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At least 415 records · Page 23

Enhancing the Uranus PlanetGRAM with 2D Zonally-Averaged Atmospheric Variabilities

We developed an open-source Python package (tweModel.py1) that generates the 2D zonally-averaged atmospheric structure of Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune to be used as reference bases for NASA’s Planetary Global Reference Atmospheric Model (PlanetGRAM) Suite. The package outputs temperatures, pressures, densities, and zonal winds as functions of altitude and latitude given an input cloud-top zonal wind profile and a zonally averaged temperature map using a discretized form of the geostrophic thermal wind equation (TWE). We present 2D atmospheric structure outputs for Uranus in detail. Our results will be incorporated in the PlanetGRAM Suite to aid in the development of future in-situ missions in the outer solar system including the recently prioritized Uranus Flagship mission.

Uranus↗

Voyages to Saturn

The Voyager mission to Saturn is explained in detail. A history of Saturn observations from ancient times to the present is given. The Voyager spacecraft and their instruments are described. An overview of planetary astronomy is presented. The text is supplemented by numerous black and white and color photographs. The Saturn satellites are discussed in detail, and preliminary pictorial maps of the satellites are given.

Morrison, D.↗

Comparison of upstream phenomena at Venus and Earth

The region upstream of a planetary bow shock, known as the foreshock, contains a variety of phenomena. Electrons and ions are reflected and energized at the shock. As these stream back upstream, they generate both VLF and ULF waves. Studies of the terrestrial foreshock have provided most of our understanding of these phenomena. However, comparisons with other planetary foreshocks are beneficial, even though the instrumentation used to provide the data may be less sophisticated than that flown on Earth orbiting spacecraft. In particular, maps of the VLF emissions upstream of the Venus bow shock, using data acquired by the Pioneer Venus Orbiter are particularly illuminating. These maps show that the tangent field line is clearly marked by the presence of plasma oscillations. Of additional interest is evidence that the emissions only extend some 15 Venus radii away from the shock, indicating that the emissions are controlled by the shock scale size. Lower frequency ion acoustic waves are observed deep in the ion foreshock. Only close to the shock do both the ion acoustic waves and ULF waves occur simultaneously. The ULF waves mark the ion foreshock boundary where ion beams should be present. The ion acoustic waves tend to be observed further downstream, where diffuse ion distributions are expected to occur. A similar mapping of the terrestrial foreshock, using data from the ISEE-3 spacecraft shows similar results for the electron foreshock. An extensions of this study to include ULF and ion acoustic waves would be helpful.

Strangeway, R. J.↗

Mars Exploration Rover Landing Site Selection

Selection of the landing sites for the Mars Exploration Rovers has involved over 2 years of research and analysis effort that has included the participation of broad sections of the planetary sciences community through a series of open landing site workshops. The effort has included the definition of the engineering constraints based on the landing system, mapping those engineering constraints into acceptable regions and prospective sites, the acquisition of new information from Mars Global Surveyor and Mars Odyssey orbiters, the evaluation of science and safety criteria for the sites, and the downselection and final site selection based on the sites science potential and safety. The final landing sites (Meridiani Planum and Gusev crater) were selected by NASA Headquarters on April 11, 2003, prior to launch in June. This paper presents engineering requirements, and potential landing sites for Mars Exploration Rovers.

M Golombek↗

Upcoming Lunar Mission Landing Sites: Viewing and Analysis with Celestial Mapping System

The Celestial Mapping System (CMS) is a powerful software platform designed to create virtual 3D globes for celestial bodies within our solar system, with a specific focus on lunar mapping. CMS offers a rich array of functionalities, including high-resolution imagery visualization, precise measurement tools, and analytical capabilities that cater to the needs of planetary scientists and mission planners. This abstract explores how CMS has been leveraged to conduct in-depth analyses of 12 lunar missions to the South Pole, including missions like Chandraayan 3, Russian Space Agency's Luna 25, Xelene 1, and Intuitive Machines Nova-C lander I. Moreover, the integration of HORUS (Hyper-effective nOise Removal Unit Software) into CMS enhances its capabilities, allowing for the rendering of images in a 3D globe format and providing visibility into permanently shadowed regions. CMS represents a cutting-edge tool for lunar surface awareness, equipment placement planning, and traverse path optimization

