Space weathering on Mercury

Space weathering is a process where formation of nanophase iron particles causes darkening of overall reflectance, spectral reddening, and weakening of absorption bands on atmosphereless bodies such as the moon and asteroids. Using pulse laser irradiation, formation of nanophase iron particles by micrometeorite impact heating is simulated. Although Mercurian surface is poor in iron and rich in anorthite, microscopic process of nanophase iron particle formation can take place on Mercury. On the other hand, growth of nanophase iron particles through Ostwald ripening or repetitive dust impacts would moderate the weathering degree. Future MESSENGER and BepiColombo mission will unveil space weathering on Mercury through multispectral imaging observations.     

月球表面太空风化作用及其效应

太空风化作用普遍发生在月球、小行星等一些无大气层的天体表面, 主要包括太阳风离子辐射和微陨石撞击等作用. 通过对真实月球样品太空风化作用的研究成果以及低能离子和激光照射等地面模拟实验结果的系统综述和分析, 重点分析了月壤颗粒中非晶质层和纳米铁的成因, 指出太空风化研究中存在的太阳风离子辐射和微陨石撞击贡献难以区分及模拟实验模拟效果尚不充分的问题.进而提出月球太空风化研究不能简单套用其他天体的模型, 并建议未来开展更多月球和陨石样品的精细化学分析.      

Survivability of biomolecules during extraterrestrial delivery: new results on pyrolysis of amino acids and poly-amino acids.

The hypothesis on exogenous origin of organic matter on the early Earth is strongly supported by the detection of a large variety of organic compounds (including amino acids and nucleobases) in carbonaceous chondrites. Whether such complex species can be successively delivered by other space bodies (comets, asteroids and interplanetary dust particles) is unclear and depends primarily on capability of the biomolecules to survive high temperatures during atmospheric deceleration and impacts to the terrestrial surface. Recent simulation experiments on amino acid and nucleic acid base pyrolysis under oxygen-free atmosphere demonstrated that simple representatives of these (considered thermally unstable) compounds can survive at 1-10% level a rapid heating at 500-600 degrees C. In the present work, we report on new data on the pyrolysis of amino acids and their homopolymers and discuss implications of their thermal behavior for extraterrestrial delivery.     

Measurements of bidirectional reflectance of ordinary chondrite for muses-C in-situ detection

MUSES-C, a Japanese sample return mission, is targeting a small near Earth asteroid, 1998SF36, which is considered an S-type asteroid and is similar in spectroscopy to LL class ordinary chondrite meteorite ([Binzel et al., 2001]). Although this mission will bring us detailed photometric data, that is, disk-resolved bidirectional reflectance data of the asteroid, there were few bidirectional reflectance data of ordinary chondrite meteorites. For the purpose of comparison with the data obtained by the in-situ observation, we have performed measurements of bidirectional reflectance of ordinary chondrite samples.

Here we summarize the result of our laboratory measurements of the bidirectional reflectance and compare them with the scattering property of 1998SF36. Although the geometric albedo of 1998SF36 is higher than the typical value of S-type asteroids, however, the laboratory data of ordinary chondrite are similar to or brighter than the model disk-resolved reflectance of 1998SF36 derived from disk-integrated ground-based data. We found in our laboratory data that there is a positive correlation between the surface roughness and the strength of the opposition effect. A stronger opposition effect in the reflectance of 1998SF36 than the laboratory data may therefore indicate that the surface of the asteroid has rougher structure than our laboratory samples.     

Origin of organic matter in the protosolar nebula and in comets.

Comet organics are traced to their origin in interstellar space. Possible sources of comet organics from solar nebula chemistry are briefly discussed. The infrared spectra of interstellar dust are compared with spectra of solar (space) irradiated laboratory organic residues and with meteorites. The spectra compare very favorably. The atomic composition of first generation laboratory organic residues compares favorably with that of comet Halley organics if divided into appropriate "volatile" (less refractory) and "refractory" (more refractory) complex organics.     

