Selected studies in exobiology, planetary environments, and problems related to the origin of life Semiannual progress report, 1 Oct. 1966 - 31 Mar. 1967
Theoretical, observational, and laboratory work on planetary environments
ASTRONOMICAL MODEL↗
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Search indexed NASA NTRS and DOE OSTI research on propulsion, heat transfer, battery materials and energy systems. Follow report and document links to the original sources.
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Origin and evolution of atmospheres and oceans
Earth and planetary ocean and atmospheric origin, evolution, and composition
EARTH ATMOSPHERE↗
Pluto's structure and composition suggest origin in the solar, not a planetary, nebula
The four explanations for Pluto's large rock/ice ratio, (1) formation in the inner solar system, (2) volatile loss during accretion, (3) volatile loss during the large-body impact that created Charon, and (4) formation as a large, ice-poor outer solar system planetesimal, are considered. It is shown that only the last two explanations are feasible, and that the depletion of water ice in Pluto is so severe that both explanations may be necessary.
Mckinnon, William B.↗
The origin of the systematic component of planetary rotation. I - Planet on a circular orbit
A computation is undertaken of the rotation rate of a planet that has accreted from small solid planetesimals, as a function of the eccentricities of the planetesimals' orbits at or near the plane of the planet's orbit. The spin angular momentum generated by a given collision can be either positive or negative; due to the tendency to approximately cancel out, this perturbation process must be pursued to the second order in the ratio of the planetary radius to the planetesimal radial excursions' amplitude. It is found that material accreted from the area of the planet feeding zone's outer edges furnishes the planet positive spin angular momentum.
Lissauer, Jack J.↗
The search for life's origins: Progress and future directions in planetary biology and chemical evolution
The current state is reviewed of the study of chemical evolution and planetary biology and the probable future is discussed of the field, at least for the near term. To this end, the report lists the goals and objectives of future research and makes detailed, comprehensive recommendations for accomplishing them, emphasizing those issues that were inadequately discussed in earlier Space Studies Board reports.
Source record↗
Near-infrared spectroscopy of the proto-planetary nebula CRL 618 and the origin of the hydrocarbon dust component in the interstellar medium
A new 2.8-3.8 micrometers spectrum of the carbon-rich protoplanetary nebula CRL 618 confirms the previous detection of a circumstellar 3.4 micrometers absorption feature in this object (Lequeux & Jourdain de Muizon). The high resolution and high signal-to-noise ratio of our spectrum allow us to derive the detailed profile of this absorption feature, which is very similar to that observed in the spectrum of the Galactic center and also resembles the strong 3.4 micrometers emission feature in some post-asymptotic giant branch stars. A weak 3.3 micrometers unidentified infrared band, marginally detected in the CRL 618 spectrum of Lequeux & Jourdain de Muizon, is present in our spectrum. The existence of the 3.4 micrometers feature implies the presence of relatively short-chained, aliphatic hydrocarbon materials (-CH2-/-CH3 approximately = 2-2.5) in the circumstellar environment around CRL 618. It also implies that the carriers of the interstellar 3.4 micrometers feature are produced at least in part in circumstellar material, and it calls into question whether any are produced by the processing of interstellar ices in dense interstellar clouds, as has been previously proposed. Other features in the spectrum are recombination lines of hydrogen, rotational and vibration-rotation lines of molecular hydrogen, and a broad absorption probably due to a blend of HCN and C2H2 bands.
Spectroscopy, Near-Infrared↗
Selected Studies in Exobiology, Planetary Environments, and Problems Related to the Origin of Life Semiannual Progress Report No. 1, 1 Oct. 1965 - 31 Mar. 1966
Astrophysical evaluation of Venus observations from Mariner II radiometer data, and thermodynamic analyses of planetary atmospheres
ASTROPHYSICS↗
Radial Velocity Detection of Extra-Solar Planetary Systems
This NASA Origins Program grant supported four closely related research programs at The University of Texas at Austin: 1) The McDonald Observatory Planetary Search (MOPS) Program, using the McDonald Observatory 2.7m Harlan Smith telescope and its 2dcoude spectrometer, 2) A high-precision radial-velocity survey of Hyades dwarfs, using the Keck telescope and its HIRES spectrograph, 3) A program at McDonald Observatory to obtain spectra of the parent stars of planetary systems at R = 210,000, and 4) the start of high precision radial velocity surveys using the Hobby-Eberly Telescope. The most important results from NASA support of these research programs are described. A list of all papers published under support of this grant is included at the end.
