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NASA NTRS2012

Developement of the Potassium-Argon Laser Experiment (KArLE) for In Situ Geochronology

Absolute dating of planetary samples is an essential tool to establish the chronology of geological events, including crystallization history, magmatic evolution, and alteration. Thus far, radiometric geochronology of planetary samples has only been accomplishable in terrestrial laboratories on samples from dedicated sample return missions and meteorites. In situ instruments to measure rock ages have been proposed, but none have yet reached TRL 6, because isotopic measurements with sufficient resolution are challenging. We have begun work under the NASA Planetary Instrument Definition and Development Program (PIDDP) to develop the Potassium (K) - Argon Laser Experiment (KArLE), a novel combination of several flight-proven components that will enable accurate KAr isochron dating of planetary rocks. KArLE will ablate a rock sample, measure the K in the plasma state using laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS), measure the liberated Ar using quadrupole mass spectrometry (QMS), and relate the two by measuring the volume of the abated pit using a optical methods such as a vertical scanning interferometer (VSI). Our preliminary work indicates that the KArLE instrument will be capable of determining the age of several kinds of planetary samples to 100 Myr, sufficient to address a wide range of geochronology problems in planetary science. Additional benefits derive from the fact that each KArLE component achieves analyses common to most planetary surface missions.

Cohen, Barbara A.↗

NASA NTRS2012

Development of the Potassium-Argon Laser Experiment (KArLE) Instrument for In Situ Geochronology

Absolute dating of planetary samples is an essential tool to establish the chronology of geological events, including crystallization history, magmatic evolution, and alteration. Traditionally, geochronology has only been accomplishable on samples from dedicated sample return missions or meteorites. The capability for in situ geochronology is highly desired, because it will allow one-way planetary missions to perform dating of large numbers of samples. The success of an in situ geochronology package will not only yield data on absolute ages, but can also complement sample return missions by identifying the most interesting rocks to cache and/or return to Earth. In situ dating instruments have been proposed, but none have yet reached TRL 6 because the required high-resolution isotopic measurements are very challenging. Our team is now addressing this challenge by developing the Potassium (K) - Argon Laser Experiment (KArLE) under the NASA Planetary Instrument Definition and Development Program (PIDDP), building on previous work to develop a K-Ar in situ instrument [1]. KArLE uses a combination of several flight-proven components that enable accurate K-Ar isochron dating of planetary rocks. KArLE will ablate a rock sample, determine the K in the plasma state using laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS), measure the liberated Ar using quadrupole mass spectrometry (QMS), and relate the two by the volume of the ablated pit using an optical method such as a vertical scanning interferometer (VSI). Our preliminary work indicates that the KArLE instrument will be capable of determining the age of several kinds of planetary samples to +/-100 Myr, sufficient to address a wide range of geochronology problems in planetary science.

Cohen, Barbara A.↗

NASA NTRS2020

Elastic wave analyzer for icy sub-surfaces (EWAIS) in the solar system

The sub-surface structures of water-bearing icy worlds (e.g., Europa, Enceladus, and Titan) and the structures of icy regions on Mars contain critical information about their origin and evolution. These bodies have been identified as high-priority targets in the NRC Planetary Science Decadal Survey, which noted a lack of technology readiness as one impediment to related missions. An Elastic Wave Analyzer for Icy Sub-surfaces (EWAIS) instrument is being developed to acquire data that can provide answers to fundamental science questions related to these bodies. The EWAIS instrument generates and receives elastic waves using an array of piezoelectric transducers capable of operating at temperatures as low as 30K. A developed breadboard acquires reflected signals from discontinuities in the traveled materials’ impedance (the product of wave velocity and density) along the wave path. Analysis of the acquired data can be used to determine the elastic properties, presence of cracks, locations of cavities and other discontinuities, as well as the thicknesses of ice and liquid layers. The EWAIS instrument is being developed with a novel dual-frequency transmitter array that will enable reaching distances of kilometers through ice, as well as resolving smaller acoustic reflectors nearer the EWAIS instrument. The selected dual frequencies correspond to two depth ranges that can be analyzed, with resolutions of tens of centimeters in the region of tens to hundreds of meters and tens of meters on the kilometers scale, respectively. The EWAIS will be applicable for operation from any in-situ platform, including surface assets (e.g., lander and rover) and sub-surface assets (e.g., melting probes).