Moon↗

From Regolith to Living Off the Land: Formulating a Data Model to Catalog Lunar Construction Materials

Artemis Program objectives for sustainable, long-term presence on the Moon and more distant planetary surfaces will require learning to “Live off the Land”, relying on in-situ resource utilization to produce infrastructure and building materials from lunar regolith, icy subsurface deposits, and residual waste materials. Meeting demand for consumables while scaling development with resources found within the landing zone will require detailed data on the geology and environment of the lunar surface. Lunar infrastructure development will generate vast amounts of new engineering data regarding availability of processed feedstocks and their performance in building materials. Lunar engineering data accessible to program partners, research institutions and industry may help situate processes and specifications within the in-situ GIS context. Lunar missions to date have generated geological and ice favorability maps of the lunar surface, and recent technology studies have tested automated construction systems and novel material formulations using regolith simulants and binders. Current discussions focus on identifying key feedstocks, quantities required for nominal mission scenarios and infrastructure plans, and mapping the value chain from regolith to feedstock to consumables and construction materials.

lunar construction↗

From Regolith to Living Off the Land: Formulating a Data Model to Catalog Lunar Construction Materials

Artemis Program objectives for sustainable, long-term presence on the Moon and more distant planetary surfaces will require learning to “Live off the Land”, relying on in-situ resource utilization to produce infrastructure and building materials from lunar regolith, icy subsurface deposits, and residual waste materials. Meeting demand for consumables while scaling development with resources found within the landing zone will require detailed data on the geology and environment of the lunar surface. Lunar infrastructure development will generate vast amounts of new engineering data regarding availability of processed feedstocks and their performance in building materials. Lunar engineering data accessible to program partners, research institutions and industry may help situate processes and specifications within the in-situ GIS context. Lunar missions to date have generated geological and ice favorability maps of the lunar surface, and recent technology studies have tested automated construction systems and novel material formulations using regolith simulants and binders. Current discussions focus on identifying key feedstocks, quantities required for nominal mission scenarios and infrastructure plans, and mapping the value chain from regolith to feedstock to consumables and construction materials.

lunar construction↗

To Pluto by way of a postage stamp

In this time of constrained budgets, the primary question facing planetary explorers is not 'Can we do it?' but 'Can we do it cheaply?' Taunted by words on a postage stamp, a group of mission designers at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory is struggling to find a cheap way to go to Pluto. Three primary goals were set by the science community: (1) imaging of Pluto and Charon, (2) mapping their surface composition, and (3) characterizing Pluto's atmosphere. The spacecraft will be designed around these primary goals. With the help of the Advanced Technology Insertion (ATI) process $5 million was alloted for two years to shop for lightweight components and subsystems using new technology never tried on a planetary mission. The process for this search and development is described.

Staehle, Robert L.↗

The evolution of the SEASAT imaging radar

The paper describes the design parameters and development of a synthetic aperture radar for use on the SEASAT spacecraft. This imaging radar is designed to operate at altitudes of 800 km with an orbital inclination of 108 deg, a nominal resolution of 25 m, and a swath width of 100 km. The design evolved from planetary imaging radar studies conducted over many years where an L-band imaging radar was developed and tested on aircraft flights as a prototype system to map the surface of Venus. A solid-state transmitter is used where the pulse repetition frequency is a function of altitude and will be about 2kHz for a 12-m long antenna. The receiver consists of the receiver protector, input filters, the gain control, and the RF amplifier. The ground station uses the standard NASA receiver with a 10-m antenna. The correlator, either optical or digital, must be able to compensate for the pitch and yaw variations of the spacecraft as well as the inherent effective yaw caused by the rotation of the earth, and extract the range curvature and range walk effects.

