Laboratory and Spacecraft Investigations for Planetary Exploration

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This grant seeks to support two lines of research. First, in the near term, it seeks to provide operating support to an existing research program in Mars Science and Exploration. Secondly, it will provide operating support to enhance the scientific and engineering return of new facilities for simulating planetary environments at York University****The first line of research proposes to add value to the Mars Science Laboratory (MSL) Mission that is currently operating on Mars and provide training opportunities for students. This proposal seeks to place the results of this mission in context through theoretical modelling of the martian atmosphere at previous landing sites and combining this theoretical work with orbital data. Longer term, opportunities will be available for HQPs to participate directly in MSL Mission Operations to test theoretical models on Mars. Such opportunities will also provide Canada with a higher profile presence on the Mission and demonstrate our competency to international partners.****The second line of research seeks to provide context to observations by supporting simulations of planetary environments in laboratory simulation chambers. This will allow data gathered by spacecraft to be tested and expanded upon to reveal the processes that have helped to create and shape these bodies over time. Thus the scientific return from existing missions will be enhanced. These chambers will also allow scientific instrumentation to be developed to interrogate the surfaces and atmospheres of these bodies for future space missions. This enables the development of a new Canadian niche in planetary tools and techniques which may eventually become a significant contribution to or the basis of a mission selected for flight.****