Bar-Cohen, Y.↗

NASA NTRS2012

Science with the James Webb Space Telescope

The science objectives of the James Webb Space Telescope fall into four themes. The End of the Dark Ages: First Light and Reionization theme seeks to identify the first luminous sources to form and to determine the ionization history of the universe. The Assembly of Galaxies theme seeks to determine how galaxies and the dark matter, gas, stars, metals, morphological structures, and black holes within them evolved from the epoch of reionization to the present. The Birth of Stars and Protoplanetary Systems theme seeks to unravel the birth and early evolution of stars, from infall onto dust-enshrouded protostars, to the genesis of planetary systems. The Planetary Systems and the Origins of Life theme seeks to determine the physical and chemical properties of planetary systems around nearby stars and of our own, and to investigate the potential for life in those systems. These four science themes were used to establish the design requirements for the observatory and instrumentation. Since Webb's capabilities are unique, those science themes will remain relevant through launch and operations and goals contained within these themes will continue to guide the design and implementation choices for the mission. More recently, it has also become clear that Webb will make major contributions to other areas of research, including dark energy, dark matter, active galactic nuclei, stellar populations, exoplanet characterization and Solar System objects. In this paper, we review the original four science themes and discuss how the scientific output of Webb will extend to these new areas of research. The James Webb Space Telescope was designed to meet science objectives in four themes: The End of the Dark Ages: First Light and Reionization, The Assembly of Galaxies, The Birth of Stars and Protoplanetary Systems, and Planetary Systems and the Origins of Life. More recently, it has become clear that Webb will also make major contributions to studies of dark energy, dark matter, active galactic nuclei, stellar populations, exoplanet characterization and Solar System objects. We review the original four science themes and discuss how the scientific output of Webb will extend to these new areas of research.

Gardner, Jonathan P.↗

NASA NTRS2010

Jet Propulsion Laboratory: Annual Report 2009

2009 was truly the year of astronomy at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory. While the world at large was celebrating the International Year of Astronomy, we were sending more telescopes into space than in any other year, ever. As these missions unfold, the astronomers are sure to change the way we see the universe. One of the newly lofted observatories is on a quest to find planets like our own Earth orbiting other stars. Another is a telescope that gathers infrared light to help discover objects ranging from near-Earth asteroids to galaxies in the deepest universe. We also contributed critical enabling technologies to yet two other telescopes sent into space by our partners in Europe. And astronauts returned to Earth with a JPL-built camera that had captured the Hubble Space Telescope's most memorable pictures over many years. And while it was an epic time for these missions, we were no less busy in our other research specialties. Earth's moon drew much attention from our scientists and engineers, with two JPL instruments riding on lunar orbiters; previously unseen views of shadowed craters were provided by radar imaging conducted with the giant dish antennas of the Deep Space Network, our worldwide communication portal to spacecraft around the solar system. At Mars, our rovers and orbiters were highly productive, as were missions targeting Saturn, comets and the asteroid belt. Here at our home planet, satellites and instruments continued to serve up important information on global climate change. But our main business is, of course, exploring. Many initiatives will keep us busy for years. In 2009, NASA gave approval to start planning a major flagship mission to Jupiter's moon Europa in search of conditions that could host life, working with our partners in Europe. In addition to our prospective Earth science projects, we have full slates of missions in Mars exploration, planetary exploration and space-based astronomy. This year's annual report continues our recent direction of recounting the Laboratory's accomplishments throughout the year month by month.

Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL)↗

NASA NTRS2012

Science Objectives and Rationale for the Radiation Belt Storm Probes Mission

The NASA Radiation Belt Storm Probes (RBSP) mission addresses how populations of high energy charged particles are created, vary, and evolve in space environments, and specifically within Earths magnetically trapped radiation belts. RBSP, with a nominal launch date of August 2012, comprises two spacecraft making in situ measurements for at least 2 years in nearly the same highly elliptical, low inclination orbits (1.1 x 5.8 RE, 10 deg.).The orbits are slightly different so that 1 spacecraft laps the other spacecraft about every 2.5 months, allowing separation of spatial from temporal effects over spatial scales ranging from 0.1 to 5 RE. The uniquely comprehensive suite of instruments, identical on the two spacecraft, measures all of the particle (electrons, ions, ion composition), fields (E and B),and wave distributions (dE and dB) that are needed to resolve the most critical science questions. Here we summarize the high level science objectives for the RBSP mission, provide historical background on studies of Earth and planetary radiation belts, present examples of the most compelling scientific mysteries of the radiation belts, present the mission design of the RBSP mission that targets these mysteries and objectives, present the observation and measurement requirements for the mission, and introduce the instrumentation that will deliver these measurements. This paper references and is followed by a number of companion papers that describe the details of the RBSP mission, spacecraft, and instruments.

