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At least 127 records · Page 7
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
NASA NTRS2019

Overview of the Search for Space Weathering Signals on Bennu: One Rock Type, or Two?

We report on progress in the search for signs of space weathering on Bennu. We provide an overview of the space weathering evidence to date, and summarize relevant findings from several ongoing parallel studies of surface processes and surface properties. We examine trends from these studies in the context of space weathering, and what is known about near-Earth asteroid surface maturation. Because Bennu is covered with blocks, boulders, and rocks of various sizes, our search for space weathering signals has inevitably led to a study of the properties of Bennu’s rocks. Our research question is – do Bennu’s bright and dark rock populations form a maturity continuum due to space weathering, or alternatively, do the bright and dark rocks provide compelling evidence for two distinct rock populations on Bennu? In particular, we present our best estimate of the sub-field-of-view OVIRS (OSIRIS-REx Visible and Infrared Spectrometer) spectral properties of the largest bright boulders and compare them with the darker materials on Bennu’s surface to see if the observed spectral and albedo differences are consistent with space weathering effects, or not.

Clark, B. E.↗
NASA NTRS2005

Space Weathering: Laboratory Analyses and In-Situ Instrumentation

Space weathering is now understood to be a key modifier of visible and near infrared reflectance spectra of airless bodies. Believed to be caused by vapour recondensation after either ion sputtering or impact vaporization, space weathering has been successfully simulated in the laboratory over the past few years. The optical changes caused by space weathering have been attributed to the accumulation of sub-microscopic iron on regolith grain surfaces. Such fine-grained metallic iron has distinctive magnetic properties that can be used to study it.

Bentley, M. S.↗
NASA NTRSDate not supplied

SBIR Space Weather R2O2R Technology Development and Commercial Applications

The Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Program provides U.S. small businesses of 500 or fewer employees with the opportunity for early-stage funding for research and development. Through NASA's Science Mission Directorate, the SBIR subtopic S14.01 Space Weather Research-to-Operations-to-Research (R2O2R) Technology Development and Commercial Applications supports high-priority space weather needs as outlined in the National Space Weather Strategy and Action Plan (NSWSAP). There are four focus areas for which solutions are sought; these will be discussed (in no priority order): 1) space-weather forecasting technologies, techniques, and applications, 2) commercial and decision-making applications for space weather technologies, 3) space weather advanced data-driven discovery techniques, and 4) space-weather instrumentation.

Space weather↗
NASA NTRS2019

Space Radiation and Plasma Effects on Satellites and Aviation: Quantities and Metrics for Tracking Performance of Space Weather Environment Models

The Community Coordinated Modeling Center has been leading communitywide space science and space weather model validation projects for many years. These efforts have been broadened and extended via the newly launched International Forum for Space Weather Modeling Capabilities Assessment (https://ccmc.gsfc.nasa.gov/assessment/). Its objective is to track space weather models' progress and performance over time, a capability that is critically needed in space weather operations and different user communities in general. The Space Radiation and Plasma Effects Working Team of the afore mentioned International Forum works on one of the many focused evaluation topics and deals with five different subtopics (https://ccmc.gsfc.nasa.gov/assessment/topics/radiationall.php) and varieties of particle populations: Surface Charging from tens of eV to 50keV electrons and internal charging due to energetic electrons from hundreds keV to several MeVs. Single event effects from solar energetic particles and galactic cosmic rays (several MeV to TeV), total dose due to accumulation of doses from electrons (>100 keV) and protons (>1 MeV) in a broad energy range, and radiation effects from solar energetic particles and galactic cosmic rays at aviation altitudes. A unique aspect of the Space Radiation and Plasma Effects focus area is that it bridges the space environments, engineering, and user communities. The intent of the paper is to provide an overview of the current status and to suggest a guide for how to best validate space environment models for operational/engineering use, which includes selection of essential space environment and effect quantities and appropriate metrics.

Zheng, Yihua↗
NASA NTRS2016

Interplanetary Space Weather Effects on Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter Avalanche Photodiode Performance

Space weather is a major concern for radiation-sensitive space systems, particularly for interplanetary missions, which operate outside of the protection of Earth's magnetic field. We examine and quantify the effects of space weather on silicon avalanche photodiodes (SiAPDs), which are used for interplanetary laser altimeters and communications systems and can be sensitive to even low levels of radiation (less than 50 cGy). While ground-based radiation testing has been performed on avalanche photodiode (APDs) for space missions, in-space measurements of SiAPD response to interplanetary space weather have not been previously reported. We compare noise data from the Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter (LRO) Lunar Orbiter Laser Altimeter (LOLA) SiAPDs with radiation measurements from the onboard Cosmic Ray Telescope for the Effects of Radiation (CRaTER) instrument. We did not find any evidence to support radiation as the cause of changes in detector threshold voltage during radiation storms, both for transient detector noise and long-term average detector noise, suggesting that the approximately 1.3 cm thick shielding (a combination of titanium and beryllium) of the LOLA detectors is sufficient for SiAPDs on interplanetary missions with radiation environments similar to what the LRO experienced (559 cGy of radiation over 4 years).