Cochran, William D.↗
Radial Velocity Detection of Extra-Solar Planetary Systems
This NASA Origins Program grant supported four closely related research programs at The University of Texas at Austin: 1) The McDonald Observatory Planetary Search (MOPS) Program, using the McDonald Observatory 2.7m Harlan Smith telescope and its 2dcoud6 spectrometer, 2) A high-precision radial-velocity survey of Hyades dwarfs, using the Keck telescope and its HIRES spectrograph, 3) A program at McDonald Observatory to obtain spectra of the parent stars of planetary systems at R = 210,000, and 4) the start of high precision radial velocity surveys using the Hobby-Eberly Telescope. The most important results from NASA support of these research programs are described below. A list of all papers published under support of this grant is included at the end.
Cochran, William D.↗
Origins Survey Spectrometer: revealing the hearts of distant galaxies and forming planetary systems with far-IR spectroscopy
The Origins Survey Spectrometer (OSS) is a multi-purpose far-IR spectrograph for Origins. Operating at the photon background limit, OSS covers the 25- to 588-μm wavelength range instantaneously at a resolving power (R) of 300 using six logarithmically spaced grating modules. Each module couples at least 30 and up to 100 spatial beams simultaneously, enabling true [three-dimensional (3D)] spectral mapping. In addition, OSS provides two high-resolution modes. The first inserts a long-path Fourier-transform spectrometer (FTS) into a portion of the incoming light in advance of the grating backends, enabling R up to 43,000 × [λ/112 μm] , while preserving the grating-based sensitivity for line detection. The second incorporates a scanning etalon in series with the FTS to provide R up to 300,000 for the 100-to 200-μm range.
Charles M. Bradford↗
Fact Sheet: Range Complex
NASA Ames has a long tradition in leadership with the use of ballistic ranges and shock tubes for the purpose of studying the physics and phenomena associated with hypervelocity flight. Cutting-edge areas of research run the gamut from aerodynamics, to impact physics, to flow-field structure and chemistry. This legacy of testing began in the NACA era of the 1940's with the Supersonic Free Flight Tunnel, and evolved dramatically up through the late 1950s with the pioneering work in the Ames Hypersonic Ballistic Range. The tradition continued in the mid-60s with the commissioning of the three newest facilities: the Ames Vertical Gun Range (AVGR) in 1964, the Hypervelocity Free Flight Facility (HFFF) in 1965 and the Electric Arc Shock Tube (EAST) in 1966. Today the Range Complex continues to provide unique and critical testing in support of the Nation's programs for planetary geology and geophysics; exobiology; solar system origins; earth atmospheric entry, planetary entry, and aerobraking vehicles; and various configurations for supersonic and hypersonic aircraft.
Cornelson, C.↗
Origin of ureilite meteorites and implications for planetary accretion
The present analysis of the ureilite meteorites suggests that these are formed by well-understood processes, as indicated by such findings as their being partial melt residues rather than cumulates and their forming in a large chondritic body with heterogeneous O isotopic composition. Slow diffusion of the O in solid and molten silicates ensured that partial melting did not homogenize the O isotopes of the residues. These and other determinations furnish a plausible origin for ureilites as residues from the partial melting of isotopically heterogeneous chondritic material.
Scott, Edward R. D.↗
James Webb Space Telescope (JWST): The First Light Machine
The James Webb Space Telescope (JWST), expected to launch in 2011, will study the origin and evolution of luminous objects, galaxies, stars, planetary systems and the origins of life. It is optimized for near infrared wavelength operation of 0.6-28 micrometers and will have a 5 year mission life (with a 10 year goal). This presentation reviews JWST's science objectives, the JWST telescope and mirror requirements and how they support the JWST architecture. Additionally, an overview of the JWST primary mirror technology development effort is highlighted.
Stahl, H. Philip↗
Tunable Laser Spectrometers for Planetary Science
Distinguishing planetary formation and evolution pathways and understanding the origins of volatiles on planetary bodies requires determination of relative abundances and isotope ratios in the noble gases, and also of the isotope ratios in C, H, N, O and S at high precisions. Traditional planetary mass spectrometers uniquely provide excellent survey capability including the noble gas relative abundances and their isotope ratios. However, to distinguish planetary evolution models for the outer planets, stable isotope ratios in C and O require precisions of ∼10 or better, readily achievable with a tunable laser spectrometer (TLS). As demonstrated on the Mars Curiosity rover, and as planned for a now-selected NASA Venus mission, tunable laser spectrometers play a unique role synergistic with the capabilities of planetary mass spectrometers. The TLS technique of recording infrared absorption spectra at ultrahigh resolution (resolving power λ/δλ ∼ 5 million) provides unambiguous detection of a wide variety of gases such as H2O, H2O2, H2CO, HOCl, NO, NO2, HNO3, N2O, O3, CO, CO2, NH3, N2H4, PH3, H2S, SO2, OCS, HCl, HF, O2, HCN, and CH4, C2H2, C2H4, C2H6 at parts-per-billion levels. Through line-depth or line-area ratio comparisons of adjacent spectral lines, planetary TLS instruments can achieve isotope ratio measurements in C, H, N, O, and S molecules at precisions of ∼1–2, including for the triple isotope components of O and S. Expected performance of TLS instruments for Venus, Saturn, Enceladus and Uranus will be described as constrained by actual measurements reported at Mars on the Curiosity rover.
