Transcript The projected future of martian geological science in

THE PROJECTED FUTURE OF MARTIAN
GEOLOGICAL SCIENCE IN THE ERA OF
HUMAN EXPLORATION
Jacob Bleacher
Goddard Space Flight Center
3rd Affordable Mars Workshop
Dec. 2, 2015
Geologic field work can be loosely defined as the body of work necessary to:
• Determine the spatial distribution,
age and attitude of the rock types
within an area
Outflow source of Thunder
River, North Rim, Grand
• Document those structures that have
Canyon
deformed or cut those units
• Determine the processes that led to
the emplacement of these rocks, and
have subsequently modified them
Folding in metamorphosed sediments
Brachiopod fossil in
Paleozoic limestone
Field work remains the primary source of geologic data because the rocks, in
the field, are the primary data set we work with to develop our understanding
of geologic history and processes…and while geologists would love to have
the kind of rock exposure shown below everywhere we work …
Grand Canyon of the Colorado, in the vicinity of Lava Falls
…there are always less data (i.e., fewer rocks showing) than we
would like to have for complete understanding, regardless of whether
you’re on the Earth…
Typical field conditions, southern Adirondack Mountains, NY
…or the Moon...
Typical field conditions, Apollo 17 site
…or Mars...
Typical field conditions, Gale Crater, Mars
Robert P. Sharp, possibly the finest field
geologist of the 20th Century, noted in 1988
that learning to arrive at workable, testable
conclusions, often in the face of insufficient
data, is part of doing geologic field work.
…or Mars...
Typical field conditions, Gale Crater, Mars
Wendell Mendell, last man standing in
Constellation, once told me “Field geologists
are forensic scientists. An event occurred but
only some of the data remain and you try to
piece together the story from those bits of
information”.
Forecast of 2030s’ Science Objectives
Top-Level MEPAG
elements unlikely to
change significantly by
2030
Some change likely
(but hard to predict
specifics)
Significant
change certain
A proximal human would add greatest value to science in:
1. Establishing geologic context (field observations and field
measurements)
2. Sampling
3. Sample prep and analysis in a habitat-based laboratory
4. Field investigations/analyses
8
Candidate Objectives: Geoscience
Priority
C1
C2
C3
Characterize the composition of surface units and evaluate the diverse geologic
processes and paleoenvironments that have affected the martian crust;
determine the sequence and duration of geological events, and establish their
context within the geologic history of Mars to answer larger questions about
Most
important
messages:
planetary
evolution
(to be refined
based on discoveries during the next decade).
See next
for additional
detail. time between outcrops
1.slide
Maximize
contact
High
Determine and
relative
and absolute ages of geologic events and units, determine
geologist-astronauts
their history of burial, exhumation, and exposure, and relate their ages to major
2. Priorities:
mobility systems, EVA time,
events through
martian history.
geologic
diversity,
range of geologic
ageof the martian
Constrain the
dynamics,
structure, composition
and evolution
interior, to answer larger questions about planetary evolution (to be refined
based on discoveries during the next decade). See next slide for additional detail.
High/
Med
Geologic field work can be loosely defined as the body of work necessary to:
• Determine the spatial distribution,
age and attitude of the rock types
within an area
• Document those structures that have
deformed or cut those units
• Determine the processes that led to
the emplacement of these rocks, and
have subsequently modified them
Outflow source of Thunder
River, North Rim, Grand
Canyon
• Important difference for planetary
exploration with proximal humans:
 Higher value on an ability to tie
local observations at a site to
global observations
Brachiopod fossil in
Paleozoic limestone
Geologic Characterization
Range of martian geologic time; datable surfaces
Threshold
Evidence of aqueous processes
Potential for interpreting relative ages
MEPAG-HSO
Geoscience
Landing site
criteria
Igneous Rocks tied to 1+ provinces or different times
Near-surface ice, glacial or permafrost
Noachian or pre-Noachian bedrock units
Qualifying
Outcrops with remnant magnetization
Primary, secondary, and basin-forming impact deposits
Structural features with regional or global context
Diversity of aeolian sediments and/or landforms
• Short-term: Define and confirm local units and unit relationships
• Mid-term: Expand the spatial recognition of units and define new
units across exploration zone
• Long-term: Piece together the temporal/sequential history of the
EZ and initiate detailed analyses of sites of interest (other
disciplines)
Geologic Characterization
Range of martian geologic time; datable surfaces
Threshold
Evidence of aqueous processes
Potential for interpreting relative ages
MEPAG-HSO
Geoscience
Landing site
criteria
Igneous Rocks tied to 1+ provinces or different times
Near-surface ice, glacial or permafrost
Noachian or pre-Noachian bedrock units
Qualifying
Outcrops with remnant magnetization
Primary, secondary, and basin-forming impact deposits
Structural features with regional or global context
Diversity of aeolian sediments and/or landforms
• Basis for extending interpretations globally based on:
 Continued remote sensing observations
 Robotic exploration away from human sites
• Geologic framework provides the backbone against which
hypotheses of martian environmental and life supporting
conditions can be constructed and tested (detailed analyses)
 Don’t study the needle without recognizing the haystack
Geologic Characterization
Range of martian geologic time; datable surfaces
Threshold
Evidence of aqueous processes
Potential for interpreting relative ages
MEPAG-HSO
Geoscience
Landing site
criteria
Igneous Rocks tied to 1+ provinces or different times
Near-surface ice, glacial or permafrost
Noachian or pre-Noachian bedrock units
Qualifying
Outcrops with remnant magnetization
Primary, secondary, and basin-forming impact deposits
Structural features with regional or global context
Diversity of aeolian sediments and/or landforms
• We won’t land at a site because of one interesting feature
• Traditional rover-centric ops plans must evolve with architecture
 Long- and mid-term goals will mix
 Not a sequential exploration plan but an iterative process of
developing and testing hypotheses
 Can return to sites, multiple times, and potentially bring new
instruments
Instruments
NASA Desert Research And
Technology Studies (DRATS)
• Instruments required for successful HEOMD
missions are not currently in the NASA
portfolio
GeoLab
• Instrument types:
 Laboratory (comparable to current rover
instruments)
 Portable/Handheld
 Sensors: deployed arrays or suit/rover
• Laboratory instruments provide precision at
cost of measurement time
• Portable instruments provide rapid
measurements at cost of precision
Deployable
Sensors
Portable
Instruments
GSFC/SBU/JSC deployment
to Kilauea SW Rift Zone
 Enable sample triage
 Measurements of materials that cannot
be returned for lab measurement
• Sensors enable continuous measurements
Affordable & Sustainable Geoscience?
• Integrate geology objectives with other goals:
 Astrobiology and Atmospheric sciences
 Health and safety
• Remnant magnetic fields/radiation
• Reactivity of soils and dust
 In Situ Resource Utilization
• Water/ice
• Planetary protection
 Can we retire special regions?
 What measurements are required?
 Evolvable, flexible field planning
 Keep the public invested and engaged in the Journey to Mars