1
|
Molaro JL, Walsh KJ, Jawin ER, Ballouz RL, Bennett CA, DellaGiustina DN, Golish DR, Drouet d'Aubigny C, Rizk B, Schwartz SR, Hanna RD, Martel SJ, Pajola M, Campins H, Ryan AJ, Bottke WF, Lauretta DS. In situ evidence of thermally induced rock breakdown widespread on Bennu's surface. Nat Commun 2020; 11:2913. [PMID: 32518333 PMCID: PMC7283247 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-020-16528-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 45] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/06/2019] [Accepted: 05/04/2020] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Rock breakdown due to diurnal thermal cycling has been hypothesized to drive boulder degradation and regolith production on airless bodies. Numerous studies have invoked its importance in driving landscape evolution, yet morphological features produced by thermal fracture processes have never been definitively observed on an airless body, or any surface where other weathering mechanisms may be ruled out. The Origins, Spectral Interpretation, Resource Identification, and Security–Regolith Explorer (OSIRIS-REx) mission provides an opportunity to search for evidence of thermal breakdown and assess its significance on asteroid surfaces. Here we show boulder morphologies observed on Bennu that are consistent with terrestrial observations and models of fatigue-driven exfoliation and demonstrate how crack propagation via thermal stress can lead to their development. The rate and expression of this process will vary with asteroid composition and location, influencing how different bodies evolve and their apparent relative surface ages from space weathering and cratering records. In their study, the authors discuss the potential of thermal weathering on airless bodies. As a case study, they use boulder and fracture morphologies on asteroid Bennu.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- J L Molaro
- Planetary Science Institute, 1700 E Ft Lowell Rd., STE 106, Tucson, AZ, 85719, USA.
| | - K J Walsh
- Southwest Research Institute, 1050 Walnut St #300, Boulder, CO, 80302, USA
| | - E R Jawin
- Department of Mineral Sciences, National Museum of Natural History, Smithsonian Institution, PO Box 37012, MRC 119, Washington, D.C, 20013, USA
| | - R-L Ballouz
- Lunar and Planetary Laboratory, University of Arizona, 1629 E University Blvd, Tucson, AZ, 85721, USA
| | - C A Bennett
- Lunar and Planetary Laboratory, University of Arizona, 1629 E University Blvd, Tucson, AZ, 85721, USA
| | - D N DellaGiustina
- Lunar and Planetary Laboratory, University of Arizona, 1629 E University Blvd, Tucson, AZ, 85721, USA
| | - D R Golish
- Lunar and Planetary Laboratory, University of Arizona, 1629 E University Blvd, Tucson, AZ, 85721, USA
| | - C Drouet d'Aubigny
- Lunar and Planetary Laboratory, University of Arizona, 1629 E University Blvd, Tucson, AZ, 85721, USA
| | - B Rizk
- Lunar and Planetary Laboratory, University of Arizona, 1629 E University Blvd, Tucson, AZ, 85721, USA
| | - S R Schwartz
- Lunar and Planetary Laboratory, University of Arizona, 1629 E University Blvd, Tucson, AZ, 85721, USA
| | - R D Hanna
- Department of Geological Sciences, Jackson School of Geosciences, University of Texas, 2305 Speedway Stop C1160, Austin, TX, 78712, USA
| | - S J Martel
- Department of Earth Sciences, School of Ocean and Earth Science and Technology, University of Hawai'i at Mānoa, POST Building STE 701, 1680 East-West Road, Honolulu, HI, 96822, USA
| | - M Pajola
- INAF-Astronomical Observatory of Padova, Vic. Osservatorio 5, 35122, Padova, Italy
| | - H Campins
- Department of Physics, University of Central Florida, 4111 Libra Drive, Physical Sciences Bldg. 430, Orlando, FL, 32816, USA
| | - A J Ryan
- Lunar and Planetary Laboratory, University of Arizona, 1629 E University Blvd, Tucson, AZ, 85721, USA
| | - W F Bottke
- Southwest Research Institute, 1050 Walnut St #300, Boulder, CO, 80302, USA
| | - D S Lauretta
- Lunar and Planetary Laboratory, University of Arizona, 1629 E University Blvd, Tucson, AZ, 85721, USA
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Golish DR, Drouet d'Aubigny C, Rizk B, DellaGiustina DN, Smith PH, Becker K, Shultz N, Stone T, Barker MK, Mazarico E, Tatsumi E, Gaskell RW, Harrison L, Merrill C, Fellows C, Williams B, O'Dougherty S, Whiteley M, Hancock J, Clark BE, Hergenrother CW, Lauretta DS. Ground and In-Flight Calibration of the OSIRIS-REx Camera Suite. Space Sci Rev 2020; 216:12. [PMID: 32025061 DOI: 10.1007/s11214-017-0460-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/18/2019] [Accepted: 11/27/2019] [Indexed: 05/29/2023]
Abstract
The OSIRIS-REx Camera Suite (OCAMS) onboard the OSIRIS-REx spacecraft is used to study the shape and surface of the mission's target, asteroid (101955) Bennu, in support of the selection of a sampling site. We present calibration methods and results for the three OCAMS cameras-MapCam, PolyCam, and SamCam-using data from pre-flight and in-flight calibration campaigns. Pre-flight calibrations established a baseline for a variety of camera properties, including bias and dark behavior, flat fields, stray light, and radiometric calibration. In-flight activities updated these calibrations where possible, allowing us to confidently measure Bennu's surface. Accurate calibration is critical not only for establishing a global understanding of Bennu, but also for enabling analyses of potential sampling locations and for providing scientific context for the returned sample.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- D R Golish
- 1Lunar and Planetary Laboratory, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ USA
| | | | - B Rizk
- 1Lunar and Planetary Laboratory, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ USA
| | - D N DellaGiustina
- 1Lunar and Planetary Laboratory, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ USA
| | - P H Smith
- 1Lunar and Planetary Laboratory, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ USA
| | - K Becker
- 1Lunar and Planetary Laboratory, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ USA
| | - N Shultz
- 1Lunar and Planetary Laboratory, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ USA
| | - T Stone
- United States Geological Survey Astrogeology Science Center, Flagstaff, AZ USA
| | - M K Barker
- 3Solar System Exploration Division, NASA Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, MD USA
| | - E Mazarico
- 3Solar System Exploration Division, NASA Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, MD USA
| | - E Tatsumi
- 4Department of Earth and Planetary Science, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
| | - R W Gaskell
- 5Planetary Science Institute, Tucson, AZ USA
| | - L Harrison
- 1Lunar and Planetary Laboratory, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ USA
| | - C Merrill
- 1Lunar and Planetary Laboratory, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ USA
| | - C Fellows
- 1Lunar and Planetary Laboratory, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ USA
| | - B Williams
- 1Lunar and Planetary Laboratory, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ USA
| | - S O'Dougherty
- 1Lunar and Planetary Laboratory, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ USA
| | - M Whiteley
- 6Space Dynamics Laboratory, Utah State University, Logan, UT USA
| | - J Hancock
- 6Space Dynamics Laboratory, Utah State University, Logan, UT USA
| | - B E Clark
- 7Department of Physics and Astronomy, Ithaca College, Ithaca, NY USA
| | - C W Hergenrother
- 1Lunar and Planetary Laboratory, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ USA
| | - D S Lauretta
- 1Lunar and Planetary Laboratory, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ USA
| |
Collapse
|