has developed a novel system, called the ISRU Experimental Probe (IEP) that can support studies of dry and icy regolith from -196 to 150 °C and pressure from laboratory ambient pressure to 10-7 Torr. The IEP system and proof-of-concept results are presented in this paper.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Christopher B Dreyer
- Center for Space Resources, Colorado School of Mines, Golden, Colorado 80401, USA
| | - Angel Abbud-Madrid
- Center for Space Resources, Colorado School of Mines, Golden, Colorado 80401, USA
| | - Jared Atkinson
- Geophysics, Colorado School of Mines, Golden, Colorado 80401, USA
| | - Alexander Lampe
- Center for Space Resources, Colorado School of Mines, Golden, Colorado 80401, USA
| | - Tasha Markley
- Geophysics, Colorado School of Mines, Golden, Colorado 80401, USA
| | - Hunter Williams
- Center for Space Resources, Colorado School of Mines, Golden, Colorado 80401, USA
| | - Kara McDonough
- Center for Space Resources, Colorado School of Mines, Golden, Colorado 80401, USA
| | - Travis Canney
- Center for Space Resources, Colorado School of Mines, Golden, Colorado 80401, USA
| | - Joseph Haines
- Center for Space Resources, Colorado School of Mines, Golden, Colorado 80401, USA
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Rummel JD, Beaty DW, Jones MA, Bakermans C, Barlow NG, Boston PJ, Chevrier VF, Clark BC, de Vera JPP, Gough RV, Hallsworth JE, Head JW, Hipkin VJ, Kieft TL, McEwen AS, Mellon MT, Mikucki JA, Nicholson WL, Omelon CR, Peterson R, Roden EE, Sherwood Lollar B, Tanaka KL, Viola D, Wray JJ. A new analysis of Mars "Special Regions": findings of the second MEPAG Special Regions Science Analysis Group (SR-SAG2). ASTROBIOLOGY 2014; 14:887-968. [PMID: 25401393 DOI: 10.1089/ast.2014.1227] [Citation(s) in RCA: 148] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/16/2023]
Abstract
A committee of the Mars Exploration Program Analysis Group (MEPAG) has reviewed and updated the description of Special Regions on Mars as places where terrestrial organisms might replicate (per the COSPAR Planetary Protection Policy). This review and update was conducted by an international team (SR-SAG2) drawn from both the biological science and Mars exploration communities, focused on understanding when and where Special Regions could occur. The study applied recently available data about martian environments and about terrestrial organisms, building on a previous analysis of Mars Special Regions (2006) undertaken by a similar team. Since then, a new body of highly relevant information has been generated from the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter (launched in 2005) and Phoenix (2007) and data from Mars Express and the twin Mars Exploration Rovers (all 2003). Results have also been gleaned from the Mars Science Laboratory (launched in 2011). In addition to Mars data, there is a considerable body of new data regarding the known environmental limits to life on Earth-including the potential for terrestrial microbial life to survive and replicate under martian environmental conditions. The SR-SAG2 analysis has included an examination of new Mars models relevant to natural environmental variation in water activity and temperature; a review and reconsideration of the current parameters used to define Special Regions; and updated maps and descriptions of the martian environments recommended for treatment as "Uncertain" or "Special" as natural features or those potentially formed by the influence of future landed spacecraft. Significant changes in our knowledge of the capabilities of terrestrial organisms and the existence of possibly habitable martian environments have led to a new appreciation of where Mars Special Regions may be identified and protected. The SR-SAG also considered the impact of Special Regions on potential future human missions to Mars, both as locations of potential resources and as places that should not be inadvertently contaminated by human activity.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- John D Rummel
- 1 Department of Biology, East Carolina University , Greenville, North Carolina, USA
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
3
|
Siegler M, Aharonson O, Carey E, Choukroun M, Hudson T, Schorghofer N, Xu S. Measurements of thermal properties of icy Mars regolith analogs. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2012. [DOI: 10.1029/2011je003938] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
|