magnetosphere↗

NASA NTRS1993

A Remote Laser-mass Spectrometer for Determination of Elemental Composition

Determination of the elemental composition of lunar, asteroid, and planetary surfaces is a major concern for science and resource utilization of space. The science associated with the development of a satellite or lunar rover laser-mass spectrometer instrument is presented here. The instrument would include a pulsed laser with sufficient energy to create a plasma on a remote surface. Ions ejected from this plasma travel back to the spacecraft or rover, where they are analyzed by a time-of-flight mass spectrometer, giving the elemental and isotope composition. This concept is based on the LIMA-D instrument on board the former Soviet Union Phobos-88 spacecraft sent to Mars. A laser-mass spectrometer placed on a rover or satellite would substantially improve the data return over alternative techniques. The spatial resolution would be centimeters, and a complete mass spectrum could be achieved in one laser shot. An experiment is described that demonstrates these features. A 400 mj Nd:YAG laser is focused, to an intensity of 10(exp 11) w/sq cm, onto a Al, Ag, Cu, Ge, or lunar simulant target. A plasma forms from which ions are ejected. Some of these ions travel down an 18-m evacuated flight tube to a microchannel plate detector. Alternatively, the ions are captured by an ion trap where they are stored until pulsed into a 1-m time-of-flight mass spectrometer, giving the elemental composition of the remote surface. A television camera monitors the plasma plume shape, and a photodiode monitors the temporal plasma emission . With this system, ions of Al, Ag, Cu, Ge, and lunar simulant have been detected at 18 m. The mass spectrum from the ion trap and 1-m time-of-flight tube will be presented.

Deyoung, R. J.↗

NASA NTRSDate not supplied

Surface-Enhanced Raman Spectroscopy (SERS) for Venus Atmospheric Characterization and Trace Organics Identification

The chemical composition of Venus’ clouds has attracted considerable attention since the first atmospheric probes entered the planet in the early 1980s. We know from these early studies that cloud aerosols consist of micron and submicron droplets of sulfuric acid (~85%) and water (~15%), but outstanding questions still exist regarding their trace chemical composition, especially the identity of the unknown UV absorber(s) and the possible presence of organic material (Spacek & Benner, 2021). Veritas and DaVinci will launch at the end of the decade to advance our understanding of Venus’ surface and atmosphere, however these missions are not designed to sample and analyze cloud aerosols at trace levels. Raman spectroscopy is an ideal candidate for characterizing aerosols and has a track record in studies of Earth’s atmosphere. Raman provides broad chemical screening of organic and inorganic molecules within seconds, and Raman instrumentation can be miniaturized to meet the stringent size, weight, and power (SWaP) constraints of an atmospheric probe while retaining sensitivity and specificity that allow spectral fingerprinting of compounds and functional groups. Raman alone is insufficient to characterize trace constituents however, as limits of detection are typically in the 10s to 100s of ppm at best for planetary Raman spectrometers. Surface-Enhanced Raman Spectroscopy (SERS), a method that utilizes nanoscale materials interacting with a sample to enhance weak Raman signals by orders of magnitude when probed by a laser, has the potential to drastically improve the sensitivity of a Raman instrument while adding little-to-no SWaP nor complexity to a scientific payload. We aim to de-risk SERS technology for rapid infusion in future planetary science missions by developing custom SERS substrates tailored towards Venus atmospheric exploration. We have developed SERS substrates consisting of nanotextured silver films and tested them on potential Venus-relevant organic compounds, with preliminary results indicating sub-ppm sensitivity. Additionally, we have planned tests to investigate durability, longevity, and other key characteristics that impact SERS substrate performance to prepare SERS technology for flight.