Brown, W. E., Jr.↗

Selenodetic control network

Details for identifying the first 66 reference points of a selenodetic control network are presented. These reference points consist of craters having diameters larger than 8 km and which are therefore detectable on most plates used so far in lunar photogrammetric studies. The distribution of the adopted 211 reference points on Blagg-Mueller (1935) maps is given along with the Blagg-Mueller catalog number of each crater. The correspondence is indicated among the Blagg-Mueller number, the Lunar and Planetary Laboratory Catalog number, and the frame number of Lunar Orbiter IV photographs on which the craters have been studied.

Moutsoulas, M.↗

Tectonics and evolution of Venus

Earlier data synthesized with data recently obtained by the Pioneer Venus Orbiter are analyzed with regard to general tectonics, interior, and long-term evolution of Venus. Comprehensive topographic maps, global properties of Venus, and variations in its gravity field are investigated, and bulk properties of Venus, earth, Mars, the sun, and chondritic meteorites relevant to planetary internal structure and evolution are studied. Although Venus was found to differ less than 30% from earth in comparing all important bulk properties, it appears to have evolved differently. It is noted that a slow rotation rate, the absence of a satellite, the virtual absence of a magnetic field, the dearth of water in the atmosphere, the abundance of primordial argon, and the high surface temperature, are properties in which Venus differs most from the earth. Further results showing the positive correlation of gravity and topography at all wavelengths and the apparent absence of any feature like an ocean indicate that Venus is a one-plate planet and its evolution apparently resembles that of Mars more than that of the earth.

Phillips, R. J.↗

Recent work on bipolar nebulae

The results of recent studies of bipolar nebulae (BPN) using nebular-polarization mapping, spectropolarimetry, near-IR spectroscopy, far-IR photometry, and radio-maser and continuum observations are surveyed. The characteristics of several BPN of different evolutionary types are discussed and illustrated with spectra, model drawings, and maps. As shown in a Hertzsprung-Russell diagram of 19 BPN, this morphological class includes pre-main-sequence stars, red giants in transition to ordinary planetary nebulae, pre-white-dwarfs, a dust-shrouded carbon star, and a visual binary with a type-O primary. VLA 6-cm observations of the latter object, MWC 349, reveal a morphology similar to the optical structure of the Red Rectangle illuminated by HD 44179: it is suggested that equatorial dusty tori may occur commonly at different phases of stellar evolution, and hence that BPN may be relatively abundant, although short-lived, phenomena.

Cohen, M.↗

Wave Forcing of Saturn's Equatorial Oscillation

Ground-based measurements and Cassini data from CIRS thermal-infrared spectra and radio-occultation soundings have characterized the spatial structure and temporal behavior of a 15-year equatorial oscillation in Saturn's stratosphere. The equatorial region displays a vertical pattern of alternating warm and cold anomalies and, concomitantly, easterly and westerly winds relative to the cloud-top winds, with a peak-to-peak amplitude of 200 m/s. Comparison of the Cassini data over a four-year period has established that the pattern of mean zonal winds and temperatures descends at a rate of roughly I scale height over 4 years. This behavior is reminiscent of the equatorial oscillations in Earth's middle atmosphere. Here the zonal-mean spatial structure and descending pattern are driven by the absorption of vertically propagating waves. The maximum excursions in the pattern of easterly and westerly winds is determined by the limits of the zonal phase velocities of the waves. Here we report on the characterization of the waves seen in the temperature profiles retrieved from the Cassini radio-occultation soundings. The equatorial profiles exhibit a complex pattern of wavelike structure with dimensions one pressure scale height and smaller. We combine a spectral decomposition with a WKBJ analysis, where the vertical wavelength is assumed to vary slowly with the ambient static stability and doppler-shifted phase velocity of the wave. Use of the temperature and zonal wind maps from CIRS makes this approach viable. On Earth, the wave forcing associated with the equatorial oscillations generates secondary meridional circulations that affect the mean flow and planetary wave ducting well away from the equator. This may relate to the triggering of the recently reported mid-latitude storms on Saturn.

