SCIENTIFIC AND TECHNICAL AEROSPACE REPORTS

A Biweekly Publication of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration
VOLUME 44, ISSUE 12 - JUNE 20, 2006

88 SPACE SCIENCES (GENERAL)
Includes general research topics related to the natural space sciences.

For specific topics in space sciences see categories 89 through 93.

20060015640 NASA Ames Research Center, Moffett Field, CA, USA

STARDUST and HAYABUSA: Sample Return Missions to Small Bodies in the Solar System

Sandford, S. A.; [2005]; 1 pp.; In English; JPL Educator Conference: Comets, Asteroids, and Much More -Small Bodies - the Solar System's New Zoo Contract(s)/Grant(s): 767.04.02.01; No Copyright; Avail.: Other Sources; Abstract Only

There are currently two active spacecraft missions designed to return samples to Earth from small bodies in our Solar System. STARDUST will return samples from the comet Wild 2, and HAYABUSA will return samples from the asteroid Itokawa. On January 3,2004, the STARDUST spacecraft made the closest ever flyby (236 km) of the nucleus of a comet - Comet Wild 2. During the flyby the spacecraft collected samples of dust from the coma of the comet. These samples will be returned to Earth on January 15,2006. After a brief preliminary examination to establish the nature of the returned samples, they will be made available to the general scientific community for study. The HAYABUSA spacecraft arrived at the Near Earth Asteroid Itokawa in September 2005 and is currently involved in taking remote sensing data from the asteroid. Several practice landings have been made and a sample collection landing will be made soon. The collected sample will be returned to Earth in June 2007. During my talk I will discuss the scientific goals of the STARDUST and HAYABUSA missions and provide an overview of their designs and flights to date. I will also show some of the exciting data returned by these spacecraft during their encounters with their target objects. Author

Stardust Mission; Sample Return Missions; Flyby Missions; Comets; Asteroids; Remote Sensing; Wild 2 Comet

20060015663 NASA Ames Research Center, Moffett Field, CA, USA

Miniature Gas Chromatograph (GC): Penning Ionization Electron Spectroscopy (PIES) Instrument for the Trace Analyses of Extraterrestrial Environments

Kojiro, Daniel R.; Sheverev, Valery A.; Holland, Paul M.; Takeuchi, Norishige; [2006]; 2 pp.; In English; American Chemical Society 231st National Meeting and Exposition, 26-30 Mar. 2006, Atlanta, GA, USA Contract(s)/Grant(s): RTOP 344-52-00; No Copyright; Avail.: Other Sources; Abstract Only

In situ exploration of the solar system to identify its early chemistry as preserved in icy bodies and to look for compelling evidence of astrobiology will require new technology for chemical analysis. Chemical measurements in space flight environments highlight the need for a high level of positive identification of chemical compounds, since re-measurement by alternative techniques for confirmation will not be feasible. It also may not be possible to anticipate all chemical species that are observed, and important species may be present only at trace levels where they can be masked by complex chemical backgrounds. Up to now, the only techniques providing independent sample identification of GC separated components across a wide range of chemical species have been Mass Spectrometry (MS) and Ion Mobility Spectrometry (IMS).We describe here the development of a versatile and robust miniature GC detector based on Penning Ionization Electron Spectroscopy (PIES), for use with miniature GC systems being developed for planetary missions. PIES identifies the sample molecule through spectra related to its ionization potential. The combination of miniature GC technology with the primary identification capabilities of PIES provides an analytical approach ideal for planetary analyses. Author

Chemical Analysis; Solar System; Mass Spectroscopy; Ionization Potentials; Gas Chromatography; Extraterrestrial Environments; Exobiology; Chemical Composition

20060015664 NASA Ames Research Center, Moffett Field, CA, USA

Spitzer Spectroscopy of Low-Mass Dwarfs - Clouds and Chemistry at the Bottom of the IMF

Roellig, Thomas L.; [2006]; 1 pp.; In English Contract(s)/Grant(s): RTOP 21-456-06; No Copyright; Avail.: Other Sources; Abstract Only

