UK leadership in extraterrestrial sample return

该项目的目的是帮助英国在分析即将从小行星、月球和火星返回的样本方面建立临界质量和领导力。这些样本在科学上非常重要，因为它们将有可能使我们的回答能力发生重大变化，包括STFC科学挑战B中的问题：“恒星和行星系统是如何发展的，它们如何支持生命的存在？”我们项目的主要目标是进行概念验证研究，以测试原子探针断层扫描技术的能力，以提供对行星材料组成和结构的独特见解。原子探针断层扫描可以潜在地改变我们从少量返回的样品中获得科学知识的能力，因为它具有独特的识别原子并在亚微米大小的颗粒中定位它们的三维能力。对原始样品的破坏是最小的，考虑到可供研究人员研究的材料非常少，这一点尤为重要。在我们的泵启动工作中，我们将分析碳质球粒陨石的样本，这些样本与小行星本努和龙宫很相似，它们的样本将很快由美国宇航局和日本航天局送回地球。这项工作的成果将包括测量复杂小行星材料中的化学、同位素比率和纳米结构的新能力。这些结果将支持英国和国际研究人员的网络建设活动，从而帮助在这个非常激动人心的行星探索时期建立英国领导的临界质量和动力。

The aim of this project is to help build critical mass and leadership for the UK in the analysis of samples that are soon to be returned from asteroids, the Moon and Mars. These samples will be highly scientifically important because they will have the potential to deliver a step change in our ability to answer questions including those within STFC science challenge B: 'How do stars and planetary systems develop and how do they support the existence of life?'.The principal objective of our project is to undertake a proof of concept study to test the ability of the emerging technique of atom probe tomography to provide unique insights into the composition and structure of planetary materials. Atom probe tomography can potentially transform our ability to obtain science from tiny amounts of returned samples because it is uniquely capable of identifying atoms and locating them in three-dimensions in a sub-micrometre size particle. Damage to the original sample is minimal, which is exceptionally important given that very little material will be available for researchers to study. In our pump priming work we will analyse samples of carbonaceous chondrite meteorites, which are good analogues for the asteroids Bennu and Ryugu, samples of which will soon to be returned to Earth by NASA and the Japanese space agency. The outcomes of this work will include new capability for the measurement of chemistry, isotopic ratios and nanostructure in complex asteroidal materials. These results will underpin network building activities with researchers in the UK and internationally, thus helping to build critical mass and momentum behind leadership of the UK during this very exciting period of planetary exploration.