Planetary Science at The Open University 2020-2023

我们提出的研究计划研究太阳系的起源和演化，包括表面、大气和物理、地质、化学和生物过程，在一系列项目中解决STFC科学路线图挑战B：“恒星和行星系统是如何发展的，生命是我们星球上独有的吗？”太阳系内部的岩石体对于理解行星系统的演化具有特别重要的意义，因为它们在原行星盘中有共同的起源，但随后的历史不同。我们提出了研究太阳系内部所有地外岩石物体（水星、金星、月球、小行星、陨石和行星际尘埃）的项目，但火星除外，该项目由英国航天局的极光计划资助。地球是否是太阳系中唯一适合生命存在的地方，这个问题仍然是我们这个时代最持久的问题之一。我们提出了研究撞击坑和巨行星冰冷卫星中的微生物环境的项目。项目A研究了月球挥发物的丰度、组成、来源和演化，这对于了解月球的起源和未来月球探测的原位资源利用具有重要意义。项目B旨在确定球粒形成的机制和位置（主要存在于原始陨石中的小型球形硅酸盐物体，保留了有关行星形成过程最早阶段的信息）。C项目将研究原始碳质球粒陨石中的碳化合物，以调查原始有机物质是在星际介质中还是在原行星盘中产生的。项目D通过使用深度学习系统来研究月球撞击坑的特性，并测试这些工具在行星表面分析中的有效性和更广泛的适用性，解决了利用大量高分辨率行星成像数据集的挑战。E项目结合观测和全球气候模型来研究微量气体如何在金星大气中传播，从而确定二氧化硫的变化是否可以归因于活跃的火山作用。F项目利用NASA信使号任务的数据来绘制和解释水星南极地区的地质，该地区的地壳演化特征明显不同于北极地区，并为ESA的BepiColombo任务做准备。G项目包括寻找YORP效应（热的非均匀发射和阳光的散射）的影响，这是一种自旋变化、表面物质的流动性、质量损失和小行星双星和双星产生的机制。H项目旨在确定撞击坑地下的条件，以及哪些生物特征可以作为撞击后热液系统是否驱动年轻类地行星宜居性的证据。“K计划”旨在通过实验室模拟实验和地球化学模型，确定木卫二和土卫二的地下海洋中是否有生命产生独特的生物特征。除了满足人类探索和了解我们周围宇宙的内在愿望外，我们的研究还有更多切实的好处。我们将空间和实验室仪器开发的分析技术应用于医药、安全、旅游和化妆品等不同领域的公司。我们的研究最重要的好处之一是，它有助于培养和激励学生——下一代科学家和工程师——通过大学内部的培训，公共和学校的外展，以及通过大学与BBC的独特关系产生的个人节目和整个系列。

Our proposed research programme studies the origin and evolution of the Solar System, including surfaces, atmospheres and physical, geological, chemical and biological processes, in 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 inner rocky bodies of the Solar System are of particular importance in understanding planetary system evolution, because of their common origin within the protoplanetary disk, but subsequent divergent histories. We propose projects to study all extra-terrestrial rocky objects in the inner Solar System (Mercury, Venus, the Moon, asteroids, meteorites and interplanetary dust), with the exception of Mars, which is funded through the UK Space Agency's Aurora programme. The question of whether Earth is a unique location for life in the Solar System remains one of the most enduring questions of our time. We propose projects to investigate microbiological environments in impact craters and the icy satellites of the giant planets.Project A investigates the abundance, composition, sources and evolution of volatiles in the Moon, which are of importance for understanding the Moon's origin and their key role for in-situ resource utilisation for future lunar exploration. Project B aims to identify the mechanisms and locations of the formation of chondrules (small, spherical silicate objects predominant in primitive meteorites that retain information about the earliest stages of the planetary formation process). Project C will study carbon compounds in primitive carbonaceous chondrite meteorites, to investigate whether primordial organic material was produced in the interstellar medium or the protoplanetary disk. Project D addresses the challenge of exploitation of massive, high-resolution planetary imaging data sets, by using a deep-learning system to investigate the properties of lunar impact craters, and test the effectiveness and wider applicability of such tools for planetary surface analysis. Project E uses a combination of observations and global climate modelling to investigate how trace gas species are transported through the atmosphere of Venus and hence determine whether the variations of sulfur dioxide can be attributed to active volcanic processes. Project F uses NASA MESSENGER mission data to map and interpret the geology of Mercury's poorly observed south polar region, which exhibits crustal evolution features appartently different from the north polar region, and prepare for ESA's BepiColombo mission. Project G involves a search for the effects of the YORP effect (non-uniform emission of heat and scattering of sunlight) a mechanism for spin changes, mobility of surface material, mass loss and asteroid binary and pair production. Project H aims to determine the conditions in the subsurface of an impact crater site and which bio-signatures could be used as evidence for whether post-impact hydrothermal systems drive habitability on young terrestrial planets. Project K aims to determine whether life could produce unique bio-signatures within the sub-surface oceans of Europa and Enceladus using laboratory simulation experiments and geochemical modelling.In addition to satisfying humanity's innate desire to explore and understand the Universe around us, our research has more tangible benefits. We use the analytical techniques involved from development of space and laboratory instrumentation for applications with companies in fields as diverse as medicine, security, tourism and cosmetics. One of the most important benefits of our research is that it helps to train and inspire students - the next generation of scientists and engineers - through training within the University, public and schools' outreach, and through individual programmes and whole series resulting from the University's unique relationship with the BBC.