UK leadership in extraterrestrial sample return

英国在外星样本返回方面处于领先地位

基本信息

批准号：
ST/T002328/1
负责人：
Martin Robert Lee
金额：
$ 9.55万
依托单位：
University of Glasgow
依托单位国家：
英国
项目类别：
Research Grant
财政年份：
2019
资助国家：
英国
起止时间：
2019 至无数据
项目状态：
已结题

来源：
https://gtr.ukri.org/projects?ref=ST%2FT002328%2F1
关键词：
UK leadership extraterrestrial sample return

项目摘要

The aim of this project is to help build critical mass and leadership for the UK in the analysis of samples that are soon to be returned from asteroids, the Moon and Mars. These samples will be highly scientifically important because they will have the potential to deliver a step change in our ability to answer questions including those within STFC science challenge B: 'How do stars and planetary systems develop and how do they support the existence of life?'.The principal objective of our project is to undertake a proof of concept study to test the ability of the emerging technique of atom probe tomography to provide unique insights into the composition and structure of planetary materials. Atom probe tomography can potentially transform our ability to obtain science from tiny amounts of returned samples because it is uniquely capable of identifying atoms and locating them in three-dimensions in a sub-micrometre size particle. Damage to the original sample is minimal, which is exceptionally important given that very little material will be available for researchers to study. In our pump priming work we will analyse samples of carbonaceous chondrite meteorites, which are good analogues for the asteroids Bennu and Ryugu, samples of which will soon to be returned to Earth by NASA and the Japanese space agency. The outcomes of this work will include new capability for the measurement of chemistry, isotopic ratios and nanostructure in complex asteroidal materials. These results will underpin network building activities with researchers in the UK and internationally, thus helping to build critical mass and momentum behind leadership of the UK during this very exciting period of planetary exploration.

该项目的目的是帮助英国建立关键质量和领导力，以分析即将从小行星，月球和火星返回的样本。 These samples will be highly scientifically important because they will have the potential to deliver a step change in our ability to answer questions including those within STFC science challenge B: 'How do stars and planetary systems develop and how do they support the existence of life?'.The principal objective of our project is to undertake a proof of concept study to test the ability of the emerging technique of atom probe tomography to provide unique insights into the composition and structure of planetary materials.原子探针断层扫描可能会改变我们从少量返回的样品中获得科学的能力，因为它具有独特的能力鉴定原子并将其定位在三维中，以亚微米大小的粒子。对原始样本的损害很小，这一点非常重要，因为研究人员几乎没有材料可用于研究。在我们的泵启动工作中，我们将分析碳质软管陨石样品，这是小行星Bennu和Ryugu的好类似物，该样品将很快由NASA和日本航天局返回地球。这项工作的结果将包括复杂小行星材料中化学，同位素比和纳米结构测量的新能力。这些结果将支持英国和国际研究人员的网络建设活动，从而有助于在这个令人兴奋的行星探索时期，在英国领导力背后建立临界质量和动力。