Venus↗

NASA NTRS1992

The comet rendezvous asteroid flyby mission

The Comet Rendezvous Asteroid Flyby (CRAF) mission was approved for a New Start by the United States Congress in 1989. CRAF will be developed in parallel with the Cassini (Saturn orbiter/Titan probe) mission. The two missions have been combined into a joint program because of the substantial cost savings (approximately $500 M, or greater than 25 percent) which can be realized by using a common spacecraft design, several identical science instruments, a single management team, and a joint ground operations and data handling system for the two missions. CRAF and Cassini will be the first users of the new Mariner Mark 2 spacecraft which has been designed to carry out the next generation of planetary missions to the outer planets and to small bodies. CRAF is a joint mission between the United States, Germany, and Italy. Each partner will provide both engineering hardware and science experiments. Cassini is a joint mission between the United States, Germany, Italy, and the European Space Agency (ESA), with ESA providing the Titan atmospheric entry probe, called Huygens.

Weissman, Paul↗

NASA NTRS1993

Moessbauer spectrometer for mineralogical analysis of the Mars surface: Moessbauer source considerations

Development of space rocketry and cosmic instrument making has made it possible to create interplanetary stations to be sent to the solar system bodies. In the last decade of the century the planet Mars will be in the focus of planetary science problems. Russia, USA (the NASA) and Europe (the ESA) plan to do a new step in the study of the planetary system by spacecraft missions to Mars. One part of the programs of these missions is Martian surface measurements of iron, which is a dominant element in both the Martian soil and rocks (about 13 percent by weight). The chemistry of iron in space is strongly coupled to the chemistry of abundant elements (to begin with hydrogen, carbon, oxygen) and it is this coupling of chemical cycles of abundant elements that gives us the possibility of understanding some features of the chemical evolution of matter. In this connection of extremely great importance for the understanding of the evolution of the solar system are the oxidation state of the iron and its mineral composition of the Mars surface. Being highly successful, the Viking landers had no instrumentation to answer these questions. Such instrumentation has to be specifically sensitive to mineralogy. For this purpose the back scattering Moessbauer spectrometer (MS-96) was proposed to be installed on a rover to be launched on board the Russian spacecraft Mars-96 mission to Mars. Due to power and mass restrictions three systems of the device MS-96 (velocity transducer, detector and electronic components) have been extremely miniaturized in comparison to a standard system. In this paper we intend to place for consideration a radioactive source to find out what characteristics it should have to be suitable for purposes of the experiment.

Evlanov, E. N.↗

NASA NTRS1997

Review of Galileo Probe Entry Technology

This talk is a review of the Galileo entry mission with a focus on entry technology, not planetary science. A general description of the mission, entry parameters, and entry vehicle are provided, followed by a more detailed description of the vehicle heatshield shape, size, materials, and instrumentation. The heat shield design tools and process are discussed wish emphasis on the issues and challenges which were faced and the role of ground test facilities. Flight data are compared with the preflight predictions. What have we learned?

Milos, Frank S.↗

NASA NTRS2001

Facility Concepts for Mars Returned Sample Handling

Samples returned from Mars must be held in quarantine until their biological safety has been determined. A significant challenge, unique to NASA's needs, is how to contain the samples (to protect the blaspheme) while simultaneously protecting their pristine nature. This paper presents a comparative analysis of several quarantine facility concepts for handling and analyzing these samples. The considerations in this design analysis include: modes of manipulation; capability for destructive as well as non-destructive testing; avoidance of cross-contamination; linear versus recursive processing; and sample storage and retrieval within a closed system. The ability to rigorously contain biologically hazardous materials has been amply demonstrated by facilities that meet the specifications of the Center for Disease Control Biosafety Level 4. The newly defined Planetary Protection Level Alpha must provide comparable containment while assuring that the samples remain pristine; the latter requirement is based on the need to avoid compromising science analyses by instrumentation of the highest possible sensitivity (among other things this will assure that there is no false positive detection of organisms or organic molecules - a situation that would delay or prevent the release of the samples from quarantine). Protection of the samples against contamination by terrestrial organisms and organic molecules makes a considerable impact upon the sample handling facility. The use of glove boxes appears to be impractical because of their tendency to leak and to surges. As a result, a returned sample quarantine facility must consider the use of automation and remote manipulation to carry out the various functions of sample handling and transfer within the system. The problem of maintaining sensitive and bulky instrumentation under the constraints of simultaneous sample containment and contamination protection also places demands on the architectural configuration of the facility that houses it.

