Engineering topics

R Jakubek

Publications and source records attributed to R Jakubek.

3 records

NASA NTRS2024

Enstatite Chondrite Outgassing and Condensate Formation: Implications for Early Atmosphere Development

Early atmospheres on rocky planets where life may develop form through outgassing of their original starting blocks, likely a mixture of chondritic material (carbonaceous chondrites (CC), ordinary chondrites (OC), and enstatite chondrites (EC)). However, there is limited experimental data to inform models connecting a planet’s bulk composition to its early atmospheric properties and thus its possibility for life. Thompson et al. (2021) took a major step for-ward in exploring this knowledge gap by measuring outgassing of 3 volatile-rich CCs, providing important experimental constraints on the initial chemical com-position of early rocky planet atmospheres. These data provided novel insights into the gas chemistry released into evolving atmospheres early in a rocky planet’s history and differed from those currently assumed by many theoretical models of rocky planet atmosphere formation. In this study, we focused on the outgassing and condensation reactions of a primitive EC3, which has a lower intrinsic oxygen fugacity ( ƒ O 2 ) and lower volatile content than the CCC meteorites investigated by. We selected the EC to explore differences between EC and CC in low-pressure, high-temperature outgassing and condensation including S, Cl, Na, and C species.

B A Anzures↗

NASA NTRSDate not supplied

Mars Space Suit Materials Testing Using SHERLOC Calibration Target Data: The Max-CF Project

The Mars 2020/“Perseverance” rover carries a suite of space suit materials as part of the SHERLOC* calibration target [1]. The materials are periodically analyzed by SHERLOC as part of a regular calibration routine and are generating a rich data set regarding their degradation in the martian surface environment. The Maximization of Calibration Fabrics (Max-CF) project will effectively turn SHERLOC data into a measure of space suit material service lifetimes by exposing a second set of materials in a Mars chamber, replicating SHERLOC measurements using the analogous ACRONM** instrument at JSC, and then performing materials testing to include tensile testing. These data can be used to inform space suit design and/or materials development, improving crew safety for future Mars missions. This will partially address NASA’s Strategic Knowledge Gap 8 (Mars Surface Technology) which identifies a need to develop technologies to “sustain humans on the surface of Mars [and] enable human mobility and exploration” [2]. This abstract describes the overall Max-CF project and progress on the laboratory-based study to date.

M Fries↗

NASA NTRSDate not supplied

Petrologic Sub-types, Sub-groups, and Pairing for CV Chondrites in the US Antarctic Meteorite Collection

Carbonaceous chondrites of the Vigarano group (CV) are primitive meteorites that provide a wealth of information about the early solar system, including constraints on chondrule formation, origin of calcium-aluminum inclusions, stability of organic compounds, and redox conditions. The US Antarctic meteorite collection contains 119 CV samples from 15 dense collection areas (DCAs) from the Trans-Antarctic Mountains. These samples have been assigned a preliminary classification as CVs, but have not been assigned to the subgroups Oxidized A, Oxidized B, and Reduced. Additionally, variation in petrologic grade can be determined non-destructively using Raman spectroscopy. In order to update classification of both subgroups and petrologic types in the collection, we have acquired magnetic susceptibility, metal and sulfide compositions, and Raman spectra, for as many samples as possible. We use the recent assessment and delineation of CV sub-groups of as a guide.

solar nebula↗