材料粗糙度变化对卫星光谱红化效应的影响

在轨人造目标的地基观测光谱存在红化效应,影响对目标反射光谱的理解应用.目标在进入空间环境后外露材料表面粗糙度发生变化.本文结合材料的光谱散射特性、卫星轨道和观测条件,仿真分析了卫星表面材料粗糙度变化对红化效应的影响.基于文献中实验数据,设计不同粗糙度的卫星表面材料样本,模拟空间环境中材料表面粗糙度的变化.利用双向反射分布函数,建立不同粗糙度材料样本的光谱散射模型.理论模拟结果表明,材料表面粗糙度的变化会影响其光谱散射特性,散射光谱形态和散射分布取决于粗糙度及入射-反射几何关系.引入网格剖分和可见面片,利用材料双向反射分布函数,仿真计算卫星表面材料在不同粗糙度状态下,整个卫星在可见光波段的反射光谱信号.仿真结果表明,随着卫星表面材料粗糙度的增加,其反射光谱在600nm之后随波长增加而呈现上升趋势,这表明空间环境中外露材料表面粗糙度变化是卫星产生红化效应的原因之一.      

The dynamical environments analysis of surface particles for different shaped asteroids

Asteroids are coming to be a popular topic in the areas of astrophysical studies and deep space exploration recently. However, surface dynamics of asteroids is still a difficult problem. This paper aims at the motion analysis of surface particles for different asteroids. The dynamical analysis method of particles’ movement is given for three parts: global motion trend, local motion trend and static analysis. A dimensionless parameter ζ is defined to distinguish the predominant term to determine the distribution of effective potential. Three kinds of common asteroids: spheroidal asteroid, spindle-shaped asteroid and dumbbell-shaped asteroid are all discussed for those three parts with different parameter ζ. The motion trend of particles on the surface of each kind of asteroid is given. The static analysis of surface particles for different asteroids is also illustrated. Based on them, some common rules for different shaped asteroids are revealed. This paper could not only provide a reference for asteroid exploration missions but also be meaningful for the research of morphologic evolution of asteroids.     

球粒陨石中单球粒硅含量测定及其意义

本工作采用14MeV中子活化分析方法,测定了20个单球粒及全岩的硅含量.结果表明:E、H、L、LL群石陨石中单球的硅含量均高于全岩的硅含量;全岩硅含量,按E、H、L、LL的次序,有逐步增高的趋势;非磁性单球硅含量,在普通球粒陨石中,按H、L、LL次序逐步增高.单球中硅含量高于全岩,间接证明凝聚形成球粒稍早于基质.      

陨石、流星体与小行星及彗星的演化关系

小行星、彗星和流星体(meteoroid)都是绕太阳公转的小天体,它们只是在轨道特性和物理-化学性质方面有所不同,流星体泛指在行星际空间运行的、质量从10~(-16)克微流星体或微尘到10~8克的所有小天体,当它们闯入地球大气时与大气剧烈碰撞而产生发光的流星(meteor)现象,落到地面的流星体残余则称为陨石或陨星(meteorite)。     

Dust grain orbital behavior around ceres

Many asteroids show indications they have undergone impacts with meteoroid particles having radii between 0.01 m and 1 m. During such impacts, small dust grains will be ejected at the impact site. The possibility of these dust grains (with radii greater than 2.2 μm) forming a halo around a spherical asteroid (such as Ceres) is investigated using standard numerical integration techniques. The orbital elements, positions, and velocities are determined for particles with varying radii taking into account both the influence of gravity, radiation pressure, and the interplanetary magnetic field (for charged particles). Under the influence of these forces it is found that dust grains (under the appropriate conditions) can be injected into orbits with lifetimes in excess of one year. The lifetime of the orbits is shown to be highly dependent on the location of the ejection point as well as the angle between the surface normal and the ejection path. It is also shown that only particles ejected within 10° relative to the surface tangential survive more than a few hours and that the longest-lived particles originate along a line perpendicular to the Ceres-Sun line.     