Planetary↗
Location, location: deciphering the significance of in-situ hydrogen analyses of Martian meteorite phases
Understanding how inner planets acquired their volatiles such as hydrogen (H) is fundamental to constrain models of solar system formation [e.g. 1]. One avenue of estimating the H content and isotopic characteristics of differentiated planets is to analyze the samples we have from them as meteorites. Ideally, the H content and isotopic characteristic of the mantle sources of these igneous rocks should give insight into the volatile origin of each planetary body. The mantle H signatures can be estimated from that of the parent melt, which in turn may be derived from that of the first crystallized phases. However, we will illustrate the processes that can modify the H content and D/H ratios of pyroxene, olivine and feldspar in selected Martian meteorites relative to those of their mantle sources, with two key protocols for SIMS analysis. The first key is to put each analysis in textural context ("location, location"). In particular, of prime importance is whether an analysis is done at the center or the edge of a mineral grain, close or far from a shock disturbed area, and in a mineral crystallized at the beginning or late in the differentiation sequence. Accompanying the H analyses done by SIMS with major and trace element data at the same analysis locations allows to constrain the history of crystallization, cooling, alteration and shock of the meteorite. For example, volcanic degassing can be evidenced by decreasing water contents and increasing D/H ratios from core to edge of nakhlite pyroxenes [2]. Traverses of H analyses in pyroxene and maskelynite in shergottite LAR 06319 provide examples of H contents and D/H ratios modified during degassing following shock [3]. The second key is to assess if the area analyzed by SIMS has shock generated damage of the mineral structure, as will be shown in pyroxene and olivine from shergottite RBT 04262. Olivine in shergottites have too high water contents to be explained with an igneous origin and their D/H ratios are more consistent with terrestrial alteration, as observed before [4]. A review of all these processes shows how careful one has to be prior to using H measurements in meteorites to infer the origin and amount of water in differentiated planetary interiors.
A.H. Peslier↗
Downdrafts within High Plains cumulonimbi. I - General kinematic structure
Results from a comprehensive investigation in which observations from several case studies are integrated with three-dimensional cloud model results to examine the general kinematic structure of downdrafts associated with High Plains precipitating convection are presented. One particular downdraft type, the low-level precipitation-associated downdraft, is the focus of this paper. General airflow and trajectory patterns within low-level downdrafts are convergent from 0.8 km upwards to downdraft top, typically less than 5 km AGL. Observed mass flux profiles often increase rapidly with height as a result of strong buoyancy forcing below the melting level. Inflow to the low-level downdraft, although vertically continuous can be separated into two branches. The up-down branch originating within the planetary boundary layer initially rises up to 4 km and then descends within the main precipitation-associated downdraft. The midlevel branch, usually more pronounced during early downdraft stages, originates from above the PBL and transports low-valued theta sub e air to low levels. The depth of the low-level downdraft can be approximated by the environmental sounding transition level, defined as the vertical height interval separating conditionally unstable to neutral air below from roughly stable air above. The low-level downdraft is most frequently located along the upshear storm flank relative to the updraft, although a downshear downdraft may become common under higher environmental wind shear.
Knupp, Kevin R.↗
Theory of global thermoremanent magnetization of planetary lithospheres in dipole fields of internal origin
A model is presented for the global thermoremanent magnetization of spherical lithospheres which cool in the presence of central dipole fields. Reversals and intensity variations of the field are incorporated in this model, which is applicable to bodies whose interiors have remained above the Curie point throughout their evolution. The model demonstrates that even considering Runcorn's (1975) magnetostatics theorems for spherical shells, a nonzero magnetic permeability and a finite cooling rate in the lithosphere permit the acquisition of a sizable global remanent dipole moment, which would be detectable by external measurements after the magnetizing field has disappeared. Preliminary application of this model to Mercury, Venus, and Mars suggests that only the combination of a nonreversing ancient source field with a surface value near 1 Oe plus a sizable concentration (about 1% by volume) of ferromagnetic material in their crusts could produce remanent planetary dipole fields as large as those measured by spacecraft. On the other hand, if ancient reversing dynamos existed in these planets, it is unlikely that large planetary-scale fields like those observed at Mercury could be due to remanence in their crusts, irrespective of their composition.
Srnka, L. J.↗
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.↗