Grant: Research Tools and Instruments

The presence of fine-grained (5 micrometres in size) dust in planetary atmospheres (such as Mars) and on planetary surfaces (such as Mars, the Moon, and asteroids) provides both challenges and opportunities for planetary exploration. By making and characterizing fine-grained dust relevant to planetary surfaces and atmospheres, we expect to make important advances in understanding the origin and evolution of the solar system and of life. Specific areas that the proposed equipment will anable us to explore include: Are minerals present in Martian atmospheric dust that are indicative of habitability and past or present biology? What is the origin, and geological and dynamical history of the asteroid belt? How far did prebiotic chemistry advance on asteroids and what are the implications for the origin of life on Earth and possibilities of life on other planets? How can we improve mapping the geology of planetary surfaces (e.g., Moon, asteroids) whose surfaces are modified by fine-grain dust and space weathering? How can we maximize science return of delivered planetary materials (e.g., meteorites, Apollo lunar samples) and returned planetary materials (e.g., the Canadian-participated OSIRIS-REx asteroid sample return mission) using non-destructive micro-scale analysis? To accomplish these important science goals, we request funding to acquire critical laboratory equipment that will enable us non-destructively characterize micrometer- to nanometre-size planetary materials, such as asteroidal, Martian, and lunar meteorites, returned lunar samples, cometary/interplanetary dust particles, and samples from upcoming asteroid sample return missions. We will also acquire equipment to prepare and characterize fine-grained terrestrial representatives of such materials. The requested equipment includes technologies to produce fine-grained dust (ultrasonic siever, micronizer), to characterize fine-grained dust and planetary materials (scanning electron microscope, enhanced X-ray diffractometer detector), and provide data directly relevant to analysis of data from planetary exploration missions (single particle non-destructive spectroscopic characterization). This proposal is relevant to the Canadian and international planetary exploration communities because it addresses broad science questions that are international in scope and importance. Canada is a world-class participant in planetary exploration, having flown instruments on a number of Mars missions and is the major partner in the OSIRIS-REx asteroid sample return mission. Thus, this proposal will provide added value to investments already made by Canada in planetary exploration. Outreach associated with these high profile missions can also engage the interest of students and the Canadian public.