Parallel,adaptive, multi-object trajectory integrator for space simulation applications

Computer simulation is a very helpful approach for improving results from space born experiments. Initial-value problems (IVPs) can be applied for modeling dynamics of different objects – artificial Earth satellites, charged particles in magnetic and electric fields, charged or non-charged dust particles, space debris. An ordinary differential equations systems (ODESs) integrator based on applying different order embedded Runge–Kutta–Fehlberg methods is developed. These methods enable evaluation of the local error. Instead of step-size control based on local error evaluation, an optimal integration method is selected. Integration while meeting the required local error proceeds with constant-sized steps. This optimal scheme selection reduces the amount of calculation needed for solving the IVPs. In addition, for an implementation on a multi core processor and parallelization based on threads application, we describe how to solve multiple systems of IVPs efficiently in parallel.     

未分群铁陨石及其硅酸盐包体的研究

本文对Guin陨石进行了化学、矿物学和岩石学方面的研究,表明Guin是一块含有45μg/gGa和186μg/g Ge的难于分类的铁陨石,它是具有异常高镍含量(92.5mg/g)的粗八面体陨铁。它还包含有6±3vol.％硅酸盐包体。包体的组成类似于球粒陨石冲击而成的融体玻璃。因此,我们认为Guin是球粒陨石母体冲击熔融而形成的集合体。      

我国某些普通球粒陨石金属相的元素分布

本文用仪器中子活化分析法测定了我国不同化学群的吉林(H₅),信阳(H₅)、肇东(L₅)、广饶(L_6-5)和东台(LL₆)等普通球粒陨石金属相的Fe、Ni、Co、Cu、Cr、Mn、Ga、Ge、Ir、Au和As含量.每个陨石的金属相按粒径分为>20目.20—40目.<40目等.根据这些结果,讨论了元素的分布规律和分馏趋势以及决定金属相组成的作用过程.      

Tracking the organic refractory component from interstellar dust to comets.

The abundance and composition of complex organic (carbonaceous) material in the interstellar dust is followed as the dust evolves in its cyclic evolution between diffuse and dense clouds. Interstellar extinction, laboratory and space analog experiments, dust infrared absorption spectra, the cosmic abundance of the condensible atoms, and space and ground-based observations of comet dust are used to impose constraints on the organic dust component as mantles on silicate cores.     

Formation of amino acid precursors in cometary ice environments by cosmic radiation.

Cometary ices are believed to contain water, carbon monoxide, methane and ammonia, and are possible sites for the formation and preservation of organic compounds relating to the origin of life. Cosmic rays, together with ultraviolet light, are among the most effective energy sources for the formation of organic compounds in space. In order to study the possibility of the formation of amino acids in comets or their precursory bodies (interstellar dust grains), several types of ice mixtures made in a cryostat at 10 K ("simulated cometary ices") were irradiated with high energy protons. After irradiation, the volatile products were analyzed with a quadrupole mass spectrometer, while temperature of the cryostat was raised to room temperature. The non-volatile products remaining in the cryostat at room temperature were collected with water. They were acid-hydrolyzed, and analyzed by ion-exchange chromatography. When an ice mixture of carbon monoxide (or methane), ammonia and water was irradiated, some hydrocarbons were formed, and amino acids such as glycine and alanine were detected in the hydrolyzate. These results suggest the possible formation of "amino acid precursors" (compounds yielding amino acids after hydrolysis) in interstellar dust grains by cosmic radiation. We previously reported that amino acid precursors were formed when simulated primitive planetary atmospheres were irradiated with cosmic ray particles. It will be of great interest to compare the amount of bioorganic compounds that were formed in the primitive earth and that brought by comets to the earth.     

吉林陨石冲击波压缩和幔岩模型

应用冲击波试验技术研究吉林陨石在冲击压缩期间所出现的相转变。试验雨贡纽点采用最小二乘方去拟合伯奇-默纳汉或默纳汉状态方程分析。文中提出了估计吉林陨石高压态的零压参数方法;试验结果得出,在高压吉林陨石中大部分矿物形成高压相矿物聚合体。它的零压密度为4.395g/cm3,可能含有零压密度6.32g/cm3的钙钛矿结构矿物。计算得出,吉林陨石硅酸盐相零压密度是4.10g/cm3。显然,它与地球模式的下地幔矿物聚合体的零压密度(4.15g/cm3)极一致。由此得出,原始下地幔可能是普通球粒陨石;原始地核是铁陨石小行星。这样,陨石和铁镁硅酸盐中的铁化物岐变,随着地球增长源源不断的提供外核的铁来源。      