Flasar, F. M.↗

The Geospace Dynamics Observatory; a Mission of Discovery for Geospace

A few examples of potential advances include: 1. Unparalleled advances in the connection of the upper atmosphere to the Sun. In the aurora and lower latitudes, extending the duration of uninterrupted images would advance understanding of the transfer of energy from the Sun to the upper atmosphere and the response of the space environment. 2. Advances in the influence of waves and tides on the upper atmosphere. Increasing both the signal to noise and the duration ofthe observations would reveal contributions that are not identifiable using other approaches. 3. The ability to probe the mechanisms that control the evolution of planetary atmospheres. The vantage point provided by this mission allows the flux of hydrogen (which is tied to the escape of water from a planet) to be mapped globally. It also allows unique observations of changes in the atmospheric structure and their causes.

Spann, James↗

Trace Elemental Abundances in Calcium-Aluminum-Rich Inclusions in CV Chondrites

Introduction: Calcium-aluminum-rich inclusions (CAIs), are the first formed solids that define the age of the Solar System [1,2]. CAIs are thought to have condensed from nebular gas [3,4] within the first <1 Ma of Solar System formation [5,6]. CAIs have experienced numerous early Solar System processes including condensation, evaporation, melting, recrystallization, and aqueous alteration [e.g., 7]. The chemical, mineralogical, and textural diversity among CAIs results from a range of chemical and physical processes recorded during nebular and parent body epoch. This study aims to explore the mineralogical, textural, and chemical compositions of CAIs including the trace elemental abundances in CAI phases to determine the early Solar System processes recorded in them. Samples and Analytical Methods: We analyzed one CAI each from CV3 chondrites Northwest Africa (NWA) 5508 designated as ‘Saguaro’, and Northwest Africa (NWA) 12772 designated as ‘Hoopoe’. Back-scatter electron (BSE) images were collected using a Phenom XL scanning electron microscope (SEM) at the Lunar and Planetary Institute (LPI) and the JEOL JXA-8530F electron probe microanalyzer (EPMA) at Johnson Space Center (JSC)-NASA. Additionally, energy dispersive X-ray spectrometry (EDS) elemental maps of select areas for these samples were collected using a 15.0kV beam energy and a 40µA emission current. Using the EPMA, wavelength-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (WDS) quantitative data were collected. In-situ trace element measurements for both CAIs were determined at JSC-NASA using a Photon Machines 193nm laser ablation system and a Thermo-Scientific Element-XR inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometer (ICP-MS). Analyses consisted of 30s ablations at 10Hz, spot sizes of 20-25µm, and a fluence of 6.0 J/cm2 for anorthite and melilite, and a 3.5 J/cm2 fluence for all other phases. NIST612 was used to correct for instrument drift, while BHVO-2g was used as a primary calibration standard. BCR-2g and in-house mineral standards were regularly measured as unknowns to ensure accuracy. Results: Saguaro is a coarse-grained CAI, ~11 x 6 mm in dimensions. Saguaro contains spinel, Al-rich pyroxene, anorthite, Mg-rich melilite, and minor perovskite in its interior and is therefore classified as a Type B CAI. Individual melilite grains shows normal compositional zoning with an Ak content ranging from ~24 to 54 with no apparent trend from the core to the edge of the CAI. The spinel appears euhedral and occurs both as clusters and as spinel palisades [8]. Two rim sequences surround most of the sample: the inner rim being a Wark-Lovering (WL) rim (~10-35 µm) containing pyroxene, spinel, and melilite (or anorthite), and the outer rim is a finer-grained, thicker (~100 µm), accretionary rim (Fig. 1). The mineral phases in Saguaro record an overall flat REE pattern with an average negative Eu anomaly in pyroxene, and an average positive Eu anomaly in anorthite and melilite respectively. Anorthite, melilite, and pyroxene have a minor depletion in Tm (Fig. 2). The Hoopoe CAI is a compact, coarse-grained ~6 × 4 mm in size. The major mineralogy includes hibonite, spinel, melilite, anorthite, and perovskite. Therefore, it is classified as a compact transitional type A and B. (?)zoning was observed in some hibonites. Individual melilite grains show both reverse and normal zoning, where the Ak content ranges from ~6- to 28. Melilite shows two distinct