Engineering topics

Combe, J. P.

Publications and source records attributed to Combe, J. P..

6 records

NASA NTRS2012

Vesta Mineralogy after Dawn Global Observations

The Dawn mission has completed its mapping phases at Vesta and millions of spectra have been acquired by the Visible and InfraRed Mapping Spectrometer, VIR(1). VIR characterizes and maps the mineral distribution on Vesta -strengthening the Vesta HED linkage- and provides new insights into Vesta s formation and evolution(2,3). VIR spectra are dominated by pyroxene absorptions near 0.9 and 2.0 m and large thermal emission beyond 3.5 m. Although almost all surface materials exhibit howardite-like spectra, some large regions can be interpreted to be richer in eucritic (basaltic) material and others richer in diogenititic (Mg-orthopyroxenitic) material. The Rheasilvia basin contains Mg-pyroxene-rich terrains for example. Vesta' s surface shows considerable diversity at local scales. Many bright and dark areas(3,4) are associated with various geological features and show remarkably different morphology. Moreover, VIR detected statistically significant, but weak, variations at 2.8 m that have been interpreted as indicating the presence of OH-bearing phases on the surface(5). The OH distribution is uneven with large regions lacking this absorption feature. Associations of 2.8 m band with morphological structures indicate complex process responsible for OH. Vesta exhibits large spectral variations that often correlate with geological structures, indicating a complex geological and evolutionary history, more similar to that of the terrestrial planets than to other asteroids visited by spacecrafts.

ChristinaDeSanctis, Maria↗

NASA NTRS2012

Vesta and the HED Meteorites: Comparison of Spectral Properties

We present the main results obtained comparing the visible-near infrared (VIS-NIR) spectra Vesta s surface with howardites, eucrites, diogenites (HEDs). HEDs are commonly associated with Vesta based on spectral similarities. Because of such association, much effort is being made to merge the information from HEDs as well as Vestoids with that from Vesta to characterize the lithologic diversity of the surface of this asteroid and to infer clues regarding its thermal history. The Dawn spacecraft, orbiting around Vesta since July 2011, is performing detailed observations of this body and thus improving our knowledge of its properties. Dawn s scientific payload includes an imaging spectrometer, VIR-MS, sensitive to the VIS-NIR spectral range. VIR-MS began acquiring spectra during the approach phase that started in May 2011 and will continue its observations through July 2012 when the spacecraft will depart Vesta to travel to Ceres. The observations are uniformly distributed in latitude and longitude, allowing a global view of Vesta s crustal spectral properties. Using the information provided by VIR spectra, we studied the distribution of the spectral heterogeneities on the surface and used our findings to perform a comparison with HED spectra in the VIS-NIR spectral range searching for analogies and/or incompatibilities. In our analysis, we utilized a method to compare the results obtained at microscopic scale on HED samples and the one obtained at macroscopic scale on the surface of Vesta. The intent of this study is to improve our understanding of the connection between Vesta and the HEDs, which is one of the primary Dawn scientific objectives. Dawn VIR spectra are characterized by pyroxene absorptions and most of the surface materials exhibit howardite-like spectra. However, some large areas can be interpreted to be material richer in diogenite (based on pyroxenes band depths and band centers) and some others like eucrite-rich howardite terrains. In particular, VIR data strongly indicate in the south polar region (Rheasilvia) the presence of Mg-pyroxene-rich terrains. The hypothesis that Vesta is the HED parent body is consistent with, and strengthened by, the geologic and spectral context for pyroxene distribution provided by VIR on Dawn.

