Grant: Research Tools and Instruments

Canada arguably possesses the widest and most diverse range of planetary analogue environments on Earth, with sites that simulate many aspects of the surfaces of Mars and icy satellites, all of which are high priority targets for future planetary missions which are focused on assessing habitability and astrobiological potential. Such sites also serve as test beds for instrumentation designed to detect the presence of life in impoverished and extreme environments for both terrestrial and planetary applications. Consequently, these analogue sites attract researchers from a variety of disciplines from across Canada and internationally. <br /> <br /> One powerful technique for assessing habitability and astrobiological potential is reflectance spectroscopy. Canada is a world leader in the development of such instruments and their application to planetary and terrestrial exploration and monitoring. <br /> <br /> Consequently, the application of this investigative tool to diverse environments can significantly advance multiple areas of inquiry, such as planetary mapping, astrobiology and the search for life, mineral exploration, and microbiology. The University of Winnipeg has been at the forefront of this effort, combining field-based spectroscopy with Canada&rsquo;s diverse analogue environments, supplemented by planetary environment chambers that allow samples from field sites to be exposed to a variety of planetary surface conditions, enhancing data acquired in the field or under ambient laboratory conditions.<br /> <br /> This proposal is intended to enable the acquisition of a new state-of-the-art field-portable reflectance spectrometer to replace the existing workhorse instrument, which is now 12 years old, nearing the end of its technical support life, and exhibiting signs of degraded performance. The proposed instrument will cover the wavelength range from 350 to 2500 nanometres, with better than 7 nanometre spectral resolution, matching or exceeding the performance of current and next-generation planetary spectrometers. The new instrument will ensure that Canada maintains its leadership role in spectroscopy-based planetary exploration, and enabling the training of next generation HQP in planetary exploration, so that we can continue to play a significant role in the future of planetary exploration.<br /> <br />