Developing and Testing Planetary Sample Collection
Techniques
NEEMO 13 Aquanauts collect and document
samples.
Image Credit:
NASA
The Importance of Planetary Sample Returns
Dr. Mary Sue Bell of NASA's Astromaterials Research and Exploration Science
Directorate explains why it's important to help astronauts develop sample
collection techniques during NASA's analog missions.
Why are planetary sample returns so important?
Planetary science has seen a tremendous growth in new knowledge as a result
of recent NASA robotic missions that have detected deposits of water-ice at the
moon's poles and potential conditions under which life could have flourished on
Mars.
While some sophisticated data can be derived from "in situ" measurements taken by rovers and satellites, returned planetary samples allow scientists on Earth to use latest technologies available to maximize the scientific return. The science community has recently seen compelling sample returns, including solar wind particles (NASA's Genesis), comet particles (NASA's Stardust) asteroid particles (JAXA's Hayabusa) and Antarctic meteorites, which scientists collect each Austral summer.
The National Research Council Decadal Study of 2011 recommended that NASA's chief scientific goal should be to return samples from Mars by 2023. Measurements taken by the MER rovers Spirit and Opportunity indicate that Mars had a warmer and wetter climate early in Mars history – conditions in which scientists believe life could have formed on early Mars. But chemical evidence of life in materials like the rocky regolith of Mars can be quite small and difficult for robotic geologists to detect and measure.
While some sophisticated data can be derived from "in situ" measurements taken by rovers and satellites, returned planetary samples allow scientists on Earth to use latest technologies available to maximize the scientific return. The science community has recently seen compelling sample returns, including solar wind particles (NASA's Genesis), comet particles (NASA's Stardust) asteroid particles (JAXA's Hayabusa) and Antarctic meteorites, which scientists collect each Austral summer.
The National Research Council Decadal Study of 2011 recommended that NASA's chief scientific goal should be to return samples from Mars by 2023. Measurements taken by the MER rovers Spirit and Opportunity indicate that Mars had a warmer and wetter climate early in Mars history – conditions in which scientists believe life could have formed on early Mars. But chemical evidence of life in materials like the rocky regolith of Mars can be quite small and difficult for robotic geologists to detect and measure.
The Astromaterials Research and Exploration Science (ARES) directorate at
NASA's Johnson Space Center curates all of NASA's "extraterrestrial" samples.
The ARES directorate mission is to protect, preserve, and distribute samples for
study from the Moon, Mars, and interplanetary space in support of solar system
exploration. These sample collections include lunar rocks and regolith returned
by the Apollo missions.
Samples from Mars will require special handling protocols from the time the sample collection site is chosen through documentation, encapsulation, and transport to Earth and to NASA's curation facility for allocation to scientist for analysis and study. Because scientists don't yet know how to differentiate an Earth-derived sample of life from a Mars-derived sample of life, scientists are eager to develop protocols that will protect Mars samples from Earth contamination. Landers, collection tools and sample containers could all carry trace amounts of Earthly biology, so must be equipped with decontamination materials and procedures to protect the precious samples.
Samples from Mars will require special handling protocols from the time the sample collection site is chosen through documentation, encapsulation, and transport to Earth and to NASA's curation facility for allocation to scientist for analysis and study. Because scientists don't yet know how to differentiate an Earth-derived sample of life from a Mars-derived sample of life, scientists are eager to develop protocols that will protect Mars samples from Earth contamination. Landers, collection tools and sample containers could all carry trace amounts of Earthly biology, so must be equipped with decontamination materials and procedures to protect the precious samples.
A NEEMO Aquanaut tests sample collection tools in
the reduced gravity underwater environment.
Image Credit:
NASA
How do NASA's analog missions, like NEEMO, help scientists develop special sample handling techniques for their exploration programs?
Planetary environments are considered extreme for both robotic and human
exploration. Apollo astronauts experienced lower gravity on the moon than on
Earth and a very thin atmosphere that required them to wear a space suit with
life protection and support systems. When they collected moon rocks, the
astronauts didn't know if they were exposing themselves to health hazards, so
they wore large bulky gloves and used special sample collection tools and
containers. These protective materials and special sample devices were developed
in laboratories at Johnson Space Center and then tested in the field by
geologists. After the sampling tools and techniques were sufficiently refined,
Apollo astronauts were trained to use the techniques developed by the
scientists.