textures. One texture consisted of smooth melilite that appeared homogenous, while the second appeared to consist of many fine fractures. The spinel also often appears clustered. The WL-rim sequence surrounding Hoopoe is ~25 µm thick and composed of spinel, perovskite, hibonite, and melilite/anorthite. It is then partially surrounded by an outer accretionary rim (~75µm). Like before, refractory metal nuggets appeared concentrated near the WL rims. Other metal assemblages rich in Fe and Ni were also observed. All major mineral phases in Hoopoe display relatively flat REE patterns, except for varying Eu and Tm between phases (Fig. 2). There is a prominent negative Eu anomaly in perovskite and an average positive Eu anomaly in spinel, anorthite, and hibonite respectively (Fig. 2, 3). The mixed phases along the rim of the CAI also display a negative Eu anomaly, and all phases the CAI were depleted in Pb. Discussion: The CV3 CAIs analyzed in this study were classified based on their mineralogy and textures into Type A versus Type B CAIs [10]. Hibonite appears to be pseudomorphically replacing the spinel, (i.e., is hibonite in composition, but appears in the shape of spinel). Spinel palisades. The presence of spinel palisades present in Saguaro are consistent with the melting and recrystallization experienced by this CAI. Trace elemental analyses. Saguaro and Hoopoe display similar trace element patterns to each other, with both appearing generally flat, with anomalies in Eu, and Tm. Melilite and anorthite display positive Eu anomalies in both CAIs, in addition to the hibonite in Hoopoe (Fig. 2). The phases that are depleted in Eu are pyroxene and perovskite in both Saguaro and Hoopoe, respectively (Fig. 3). Given that Eu is volatile in reducing environments [11], this could possibly indicate reducing conditions at the time anorthite and melilite crystallized, with the gas they formed from containing Eu. As these CAIs continued to form, this gas as a result would become depleted in Eu. This also could be supported by the propensity of anorthite and melilite to take up Eu from its surroundings and incorporate it into their structure [12]. In addition, analyzing the assemblage of the phases in the Saguaro, melilite and anorthite (Eu enriched) often surround the pyroxene (Eu depleted) as they are crystallized. This intergrowth of phases and the proximity of the phases would support that the Eu is being incorporated into some phases, preventing it from incorporating into other. Trace elemental analyses of the CAI rims will be evaluated in more detail, as they are complicated by the transient signal being composed of a mixture of mineral phases. Broadly, however, the patterns in the rims of both CAIs are comparable to each other, and for Hoopoe, to the mixed phase patterns in the core (Fig. 3). Other studies have found that CAI rims can be depleted in Ce and Yb [13], however we did not observe these anomalies in the two CAIs discussed here. Given their similarity, the trace elemental analyses of the mixed interior (i.e. core) and rim phases could be interpreted as forming from similar, if not the same, reservoirs. The REE abundance between the rim and core of Hoopoe are also similar, indicating they may have formed from a gas of the same or similar composition. Acknowledgments: We thank the ASU Center for Meteorite Studies for loaning the samples used in this work and Tabb Prissel for his assistance with the analysis. Mouti Al-Hashimi thanks Sam Crossley and Cyrena Goodrich for their help with the LPI SEM training. This work was supported by the LPI Summer Intern Program in Planetary Science and the LPI Cooperative Agreement. References: [1] Connelly J.N. (2012) Science, 338, 651-655. [2] MacPherson G. J. (2014) Treatise on Geochem., 2, 139-179. [3] Grossman L. (1972) GCA, 36, 597-619. [4] Ebel, D.S. (2006) Meteorites and the Early Solar System II (D. S. Lauretta & H. Y. McSween, Eds.) 253-277. [5] MacPherson G. J. (2012) Earth Planet. Sci. Lett., 331-332, 43-54. [6] MacPherson G.J. (2017) GCA, 201, 65-82. [7] Krot A.N. (1995) Meteoritics & Planet. Sci., 30, 748-775. [8] Wark and Lovering (1982) GCA, 46, 2595-2607. [9] Palme H. and Jones A. (2003) Treatise on Geochemistry (H. D. Holland and K. K. Turekian Eds.), 1, 41-61. [10] Grossman L. (1980) Ann. Rev. Earth Planet. Sci., 8, 559-608. [11] Floss C. et al. (1996) GCA, 60, 1975-1997. [12] Mason B. and Martin P. M. (1974) Earth Planet. Sci. Lett., 22, 141-144. [13] Wark B. and Boynton W. V. (2001) Meteoritics & Planet. Sci., 36, 1135-1166.