Brown dwarfs and low-mass stars show evidence of complicated atmospheres, including a variety of molecular species and clouds. Infrared observations are one of the best probes of the physics of these objects, but up until recently these observations have been limited in studies from ground-based telescopes by atmospheric absorption and insufficient sensitivity. With the launch of the Spitzer Space Telescope with its Infrared Spectrograph (IRS) instrument we now have the capability to undertake a systematic study of the atmospheric structure and chemistry in these cool objects. The IRS Dim Suns team has compiled spectra from objects ranging from M1 dwarfs with effective temperatures 3,800K of down to T8 dwarfs with effective temperatures of 700. This talk will present these results and discuss their implications for our understanding of cool dwarf atmospheric physics and structure. Author

Dwarf Stars; Brown Dwarf Stars; Infrared Astronomy; Atmospheric Chemistry; Stellar Temperature; Spectrographs; Mass

20060015668 NASA Ames Research Center, Moffett Field, CA, USA

Prebiotic Materials from On and Off the Early Earth

Bernstein, Max; January 2006; 1 pp.; In English; Seminar presenter at the Royal Society Discussion Meeting, 11-15 Feb. 2006, London,, UK Contract(s)/Grant(s): 21-344-58-2B; No Copyright; Avail.: Other Sources; Abstract Only

One of the great puzzles of all time is how did life arise? It has been universally presumed that life arose in a soup rich in compounds made mostly of carbon, the kind of which we are currently composed. Where did these organic molecules come from?

In this talk I will review proposed contributions to pre-biotic organic chemistry from both terrestrial processes (i.e., hydrothermal vents, Miller-Urey syntheses) and also from space.

While the former is perhaps better known and more commonly taught in school, we now know that comet and asteroid dust deliver tons of organics to the Earth every day, and there is a growing consensus among scientists that molecules from space played an important role in making the Earth habitable, and perhaps even provided specific compounds that were directly related to the origin of life. Author

Biological Evolution; Abiogenesis; Interplanetary Dust; Cometary Atmospheres; Biochemistry; Organic Chemistry

20060015720 NASA Marshall Space Flight Center, Huntsville, AL, USA

The Art and Science of Long-Range Space Weather Forecasting

Hathaway, David H.; Wilson, Robert M.; [2006]; 1 pp.; In English; Space Weather Week: The Meeting of Science, Research, Applications, Operation, and Users, 25-28 Apr. 2006, Boulder, CO, USA; No Copyright; Avail.: Other Sources; Abstract Only

Long-range space weather forecasts are akin to seasonal forecasts of terrestrial weather. We don t expect to forecast individual events but we do hope to forecast the underlying level of activity important for satellite operations and mission pl&g. Forecasting space weather conditions years or decades into the future has traditionally been based on empirical models of the solar cycle. Models for the shape of the cycle as a function of its amplitude become reliable once the amplitude is well determined - usually two to three years after minimum. Forecasting the amplitude of a cycle well before that time has been more of an art than a science - usually based on cycle statistics and trends. Recent developments in dynamo theory -the theory explaining the generation of the Sun s magnetic field and the solar activity cycle - have now produced models with predictive capabilities. Testing these models with historical sunspot cycle data indicates that these predictions may be highly reliable one, or even two, cycles into the future. Author

Activity Cycles (Biology); Long Range Weather Forecasting; Solar Activity; Space Weather; Predictions; Dynamo Theory; Magnetic Fields

20060016360 NASA Marshall Space Flight Center, Huntsville, AL, USA

Summary of NASA Advanced Telescope and Observatory Capability Roadmap

Stahl, H. Phil; Feinberg, Lee; [2006]; 1 pp.; In English; 2006 IEEE, Aerospace Conference, 4-11 Mar. 2006, Big Sky, MT, USA; No Copyright; Avail.: Other Sources; Abstract Only

The NASA Advanced Telescope and Observatory (ATO) Capability Roadmap addresses technologies necessary for NASA to enable future space telescopes and observatories operating in all electromagnetic bands, from x-rays to millimeter waves, and including gravity-waves. It lists capability priorities derived from current and developing Space Missions Directorate (SMD) strategic roadmaps. Technology topics include optics; wavefront sensing and control and interferometry; distributed and advanced spacecraft systems; cryogenic and thermal control systems; large precision structure for observatories; and the infrastructure essential to future space telescopes and observatories. Author

Spaceborne Telescopes; NASA Programs; Observatories; Technology Utilization

Source: NASA