LOLA↗
NASA NTRSDate not supplied

Space Weather 101

Enhance awareness of space weather and why you should care.

Space Weather↗
NASA NTRS2012

Two-Dimensional Distribution of Volatiles in the Lunar Regolith from Space Weathering Simulations

We present simulations of space weathering effects on ice deposits in regions of permanent shadow on the Moon. These Monte Carlo simulations follow the effects of space weathering processes on the distribution of the volatiles over time. The model output constrains the coherence of volatile deposits with depth, lateral separation, and time. The results suggest that ice sheets become broken and buried with time. As impacts begin to puncture an initially coherent surficial ice sheet, small areas with a deficit of ice compared to surrounding areas are formed first. As time progresses, holes become prevalent and the anomalous regions are local enhancements of ice concentration in a volume. The 3-D distribution is also heterogeneous because the ice is buried to varying depths in different locations. Analysis of the coherence of ice on 10 cm scales predicts that putative ice sheets in anomalous radar craters are < 100 Myr old. Surface frost becomes homogenized within 20 Myr. The simulations show the data from the LCROSS impact and surrounding region are consistent with the ice deposit in Cabeus being >1000 Myr old. For future in situ analysis of cold trap volatiles, a horizontal range of 10 m is sufficient to acquire surface-based measurements of heterogeneously distributed ice. These results also support previous analyses that Mercury's cold traps are young.

Hurley, Dana M.↗
NASA NTRS2016

Overview of NASA MSFC and UAH Space Weather Modeling and Data Efforts

Marshall Space Flight Center, along with its industry and academia neighbors, has a long history of space environment model development and testing. Space weather efforts include research, testing, model development, environment definition, anomaly investigation, and operational support. This presentation will highlight a few of the current space weather activities being performed at Marshall and through collaborative efforts with University of Alabama in Huntsville scientists.

Parker, Linda Neergaard↗
NASA NTRS2011

Evidence of Space Weathering in Regolith Breccias II: Asteroidal Regolith Breccias

Space weathering products, such as agglutinates and nanophaase iron-bearing rims are easily preserved through lithifcation in lunar regolith breccias, thus such products, if produced, should be preserved in asteroidal regotith breccias as well. A study of representative regolith breecia meteorites, Fayetteville (H4) and Kapoeta (howardite), was undertaken to search for physical evidence of space weathering on asteroids. Amorphous or npFe(sup 0)-bearing rim cannot be positively identified in Fayetteville, although possible glass rims were found. Extensive friction melt was discovered in the meteorite that is difficult to differentiate from weathered materials. Several melt products, including spherules and agglutinates, as well as one irradiated rim and one possible npFe(sup 0)-bearing rim were identified in Kapoeta. The existence of these products suggests that lunar-like space weathering processes are, or have been, active on asteroids.

Noble, Sarah K.↗
DOE OSTI2022

Space weather observations, modeling, and alerts in support of human exploration of Mars

Space weather observations and modeling at Mars have begun but they must be significantly increased to support the future of Human Exploration on the Red Planet. A comprehensive space weather understanding of a planet without a global magnetosphere and a thin atmosphere is very different from our situation at Earth so there is substantial fundamental research remaining. It is expected that the development of suitable models will lead to a comprehensive operational Mars space weather alert (MSWA) system that would provide rapid dissemination of information to Earth controllers, astronauts in transit, and those in the exploration zone (EZ) on the surface by producing alerts that are delivered rapidly and are actionable. To illustrate the importance of such a system, we use a magnetohydrodynamic code to model an extreme Carrington-type coronal mass ejection (CME) event at Mars. The results show a significant induced surface field of nearly 3,000 nT on the dayside that could radically affect unprotected electrical systems that would dramatically impact human survival on Mars. Other associated problems include coronal mass ejection (CME) shock-driven acceleration of solar energetic particles producing large doses of ionizing radiation at the Martian surface. In summary, along with working more closely with international partners, the next Heliophysics Decadal Survey must include a new initiative to meet expected demands for space weather forecasting in support of humans living and working on the surface of Mars. It will require significant effort to coordinate NASA and the international community contributions.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗
NASA NTRS2010

Space Weather Products at the Community Coordinated Modeling Center

The Community Coordinated Modeling Center (CCMC) is a US inter-agency activity aiming at research in support of the generation of advanced space weather models. As one of its main functions, the CCMC provides to researchers the use of space science models, even if they are not model owners themselves. The second CCMC activity is to support Space Weather forecasting at national Space Weather Forecasting Centers. This second activity involves model evaluations, model transitions to operations, and the development of space weather forecasting tools. Owing to the pace of development in the science community, new model capabilities emerge frequently. Consequently, space weather products and tools involve not only increased validity, but often entirely new capabilities. This presentation will review the present state of space weather tools as well as point out emerging future capabilities.