Ammannito, E.↗

NASA NTRS2011

Macro vs. Micro: Relating the Spectral Properties of Vesta and the HED Meteorite

We present the main results obtained comparing the visible-near infrared (VIS-NIR) spectra Vesta s surface with howardites, eucrites, diogenites (HED). HEDs are commonly associated with Vesta s composition based on spectral similarities. Because of such association, much effort is being made to merge the information from HEDs as well as Vestoids - with that from Vesta to characterize the lithologic diversity of the surface of this asteroid and to infer clues regarding its thermal history. However, while the HEDs are a class of meteorites well studied in the laboratory, the only spectral data available for Vesta until now were telescopic observations which are limited in terms of observation conditions, spatial resolution and Signal to Noise Ratio. The Dawn spacecraft, orbiting around Vesta since July 2011, is performing detailed observations of this body and thus improving our knowledge of its properties. Dawn s scientific payload includes an imaging spectrometer, VIR-MS, sensitive to the VIS-NIR spectral range. VIR-MS began acquiring spectra during the approach phase started in May 2011 and will continue its observations through July 2012 when the spacecraft will depart Vesta to travel to Ceres. The VIR-MS spatial resolution depends upon the mission phase (approach, survey, high altitude, low altitude). However, spectra acquired by VIR-MS have already exceeded the spatial resolution of ground-based telescopic observations, with resolution in the approach phase ranging from 2.5 up to 0.8 km/pixel. Moreover, the observations are uniformly distributed in latitude and longitude allowing us to have a global view of Vesta s crust spectral properties. Using the information provided by VIR spectra, we studied the distribution of the spectral heterogeneities on the surface and we used our findings to perform a comparison with HEDs spectra in the VIS-NIR spectral range searching for analogies and/or incompatibilities. In our analysis, we focused on a method to compare the results obtained at microscopic scale on HEDs samples and the one obtained at macroscopic scale on the surface of Vesta. Finally, we discuss our results in the context of vestan thermal history. The intent of this study is to improve our understanding of the connection between Vesta and the HED samples, which is one of the primary Dawn scientific objectives. This work is supported by an Italian Space Agency (ASI) grant and by NASA through the Dawn project and a Dawn at Vesta Participating Scientist grant.

Ammannito, E.↗

NASA NTRS2011

Dawn Maps the Surface Composition of Vesta

By 7-October-2011, the Dawn mission will have completed Survey orbit and commenced high altitude mapping of 4-Vesta. We present a preliminary analysis of data acquired by Dawn's Framing Camera (FC) and the Visual and InfraRed Spectrometer (VIR) to map mineralogy and surface temperature, and to detect and quantify surficial OH. The radiometric calibration of VIR and FC is described. Background counting data acquired by GRaND are used to determine elemental detection limits from measurements at low altitude, which will commence in November. Geochemical models used in the interpretation of the data are described. Thermal properties, mineral-, and geochemical-data are combined to provide constraints on Vesta s formation and thermal evolution, the delivery of exogenic materials, space weathering processes, and the origin of the howardite, eucrite, and diogenite (HED) meteorites.

Prettyman, T.↗

NASA NTRS2011

Mapping Vesta: First Results from Dawn's Survey Orbit

The geologic objectives of the Dawn Mission [1] are to derive Vesta s shape, map the surface geology, understand the geological context and contribute to the determination of the asteroids origin and evolution. Geomorphology and distribution of surface features will provide evidence for impact cratering, tectonic activity, volcanism, and regolith processes. Spectral measurements of the surface will provide evidence of the compositional characteristics of geological units. Age information, as derived from crater size-frequency distributions, provides the stratigraphic context for the structural and compositional mapping results, thus revealing the geologic history of Vesta. We present here the first results of the Dawn mission from data collected during the approach to Vesta, and its first discrete orbit phase - the Survey Orbit, which lasts 21 days after the spacecraft had established a circular polar orbit at a radius of approx.3000 km with a beta angle of 10deg-15deg.

Jaumann, R.↗

NASA NTRS2010

Identification of a New Spinel-Rich Lunar Rock Type by the Moon Mineralogy Mapper (M (sup 3))

The canonical characterization of the lunar crust is based principally on available Apollo, Luna, and meteorite samples. The crust is described as an anorthosite-rich cumulate produced by the lunar magma ocean that has been infused with a mix of Mgsuite components. These have been mixed and redistributed during the late heavy bombardment and basin forming events. We report a new rock-type detected on the farside of the Moon by the Moon Mineralogy Mapper (M3) on Chandrayaan-1 that does not easily fit with current crustal evolution models. The rock-type is dominated by Mg-spinel with no detectible pyroxene or olivine present (<5%). It occurs along the western inner ring of Moscoviense Basin as one of several discrete areas that exhibit unusual compositions relative to their surroundings but without morphological evidence for separate processes leading to exposure.

Pieters, C. M.↗