Investigating Atmospheric Volatiles on Planets in our Solar System and Beyond

研究太阳系及其他行星上的大气挥发物

• 批准号: RGPIN-2019-06334
• 负责人: Moores, John
• 金额: $ 2.62万
• 依托单位: York University
• 依托单位国家: 加拿大
• 项目类别: Discovery Grants Program - Individual
• 财政年份: 2020
• 资助国家: 加拿大
• 起止时间: 2020-01-01 至 2021-12-31
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nserc-crsng.gc.ca/ase-oro/Details-Detailles_eng.asp?id=715998
• 关键词: Investigating; Atmospheric; Volatiles; Planets; our

In the 65 years since the launch of the first interplanetary spacecraft, locations that were once little more than points of light in the sky have become known worlds through the efforts of over 100 robotic explorers. What we have seen through their eyes has challenged our scientific preconceptions at every turn. Pluto exemplifies this transformation; previously thought to be a cold, dead place, Pluto was instead revealed in 2015 to have an active geology with glacial flows, extrusive volcanism and even fog banks. Examples of these surprises are important to remember when considering planets beyond our solar system. These extra-solar planets will, for decades to come, remain no more than variations in the brightness of points of light in the sky. Yet we are able to discern important details about their environments and atmospheres by studying these variations. We can make this data meaningful only through our knowledge of the planets within our own solar system, using them as a sort of Rosetta Stone. Simultaneously, by describing the range of planetary systems that can exist, exoplanetary astronomy challenges our models of the solar system, providing fresh insights that we can test through new missions that deepen our understanding of our own family of planets. Together, these two processes help us to push past empirical explanations to obtain a fundamental understanding of planetary processes. My work focuses on the exploration of our solar system, (1) developing the tools required for exploration and also (2) in interpreting and modeling the data returned from planetary missions and (3) the application of these results to planetary bodies in other stellar systems. Thus, it is the objective of my research to develop Systems in the engineering sense of equipment, tools and techniques while also striving to develop an understanding the science of Systems of planets. Advancing these goals will involve, broadly: (1) Developing low-cost, low mass instrumentation and platforms for planetary space missions. Space missions are very highly constrained endeavors. As such, my research into instrumentation focuses on opportunities to add significant capability and science value at slight incremental cost in resources. (2) Exploring the atmospheres of other planets and their interactions with planetary surfaces. As data continues to flow back to earth from interplanetary spacecraft, my laboratory is well positioned to contribute to the understanding of planetary systems. As a participating scientist on the Mars Science Laboratory Mission (popularly known as the Curiosity Rover) and a collaborator on the Mars InSight mission, my students and I are able to run our experiments on Mars while taking opportunistic advantage of data returned from other spacecraft to make contributions enabled by our unique multi-disciplinary approach. (3) Applying those contributions to exoplanets through our participation in the Technologies for Exo-Planetary Science CREATE.

自从第一个星际航天器推出以来的65年中，通过100多个机器人探险家的努力，曾经超过天空中光点的地点已成为已知的世界。我们通过他们的眼睛看到的一切都挑战了我们的科学先入为主。冥王星体现了这种转变；冥王星以前被认为是一个寒冷，死亡的地方，在2015年被揭露，具有冰川流动，膨胀的火山甚至雾银行的活跃地质。 在考虑太阳系以外的行星时，要记住这些惊喜的例子很重要。这些超极的行星将在未来几十年中保持不足，而不仅仅是天空中光点亮度的变化。但是，我们能够通过研究这些变化来辨别有关其环境和氛围的重要细节。我们只有通过对自己的太阳系中的行星的了解，才能将这些数据作为Rosetta Stone的知识来实现​​。同时，通过描述可能存在的行星系统的范围，超级星际天文学挑战了我们的太阳系模型，提供了新的见解，我们可以通过新的任务来测试，从而加深对我们自己的行星家族的理解。这两个过程共同帮助我们推动了经验解释，以获得对行星过程的基本理解。 我的工作着重于探索太阳系，（1）开发探索所需的工具，以及（2）解释和建模从行星任务中返回的数据，以及（3）这些结果将这些结果应用于其他恒星的行星体系统。因此，我的研究目的是在工程学意识上开发设备，工具和技术的系统，同时还努力发展行星系统科学。促进这些目标将广泛涉及： （1）为行星空间任务开发低成本，低质量仪器和平台。太空任务是非常有限的努力。因此，我对仪器的研究集中在于以略有增量的资源成本增加能力和科学价值的机会。 （2）探索其他行星的气氛及其与行星表面的相互作用。随着数据继续从星际航天器流回地球，我的实验室有助于对行星系统的理解做出贡献。作为Mars Science Laboratory Mission（通常称为好奇的Rover）和Mars Insight Mission的合作者的参与科学家，我和我的学生能够在火星上进行实验，同时利用其他航天器的数据优势，通过我们独特的多学科方法来实现贡献。 （3）通过我们参与欧洲航行性科学创建的技术，将这些贡献应用于系外行星。