Hesse, Michael↗
NASA NTRS2012

Space Weathering of Lunar Rocks

All materials exposed at the lunar surface undergo space weathering processes. On the Moon, boulders make up only a small percentage of the exposed surface, and areas where such rocks are exposed, like central peaks, are often among the least space weathered regions identified from remote sensing data. Yet space weathered surfaces (patina) are relatively common on returned rock samples, some of which directly sample the surface of larger boulders. Because, as witness plates to lunar space weathering, rocks and boulders experience longer exposure times compared to lunar soil grains, they allow us to develop a deeper perspective on the relative importance of various weathering processes as a function of time.

Noble, S. K.↗
NASA NTRS2010

Extracting Space Weather Information from Research Models: Opportunities and Challenges

In addition to supporting space research in the international community, the Community Coordinated Modeling Center (CCMC) has as its second objective to apply the power of modern research models toward space weather specification and forecasting. Motivated by the objectives to test models and to ease the transition of research models to space weather forecasting organizations, the CCMC has developed a number of real-time modeling systems, as well as a large number of modeling and data products for space weather forecasting support. Over time, these activities have produced tailored products for partners, as well as tools, which address the space weather needs of NASA's robotic mission community. All tools are accessible via a configurable, flexible interface. During this process, CCMC has accumulated substantial experience in understanding model performance, as well as in the design and execution of realtime systems. This presentation will focus on lessons learned and it will suggest low hanging fruit for transition to operations at partner agencies.

Hesse, Michael↗
NASA NTRS2011

An Examination of the Space Weathering Patina of Lunar Rock 76015

Space weathering discussions have generally centered around soils but exposed rocks will also incur the effects of weathering. Rocks have much longer surface lifetimes than an individual soil grain and thus record a longer history of exposure. By studying the weathering products which have built up on a rock surface, we can gain a deeper perspective on the weathering process and better assess the relative importance of various weathering components. The weathered coating, or patina, of the lunar rock 76015 has been previously studied under SEM and also by TEM using ultramicrotome sample preparation methods. However, to really understand the products involved in creating these coatings, it is helpful to examine the patina in cross section, something which is now possible though the use of Focused Ion Beam (FIB) sample prep techniques, which allows us to preserve intact the delicate stratigraphy of the patina coating and provides a unique cross-sectional view of the space weathering process. Several samples have been prepared from the rock and the coatings are found to be quite variable in thickness and composition from one sample to the next.

Noble, S.↗
NASA NTRS2009

Tools and Products of Real-Time Modeling: Opportunities for Space Weather Forecasting

The Community Coordinated Modeling Center (CCMC) is a US inter-agency activity aiming at research in support of the generation of advanced space weather models. As one of its main functions, the CCMC provides to researchers the use of space science models, even if they are not model owners themselves. The second CCMC activity is to support Space Weather forecasting at national Space Weather Forecasting Centers. This second activity involves model evaluations, model transitions to operations, and the development of draft Space Weather forecasting tools. This presentation will focus on the last element. Specifically, we will discuss present capabilities, and the potential to derive further tools. These capabilities will be interpreted in the context of a broad-based, bootstrapping activity for modern Space Weather forecasting.

Hesse, Michael↗
NASA NTRS2011

Mercury's Weather-Beaten Surface: Understanding Mercury in the Context of Lunar and Asteroid Space Weathering Studies

Understanding the composition of Mercury's crust is key to comprehending the formation of the planet. The regolith, derived from the crustal bedrock, has been altered via a set of space weathering processes. These processes are the same set of mechanisms that work to form Mercury's exosphere, and are moderated by the local space environment and the presence of an intrinsic planetary magnetic field. The alterations need to be understood in order to determine the initial crustal compositions. The complex interrelationships between Mercury's exospheric processes, the space environment, and surface composition are examined and reviewed. The processes are examined in the context of our understanding of these same processes on the lunar and asteroid regoliths. Keywords: Mercury (planet) Space weathering Surface processes Exosphere Surface composition Space environment 3