X Mouti↗

THUNDER: A New Frontiers-Class Titan Orbiter Mission Concept From the NASA JPL Planetary Science Summer School

Titan’s Hydrocarbons: Uncovering New Dimensions of Evolutionary pRocesses (THUNDER) is a dedicated geology and geophysics mission to trace Titan’s hydrocarbons from the inside out, assessing whether hydrocarbons move through Titan’s water ice bedrock to cycle from the subsurface ocean to the atmosphere. This Titan orbiter will use surface mapping (via radar and spectrometry) and gravity science to advance geophysical expertise for Saturn’s most Earth-like moon.

mission concept↗

Separation of lithospheric, external, and core components of the south polar geomagnetic field at satellite altitudes

We present a new approach to producing scalar Magsat magnetic anomaly maps based on correlation coefficient filtering and the use of almost all of the available orbits. Our method differs from earlier techniques with respect to the following: (1) Passes are selected based on their variance properties rather than planetary indices such as Kp. (2) The core field model is least squares fit to individual passes and subsequently removed instead of substracting the model directly. This technique replaces band pass filtering or polynomial trend removal methods. (3) Each selected pass is sorted geographically and by local time, placed into one of four different altitude bands, and correlation coefficient filtered with the two adjacent passes. The filtering is the second step toward isolating the static lithospheric signal from the more dynamic external field signals. (4) Least squares collocation is used to grid the correlated passes; subsequently, the dawn and dusk maps are also correlation filtered providing another step toward removal of external fields. (5) The four resultant total field maps are continued to a common altitude and again correlation filtered for the static lithospheric anomalies. (6) The filtered results are then averaged together to provide a new total field map of the lithosphere south of 40 deg S latitude. Our total field map differs from previous efforts over the crustal blocks of West Antarctica. We obtained a positive anomaly over Edward VII Peninsula, extending into the Byrd subglacial basin and obtained a negative anomaly over the Ellsworth Mountains and parts of the Byrd subglacial basin. Also, a positive anomaly extending from the Ross Sea to offshore Wilkes Land is present in our map; however, this feature is absent in other maps. Positive anomalies marking the Weddell Sea in previous efforts are not present in our map. Prominent external field anomalies in the quadrant offshore of Wilkes Land are present in all previous efforts; however, these signatures are reduced in our total field map. This map significantly advances efforts for the identification and interpretation of magnetic anomalies of the south polar lithosphere.

Alsdorf, Douglas E.↗

The distribution of S IV and Ne II in NGC 7027

Results are reported for measurements of the S IV 10.5-micron and Ne II 12.8-micron IR emission lines at four positions in NGC 7027 and of the Ar III 9.0-micron line at one position in the same planetary nebula. Ionic abundances are calculated using the data obtained at one position and are combined with published optical data for other ionization states to obtain total elemental abundances. The S IV and Ne II line-intensity distributions are compared with an 8.1-GHz radio map of the nebula. The S IV distribution indicates a density of about 500,000 per cu cm, and the Ne II is found to be contained in low-ionization regions distributed inhomogeneously throughout the nebula. The total abundances relative to hydrogen are determined to be 0.000015 for S, 0.000053 for Ne, and 0.000007 for Ar; these abundances are shown to be within the range of published average values for planetary nebulae.

Bregman, J. D.↗