Grant: Research Tools and Instruments - Category 1 (<$150,000)
University of Winnipeg
$150,000.00
Powder X-ray Diffractometer - Planetary Environment Chambers
FY 2011-12
Summary
The surfaces of planetary bodies are heavily modified by their environments, such as the hard vacuum of space (asteroids, the Moon) or the thin atmosphere of Mars. Understanding surface-environment interactions is crucial if we are to improve our ability to accurately map planetary surface geology and search for evidence of life on planetary surfaces.
This proposal will enable the acquisition of a powder X-ray diffractometer (XRD), which will be used to determine the structure and identity of a wide range of geological materials. The XRD will be interfaced to a series of innovative planetary environment chambers that can reproduce a range of planetary surface environments. In combination with our reflectance and Raman spectrometers, we will monitor simultaneous spectroscopic and structural changes that accompany exposure of different geological and biological materials to appropriate planetary surface environmental conditions. The range of materials that we will examine include asteroidal and Martian meteorites, lunar samples, terrestrial analogues of planetary materials, and biominerals and biomolecules. The information provided by these experiments will be used to assess the stability fields of these materials and develop procedures for recognizing their presence on planetary surfaces.
These results will improve our understanding of the composition of different planetary bodies, and how environmental conditions can affect surface geology (and habitability). The facility will also support the research of the applicant and some co-applicants, who are members of the science teams for the 2016 NASA-ESA ExoMars Trace Gas Orbiter and 2016 NASA New Frontiers OSIRIS-REx asteroid sample return mission. For ExoMars, the facility will support investigations of the composition of airborne Martian dust and atmosphere-dust interactions. For OSIRIS-REx, the facility will support studies of the stability of organic molecules and volatiles that are expected to exist on target asteroid 1999 RQ36.
Program
Research Tools and Instruments - Category 1 (<$150,000)
Recipient
Location
Manitoba, Canada
Recipient Type
Academia
Type
Grant
Source
NSERC's Awards Data
As published
Application id
422424-2012
Name nom
Cloutis, Edward
Department département
Geography
Organization id
21
Institution établissement
University of Winnipeg
Province en
Manitoba
Province fr
Manitoba
Country en
CANADA
Country fr
CANADA
Fiscal year exercice financier
2011
Competition year année de concours
2012
Award amount
150000
Program id
EQPEQ
Program nane en
Research Tools and Instruments - Category 1 (<$150,000)
Program name fr
Outils et instruments de recherche - catégorie 1 (<150 000$)
Group en
Discovery grants programs
Group fr
Programmes de subventions à la découverte
Committee code
1506
Committee name en
Geosciences
Committee name fr
Géosciences
Area of application code
1204
Area of application group en
Advancement of knowledge
Area of application group fr
Avancement des connaissances
Area of application en
Space and astronomy
Area of application fr
Sciences spatiales et astronomie
Research subject code
3251
Research subject group en
Space science
Research subject group fr
Recherche spatiale
Research subject en
Planetary
Research subject fr
Sciences planétaires
Partie
1
Nb partie
1
Application title
Powder X-ray Diffractometer - Planetary Environment Chambers
Keyword
NSERC
Application summary
The surfaces of planetary bodies are heavily modified by their environments, such as the hard vacuum of space (asteroids, the Moon) or the thin atmosphere of Mars. Understanding surface-environment interactions is crucial if we are to improve our ability to accurately map planetary surface geology and search for evidence of life on planetary surfaces.
This proposal will enable the acquisition of a powder X-ray diffractometer (XRD), which will be used to determine the structure and identity of a wide range of geological materials. The XRD will be interfaced to a series of innovative planetary environment chambers that can reproduce a range of planetary surface environments. In combination with our reflectance and Raman spectrometers, we will monitor simultaneous spectroscopic and structural changes that accompany exposure of different geological and biological materials to appropriate planetary surface environmental conditions. The range of materials that we will examine include asteroidal and Martian meteorites, lunar samples, terrestrial analogues of planetary materials, and biominerals and biomolecules. The information provided by these experiments will be used to assess the stability fields of these materials and develop procedures for recognizing their presence on planetary surfaces.
These results will improve our understanding of the composition of different planetary bodies, and how environmental conditions can affect surface geology (and habitability). The facility will also support the research of the applicant and some co-applicants, who are members of the science teams for the 2016 NASA-ESA ExoMars Trace Gas Orbiter and 2016 NASA New Frontiers OSIRIS-REx asteroid sample return mission. For ExoMars, the facility will support investigations of the composition of airborne Martian dust and atmosphere-dust interactions. For OSIRIS-REx, the facility will support studies of the stability of organic molecules and volatiles that are expected to exist on target asteroid 1999 RQ36.