Dominque, Deborah L.↗
NASA NTRSDate not supplied

Unraveling Solar Wind Space Weathering of Carbon-Rich Asterods: Low-Flux VS. High-Flux Ion Irradiation of Murchison

Introduction: Space weathering processesalter the microstructural, compositional, and optical properties of airless planetary surfaces.Solar wind space weatheringforms ion-damaged rims within the outermost ~100 nm of regolith grains through atomic-displacements and implantation of energetic H+and He+ions[1]. Transmission electron microscope(TEM)studies of space weathered Itokawa and lunar olivine particles reveal predominantly nanocrystalline solar wind-damaged rims with only minor regions of amorphization[2-5]. This finding differs from laboratoryion irradiation experiments in which samples become amorphous at fluences 2-3 orders of magnitude lower than the independentlyconstrained fluences for still-crystalline natural samples [6-7].Ion flux is generally considered to have a secondaryeffectcompared to fluence in these irradiation experiments. However, solar wind irradiation of natural samples occurs at a flux that is ~4-5 orders of magnitude lower than whatisused inlaboratory simulations (e.g., [6,8-9]). Constraining how the very low ion flux of solar wind influences the microstructural, chemical, and spectral alteration of silicate minerals will improve our understanding of solar wind space weathering and aid in the analysis of returned samples from the Hayabusa2 and OSIRIS-REx missions. Here we report results from low-and high-flux ion irradiation experiments on the Murchison (CM2)meteoritewithcomparable total fluences. Methods: We performed low-flux and high-flux He+(4 keV) and H+(1 keV) irradiation experiments on separate, dry-cut Murchison slabs. Low-flux He+irradiation reached a total fluence of 2.1 x 1016ions/cm2(~400 years of exposure at Bennu) using a flux of 3.6 x 1011ions/cm2/s; low-flux H+irradiation reached a total fluence of 3.9 x 1016ions/cm2(~30 years) using a flux of 6.6 x 1011ions/cm2/s. High-flux He+irradiation reached a total fluence of 2.0 x 1016ions/cm2(~400 years)using a flux of 9.1 x 1012ions/cm2/s; high-flux H+irradiation reached a total fluence of 5.8 x 1016ions/cm2(~50 years)using flux of 8.4 x 1012ions/cm2/s. By irradiating to similar total fluences in both the low-flux and high-flux experiments, we can better isolate and evaluatethe effects of ion flux. Differences between unirradiatedand irradiated surfaces are determined using threeanalytical techniques:(1) in situX-ray photoelectron spectroscopy(XPS) reveals changes in surface chemistry,(2) visible to near-infrared spectroscopy (VNIR; 0.35-2.5 μm) highlights changes in spectraltrends, such as albedo and slope, and (3) TEM and energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS) identifieschanges in nanoscale structure and elemental composition within olivine and matrix electron-transparent thin sections prepared using focused ion beam scanning electron microscopy (FIB-SEM). Results and Discussion: XPS analyses of the low-fluxand high-fluxHe+-and H+-irradiated samples showa minorreduction in surface carbon contentand chemicalreduction ofFe3+to Fe2+. The latter result is consistent with the higher Fe2+/Fe3+ratios observed in phyllosilicate-rich space weathered rims of Ryugu grains [10].VNIR analyses suggest that the low-flux H+-irradiated spectrum has a slightly bluer slope (over 0.65-2.5 μm) compared to the unirradiated VNIR spectrum from [9] while the low-flux He+-irradiated spectral slope is comparable to the unirradiated surface. Both the high-flux He+-and H+-irradiated VNIR spectra exhibitslightlyhigheralbedos at shorter wavelengths relativeto their unirradiated counterparts, with He+irradiation yielding a greater change. Thus far, the low-flux He+-irradiated matrix and olivine FIBsections as well as the low-flux H+-irradiated olivine FIBsection have been examined with TEM. The surfaces of all three samplesshowless vesiculation than high-flux/high-fluenceirradiated matrix and olivine samples from [9]. The depth of phyllosilicate amorphization in thelow-fluxHe+-irradiated matrix FIBsection varieslaterally, with crystalline domains occurring as shallow as ~25 nm in some regions. Thelow-flux He+-irradiated olivine FIBsection has acontinuous,~40-90 nm thick ion-affected layer with polycrystalline and amorphous microstructures. The low-flux H+-irradiated olivine sampleexhibits a distinct, ~10-40 nm ion-affected layer whose uppermost ~20 nmin thicker regions is predominantly amorphous.Continuing to compare results from this work to those from [9] will provide a comprehensive understanding of how ion flux impacts the microstructural, chemical, and optical modification of various mineral phases and, in turn,help identify space weathering features from parent body alteration in Hayabusa2 and OSIRIS-REx returned samples.

D L Laczniak↗