Lunar Beagle and Lunar Astrobiology |
| |
| Authors: | Everett K Gibson Colin T Pillinger Lester J Waugh |
| |
| Institution: | (1) KR, Astromaterials Research Office, NASA Johnson Space Center, Houston, TX 77058, USA;(2) Planetary and Space Sciences Research Institute (PSSRI), The Open University, Walton Hall, Milton Keynes, MK7 6AA, UK;(3) EADS Astrium Ltd., Gunnels Wood Rd., Stevenage, SG1 2AS, UK |
| |
| Abstract: | The study of the elements and molecules of astrobiological interest on the Moon can be made with the Gas Analysis Package
(GAP) and associated instruments developed for the Beagle 2 Mars Express Payload. The permanently shadowed polar regions of
the Moon may offer a unique location for the “cold-trapping” of the light elements (i.e. H, C, N, O, etc.) and their simple
compounds. Studies of the returned lunar samples have shown that lunar materials have undergone irradiation with the solar
wind and adsorb volatiles from possible cometary and micrometeoroid impacts. The Beagle 2’s analytical instrument package
including the sample processing facility and the GAP mass spectrometer can provide vital isotopic information that can distinguish
whether the lunar volatiles are indigenous to the moon, solar wind derived, cometary in origin or from meteoroids impacting
on the Moon. As future Lunar Landers are being considered, the suite of instruments developed for the Mars Beagle 2 lander
can be consider as the baseline for any lunar volatile or resource instrument package. |
| |
| Keywords: | |
| 本文献已被 SpringerLink 等数据库收录！ |
|
