Planetary Science at The Open University, 2023-26

我们提出的研究计划研究太阳系的起源和演化，研究类地行星、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，通过一系列项目解决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础和后来不同的历史的差异。我们提出了许多项目来研究这些物体，包括水星、金星、月球、小行星、陨石、木卫二、土卫二和彗星。我们的研究利用了日益丰富的数据，这些数据是由越来越复杂的太空探索任务创造的，新的样本返回任务提供了我们以前无法获得的材料，在实验室分析和模拟方面取得了新的进展，以及强大的新的地表和大气模型。我们使用所有这些工具来了解行星的组成部分和行星的形成过程。我们研究水和其他生命的关键元素的传递和进化，到地球和木星和土星的冰冷的海洋卫星，我们也探索行星体的表面和大气，揭示他们的历史细节。本次提案中的11个项目如下：。项目A调查了月球上挥发物的丰度和组成，以了解它的起源以及水和其他挥发物是如何在地月系统中获得的。B项目将研究由OSIRIS-REx任务从一颗原始小行星带回的样本，以了解行星形成初期水的行为。C项目将研究在地球附近形成的非常古老的火山岩——辉石陨石中的碳和氮，以了解这些元素在整个行星形成过程中的历史。D项目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，以及发生在彗星内部的地质过程。E项目将调查最近在小行星上发现的低密度巨石，以及它们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，自动描述行星表面上的巨石数量，以更好地了解陨石坑率，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微量气体如何在金星大气中运输，以确定硫的变化是否可以归因于活跃的火山过程。H计划将使用BepiColombo卫星在绕水星飞行时拍摄的低角度照明图像，来研究在正常轨道上难以观测到的低地形特征。J项目将通过实验室模拟来研究木卫二冰火山活动期间形成的冰和矿物的性质，以了解由此观察到的表面沉积物的盐水海洋起源。项目K旨在确定微生物在木卫二和土卫二地下海洋中产生的挥发性有机化合物，以及如何在火山冰羽中检测到它们。“项目L”将调查土卫二（Enceladus）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能性。我们利用我们的研究成果与公众接触，激发对STEM学科的兴趣和理解，并通过一系列活动（包括大学与BBC的独特关系）帮助培养和激励下一代科学家和工程师。我们还将继续与工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广度。

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.