Cohen, Marc M.↗

NASA NTRS2016

Exploration of Mars with the ChemCam LIBS Instrument and the Curiosity Rover

The Mars Science Laboratory (MSL) Curiosity rover landed on Mars in August 2012, and has been exploring the planet ever since. Dr. Horton E. Newsom will discuss the MSL's design and main goal, which is to characterize past environments that may have been conducive to the evolution and sustainability of life. He will also discuss Curiosity's science payload, and remote sensing, analytical capabilities, and direct discoveries of the Chemistry & Camera (ChemCam) instrument, which is the first Laser Induced Breakdown Spectrometer (LIBS) to operate on another planetary surface and determine the chemistry of the rocks and soils.

Newsom, Horton E.↗

NASA NTRSDate not supplied

Thermal Protection Systems (TPS) for High Velocity Earth Entry Missions

The fastest man-made object to re-enter into Earth’s atmosphere, with an entry velocity of 12.8 km/s, was the Stardust capsule, which returned samples from the comet Wild 2. Sample return missions offer high and long-lasting science yield; as such, they are discussed repeatedly in the latest planetary science decadal survey, titled Origins, Worlds, and Life. An advantage of sample return missions over in situ measurements is the ability to use state-of-the-art instruments that are not limited in power, size, or complexity; conversely, in situ measurements rely on instruments optimized to fit within the limitations of the spacecraft. Additionally, sample return provides the opportunity to revisit samples as analysis techniques improve as well as to further investigate unanticipated or ambiguous results. As launch vehicle and propulsion technologies continue to advance, it is becoming feasible to consider sample return missions from further out in the Solar System beyond Mars orbit. However, returning samples from increasingly distant destinations comes with high entry velocities, and thus requires ever more capable thermal protection systems (TPS). Evaluating the capabilities of existing mature TPS materials for a range of entry conditions and sample return aeroshell configurations is key to establishing the feasibility of future mission proposals. As such, this presentation describes the comprehensive trade study done to evaluate the feasibility of high velocity Earth entry missions with the currently available TPS materials.

Hannah S Alpert↗

NASA NTRSDate not supplied

Thermal Protection Systems (TPS) for High Velocity Earth Entry Missions

Hannah S. Alpert↗

NASA NTRS2002

Outer planet spacecraft temperature testing and analysis

Unmanned spacecraft flown on missions to the outer planets of the solar system have included flybys, planetary orbiters, and atmospheric probes during the last three decades. The thermal design, test, and analysis approach applied to these spacecraft evolved from the passive thermal designs applied to the earlier lunar and interplanetary spacecraft. The inflight temperature data from representative sets of engineering subsystems and science instruments from a subset of these spacecraft are compared to those obtained during the ground test programs and from the prelaunch predictions. Several lessons are presented with specific recommendations for considerations for new projects to aid in the planning of cost effective temperature design, test, and analysis programs.

temperature testing planetary spacecraft Voyager G↗

NASA NTRS2003

Terrain Model Registration for Single Cycle Instrument Placement

This paper presents an efficient and robust method for registration of terrain models created using stereo vision on a planetary rover. Our approach projects two surface models into a virtual depth map, rendering the models as they would be seen from a single range sensor. Correspondence is established based on which points project to the same location in the virtual range sensor. A robust norm of the deviations in observed depth is used as the objective function, and the algorithm searches for the rigid transformation which minimizes the norm. An initial coarse search is done using rover pose information from odometry and orientation sensing. A fine search is done using Levenberg-Marquardt. Our method enables a planetary rover to keep track of designated science targets as it moves, and to hand off targets from one set of stereo cameras to another. These capabilities are essential for the rover to autonomously approach a science target and place an instrument in contact in a single command cycle.

Deans, Matthew↗

NASA NTRS2008

Aerosol Profile Measurements from the NASA Langley Research Center Airborne High Spectral Resolution Lidar

Since achieving first light in December of 2005, the NASA Langley Research Center (LaRC) Airborne High Spectral Resolution Lidar (HSRL) has been involved in seven field campaigns, accumulating over 450 hours of science data across more than 120 flights. Data from the instrument have been used in a variety of studies including validation and comparison with the Cloud- Aerosol Lidar and Infrared Pathfinder Satellite Observation (CALIPSO) satellite mission, aerosol property retrievals combining passive and active instrument measurements, aerosol type identification, aerosol-cloud interactions, and cloud top and planetary boundary layer (PBL) height determinations. Measurements and lessons learned from the HSRL are leading towards next-generation HSRL instrument designs that will enable even further studies of aerosol intensive and extensive parameters and the effects of aerosols on the climate system. This paper will highlight several of the areas in which the NASA Airborne HSRL is making contributions to climate science.

Obland, Michael D.↗