Planetary Science at The Open University, 2023-26

我们拟议的研究方案研究太阳系的起源和演变，通过一系列项目调查类地行星、月球、小行星、彗星和冰冷卫星上的物理、地质、化学和生物过程，这些项目解决了科学技术委员会科学路线图挑战B：“恒星和行星系统如何发展，生命是我们星球所独有的吗？“我们太阳系的行星有一个共同的起源，但我们现在观察到的差异揭示了它们形成的基石的变化以及随后的不同历史。我们提出了研究其中许多天体的项目，包括水星、金星、月球、小行星、陨石、木卫二、土卫二和彗星。我们的研究利用了越来越多的数据，这些数据是由越来越复杂的太空探索任务、新的样本返回任务、实验室分析和模拟的新进展以及强大的新表面和大气模型所创造的。我们使用所有这些工具来了解行星的构建模块和行星的形成过程。我们研究水和其他生命关键元素向地球、木星和土星的冰冷海洋卫星的输送和演变，我们还探索行星天体的表面和大气层，以揭示其历史的细节。本计划中的11个项目如下：项目A调查月球挥发物的丰度和组成，以了解其来源以及水和其他挥发物是如何在地月系统中获得的。项目B将研究OSIRIS-REx使命从一颗原始小行星返回的样本，以了解水在行星形成最早阶段的行为。C项目将研究在地球附近形成的非常古老的火山岩--角闪石陨石中的碳和氮，以了解这些元素在整个行星形成过程中的历史。项目D将对罕见的彗星尘埃样本进行详细分析，以调查彗星的性质以及彗星内部发生的地质过程。项目E将调查最近在小行星上发现的低密度巨石的情况及其对行星形成过程和行星防御的影响。F项目将开发新的软件，自动识别行星表面的巨石群，以更好地了解陨石坑的形成率，用于确定行星表面的年龄。项目G使用全球气候模型来研究痕量气体物种如何通过金星大气传输，以确定硫物种的变化是否可归因于活跃的火山过程。项目H将使用BepiColombo在绕飞水星期间拍摄的低角度照明图像，调查从正常轨道难以观察的低起伏特征。项目J将利用实验室模拟研究木卫二冰火山活动期间形成的冰和矿物的性质，以了解所观察到的表面沉积物的盐水海洋起源。K项目旨在确定微生物在木卫二和土卫二次表层海洋存在的条件下产生的挥发性有机化合物，以及如何在火山冰羽中检测到这些化合物。L项目将调查土卫二地下海洋卫星中碳和硫的形式和运输，以及它们在该环境中支持生命的可用性。我们利用我们的研究结果与公众互动，激发对STEM学科的兴趣和理解，并通过一系列活动帮助培训和激励下一代科学家和工程师，包括大学与BBC的独特关系。我们还将继续与业界发展新的合作伙伴关系，以最大限度地扩大从我们的研究中受益的人群。

Our proposed research programme studies the origin and evolution of the Solar System, investigating the physical, geological, chemical and biological processes on the terrestrial planets, the Moon, asteroids, comets and icy satellites across a range of projects which address the STFC Science Roadmap challenge B: "How do stars and planetary systems develop and is life unique to our planet?"The planets of our Solar System had a common origin, but the differences we observe now reveal variation in the building blocks they formed from and subsequent divergent histories. We propose projects to study many of these objects, including Mercury, Venus, the Moon, asteroids, meteorites, Europa, Enceladus and comets. Our research utilises the increasing wealth of data created by ever more sophisticated space exploration missions, new sample return missions providing materials previously not available to us, new advances in laboratory based analyses and simulation and powerful new surface and atmospheric models. We use all these tools to understand the planetary building blocks and planet formation processes. We investigate the delivery and evolution of water and other key elements for life, to the Earth and to the icy ocean moons of Jupiter and Saturn, and we also explore the surfaces and atmospheres of planetary bodies to unveil the details of their history.The eleven projects in this proposal are as follows:. Project A investigates the abundance and composition of volatiles in the Moon to understand its origin and how water and other volatiles were acquired in the Earth-Moon system. Project B will study samples returned from a primitive asteroid by the OSIRIS-REx mission to understand the behaviour of water during the earliest stages of planet formation. Project C will study carbon and nitrogen in angrite meteorites, very old volcanic rocks that formed in the vicinity of Earth, to understand the history of these elements throughout planet formation. Project D will perform detailed analysis of rare samples of cometary dust to investigate the nature of comets, and the geological processes that occurred within them. Project E will investigate the occurrence of recently discovered, low density, boulders on asteroids and the implications these have for planet formation processes and planetary defence. Project F will develop new software to automatically characterise boulder populations on planetary surfaces to better understand cratering rates, used to determine the age of planetary surfaces. Project G uses global climate modelling to investigate how trace gas species are transported through the atmosphere of Venus to determine whether variations of sulfur species can be attributed to active volcanic processes. Project H will use low angle illumination images captured by BepiColombo during swingbys of Mercury to investigate low relief features difficult to observe from normal orbits. Project J will investigate the nature of ices and minerals formed during ice volcanism on Europa using laboratory simulations to understand the brine ocean origin of the resultant observed surface deposits. Project K aims to determine the volatile organic compounds generated by microorganisms in the conditions present in the sub-surface oceans of Europa and Enceladus, and how they may be detected in volcanic ice plumes. Project L will investigate the forms and transport of carbon and sulfur in the sub-surface ocean moon Enceladus, and their availability to support life in that environment.We use the results of our research to engage with the public, to stimulate interest and understanding of STEM subjects and help to train and inspire the next generation of scientists and engineers through a range of activities, including the University's unique relationship with the BBC. We also will continue to develop new partnerships with industry to maximise the breadth of those benefiting from our research.