Today, ARES scientists are developing tools and techniques for use on
planetary surfaces with the same life support requirements and gravity
conditions for human exploration as on the moon or Mars but lower gravity
environments like near-Earth asteroids as well. Low gravity environments present
special obstacles for collecting and containing geologic materials because loose
material can drift away and an astronaut can be propelled away from a planetary
surface just by hitting a rock with a hammer. NASA's Extreme Environment Mission
Operations (NEEMO) is an undersea research facility that allows humans to
experience reduced gravity due to the buoyancy provided by water in an
environment requiring life support for breathing air. During NEEMO 16, NASA can
refine sample collection techniques in an extreme environment and train
astronauts to use tools and procedures developed for those unique
conditions.
NASA develops tools and techniques during analog missions to ensure the scientific integrity of samples returned from a variety of planetary surfaces both by robots and by human explorers. NASA's returned samples will help scientists understand the formation and evolution of the solar system and determine if life or the conditions for life existed on other plantary bodies. These returned samples will be curated for future generations and allow them to employ advanced techniques not yet available to scientific researchers.
NASA develops tools and techniques during analog missions to ensure the scientific integrity of samples returned from a variety of planetary surfaces both by robots and by human explorers. NASA's returned samples will help scientists understand the formation and evolution of the solar system and determine if life or the conditions for life existed on other plantary bodies. These returned samples will be curated for future generations and allow them to employ advanced techniques not yet available to scientific researchers.
How does this Analog activity fit with NASA's current mission plans?
Aquanauts test and develop surface
operations.
Image Credit:
NASA
NASA
is actively planning to expand the horizons of human space exploration, and with
the Space Launch System and the Orion crew vehicle, humans will soon have the
ability to travel beyond low Earth orbit. That opens up a solar system of
possibilities, and NASA's goal is to send humans to explore an asteroid by 2025.
Other destinations may include the moon or Mars and its moons.
Regardless of the destination, the work must start now. NASA is developing the technologies and systems to transport explorers to multiple destinations, each with its own unique – and extreme – space environment. Because sample return requirements are mission specific, the handling protocols are designed specifically for the types of questions the scientific community hopes to answer using samples from a particular planetary destination. ARES curation scientists are in collaboration with the mission architecture engineers to develop mission goals that are aligned with the science goals. ARES scientist participate in analog missions for protocol development and science operations development from mission conception to execution and sample return to ensure that the requirements of the scientific community will be met and the scientific return to the public will be maximized.
Regardless of the destination, the work must start now. NASA is developing the technologies and systems to transport explorers to multiple destinations, each with its own unique – and extreme – space environment. Because sample return requirements are mission specific, the handling protocols are designed specifically for the types of questions the scientific community hopes to answer using samples from a particular planetary destination. ARES curation scientists are in collaboration with the mission architecture engineers to develop mission goals that are aligned with the science goals. ARES scientist participate in analog missions for protocol development and science operations development from mission conception to execution and sample return to ensure that the requirements of the scientific community will be met and the scientific return to the public will be maximized.
International Undersea Crew Available for Live Satellite
Interviews
International Undersea Crew Available for Live Satellite
Interviews
How does living and working underwater for nine days help us explore
space?
Four astronauts who will be living 62 feet below the surface of the Atlantic
Ocean will be available to answer that question and more during satellite
interviews from inside an underwater habitat from 8 to 8:45 a.m. EDT Wednesday,
July 23.
The crew members of the NASA Extreme Environment Mission Operations (NEEMO)
18 project, which begins Monday, July 21, will test technologies and training
techniques for use aboard the International Space Station and long-duration
exploration missions. Mission objectives will focus on behavioral health and
performance, human health issues, and habitability.
Astronaut Akihiko Hoshide of the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency will
command the NEEMO 18 mission aboard the Aquarius laboratory. He will be joined
by NASA astronauts Jeanette Epps and Mark Vande Hei and European Space Agency
astronaut Thomas Pesquet.
The NEEMO crew, along with two professional habitat technicians, will conduct
this mission in Florida International University’s undersea research habitat
Aquarius Reef Base, located about 6 miles off the coast of Key Largo,
Florida.
To participate in the interviews, contact producer Karen Svetaka at
281-483-8684 or karen.a.svetaka@nasa.gov by 3 p.m.
Tuesday, July 22.
A b-roll video feed will precede the live interviews at 7:30 a.m. on NASA
Television’s Media Channel. Participating media can find satellite tuning
information at:
For NASA TV streaming video, schedules and more downlink information,
visit:
The crew members will share their experiences during NEEMO 18 on Twitter
at:
For more information about NEEMO, crew members, and links to follow the
mission on Facebook and Twitter, visit:
NASA
Guillermo Gonzalo Sánchez Achutegui
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