The MAGO experiment for dust environment monitoring on the Martian surface

Among the main directions identified for future Martian exploration, the study of the properties of dust dispersed in the atmosphere, its cycle and the impact on climate are considered of primary relevance. Dust storms, dust devils and the dust “cycle” have been identified and studied by past remote and in situ experiments, but little quantitative information is available on these processes, so far. The airborne dust contributes to the determination of the dynamic and thermodynamic evolution of the atmosphere, including the large-scale circulation processes and its impact on the climate of Mars. Moreover, aeolian erosion, redistribution of dust on the surface and weathering processes are mostly known only qualitatively. In order to improve our knowledge of the airborne dust evolution and other atmospheric processes, it is mandatory to measure the amount, mass-size distribution and dynamical properties of solid particles in the Martian atmosphere as a function of time. In this context, there is clearly a need for the implementation of experiments dedicated to study directly atmospheric dust. The Martian atmospheric grain observer (MAGO) experiment is aimed at providing direct quantitative measurements of mass and size distributions of dust particles, a goal that has never been fully achieved so far. The instrument design combines three types of sensors to monitor in situ the dust mass flux (micro balance system, MBS) and single grain properties (grain detection system, GDS + impact sensor, IS). Technical solutions and science capabilities are discussed in this paper.     

Processing of amorphous carbon grains produced in hydrogen-rich atmosphere.

Recent laboratory experiments, compared with observations, have strongly suggested that the amount of hydrogen, present in the grain formation regions, around C-rich stars, can play a major role in the definition of the spectral characteristics of the freshly formed carbon dust particles. Such spectral characteristics could also be modified, during the thermal processing, due to the shock waves and/or the strong radiation field, that the grains undergo after their formation. In this work we report about a series of laboratory tests, during which submicronic dust particles of amorphous carbon, condensed in an hydrogen-rich atmosphere, have been processed, by means of two different methods. Some samples have been annealed into an oven at different temperatures, while others have been exposed to strong ultraviolet radiation. Their spectra have been obtained before and after the processing in the full range from ultraviolet (200 nm) to far infrared (0.1 mm). The results of the experiment are presented and discussed, together with their astrophysical implications.     

Metallic dust collectors for low velocity impacts

Experiments simulating the non-destructive collection of cosmic dust are conducted at the laboratory of the Lehrstuhl für Raumfahrttechnik (LRT) of the Technische Universität München (TUM). The electromagnetic accelerator setup is described, which is capable of obtaining an impact velocity between 10 and 400 m/s with particle masses up to 1 g. The evaluation method of the ratio of collected to impacting particles is given. Various metallic surface structures were tested with respect to their collection efficiency using different types of particles from 1 to 500 μm in size for simulation of cosmic dust. The simulation results are presented with emphasis on collection mechanisms. Particular influences on the collection mechanisms are discussed.     

The Kumtag meteorite strewn field

The Kumtag meteorite strewn field was found in the Kumtag desert, 132 km south of Hami city in the Xinjiang province, China. It is an ellipse of 2.5 × 7.9 km, with a long axis extending along the northeast-southwest direction. The largest individual meteorite of the strewn field weighs about 10 kg; the smallest individual has a mass of only 27 g. In total, more than 100 individuals with a total mass of more than 180 kg were collected. The location and the distribution of the fragments suggest that the Kumtag meteoroid entered the atmosphere in the direction Northeast-Southwest. All meteorites collected in this strewn field are samples from the same unique meteorite shower. The Kumtag meteorite is an H5 ordinary chondrite with a shock stage S2, and a weathering grade W2. The cosmic ray exposure age of Kumtag is 6.7 ± 0.8 Ma, which is rather typical for H chondrites and which indicates that Kumtag was derived from the massive impact event on its parent body ~7 Ma ago. A significant amount of He has been lost during certain unknown processe(s) before the Kumtag meteorite was ejected from its parent body.