THE PROJECTED FUTURE OF MARTIAN GEOLOGICAL SCIENCE IN THE ERA OF HUMAN EXPLORATION Jacob Bleacher Goddard Space Flight Center 3 rd Affordable Mars Workshop Dec. 2, 2015 Geologic field work can be loosely defined as the body of work necessary to: Determine the spatial distribution, age and attitude of the rock types within an area Document those structures that have deformed or cut those units Determine the processes that led to the emplacement of these rocks, and have subsequently modified them Folding in metamorphosed sediments Outflow source of Thunder River, North Rim, Grand Canyon Brachiopod fossil in Paleozoic limestone Field work remains the primary source of geologic data because the rocks, in the field, are the primary data set we work with to develop our understanding of geologic history and processesand while geologists would love to have the kind of rock exposure shown below everywhere we work Grand Canyon of the Colorado, in the vicinity of Lava Falls there are always less data (i.e., fewer rocks showing) than we would like to have for complete understanding, regardless of whether youre on the Earth Typical field conditions, southern Adirondack Mountains, NY or the Moon... Typical field conditions, Apollo 17 site Robert P. Sharp, possibly the finest field geologist of the 20 th Century, noted in 1988 that learning to arrive at workable, testable conclusions, often in the face of insufficient data, is part of doing geologic field work. Typical field conditions, Gale Crater, Mars or Mars... Wendell Mendell, last man standing in Constellation, once told me Field geologists are forensic scientists. An event occurred but only some of the data remain and you try to piece together the story from those bits of information. Typical field conditions, Gale Crater, Mars or Mars... Forecast of 2030s Science Objectives 8 Top-Level MEPAG elements unlikely to change significantly by 2030 Some change likely (but hard to predict specifics) Significant change certain A proximal human would add greatest value to science in: 1.Establishing geologic context (field observations and field measurements) 2.Sampling 3.Sample prep and analysis in a habitat-based laboratory 4.Field investigations/analyses C1Characterize the composition of surface units and evaluate the diverse geologic processes and paleoenvironments that have affected the martian crust; determine the sequence and duration of geological events, and establish their context within the geologic history of Mars to answer larger questions about planetary evolution (to be refined based on discoveries during the next decade). See next slide for additional detail. C2Determine relative and absolute ages of geologic events and units, determine their history of burial, exhumation, and exposure, and relate their ages to major events through martian history. C3Constrain the dynamics, structure, composition and evolution of the martian interior, to answer larger questions about planetary evolution (to be refined based on discoveries during the next decade). See next slide for additional detail. High High/ Med Priority Most important messages: 1.Maximize contact time between outcrops and geologist-astronauts 2.Priorities: mobility systems, EVA time, geologic diversity, range of geologic age Candidate Objectives: Geoscience Geologic field work can be loosely defined as the body of work necessary to: Determine the spatial distribution, age and attitude of the rock types within an area Document those structures that have deformed or cut those units Determine the processes that led to the emplacement of these rocks, and have subsequently modified them Important difference for planetary exploration with proximal humans: Higher value on an ability to tie local observations at a site to global observations Outflow source of Thunder River, North Rim, Grand Canyon Brachiopod fossil in Paleozoic limestone MEPAG-HSO Geoscience Landing site criteria Threshold Range of martian geologic time; datable surfaces Evidence of aqueous processes Potential for interpreting relative ages Qualifying Igneous Rocks tied to 1+ provinces or different times Near-surface ice, glacial or permafrost Noachian or pre-Noachian bedrock units Outcrops with remnant magnetization Primary, secondary, and basin-forming impact deposits Structural features with regional or global context Diversity of aeolian sediments and/or landforms Geologic Characterization Short-term: Define and confirm local units and unit relationships Mid-term: Expand the spatial recognition of units and define new units across exploration zone Long-term: Piece together the temporal/sequential history of the EZ and initiate detailed analyses of sites of interest (other disciplines) MEPAG-HSO Geoscience Landing site criteria Threshold Range of martian geologic time; datable surfaces Evidence of aqueous processes Potential for interpreting relative ages Qualifying Igneous Rocks tied to 1+ provinces or different times Near-surface ice, glacial or permafrost Noachian or pre-Noachian bedrock units Outcrops with remnant magnetization Primary, secondary, and basin-forming impact deposits Structural features with regional or global context Diversity of aeolian sediments and/or landforms Geologic Characterization Basis for extending interpretations globally based on: Continued remote sensing observations Robotic exploration away from human sites Geologic framework provides the backbone against which hypotheses of martian environmental and life supporting conditions can be constructed and tested (detailed analyses) Dont study the needle without recognizing the haystack MEPAG-HSO Geoscience Landing site criteria Threshold Range of martian geologic time; datable surfaces Evidence of aqueous processes Potential for interpreting relative ages Qualifying Igneous Rocks tied to 1+ provinces or different times Near-surface ice, glacial or permafrost Noachian or pre-Noachian bedrock units Outcrops with remnant magnetization Primary, secondary, and basin-forming impact deposits Structural features with regional or global context Diversity of aeolian sediments and/or landforms Geologic Characterization We wont land at a site because of one interesting feature Traditional rover-centric ops plans must evolve with architecture Long- and mid-term goals will mix Not a sequential exploration plan but an iterative process of developing and testing hypotheses Can return to sites, multiple times, and potentially bring new instruments Instruments required for successful HEOMD missions are not currently in the NASA portfolio Instrument types: Laboratory (comparable to current rover instruments) Portable/Handheld Sensors: deployed arrays or suit/rover Laboratory instruments provide precision at cost of measurement time Portable instruments provide rapid measurements at cost of precision Enable sample triage Measurements of materials that cannot be returned for lab measurement Sensors enable continuous measurements Portable Instruments Deployable Sensors Instruments GeoLab GSFC/SBU/JSC deployment to Kilauea SW Rift Zone NASA Desert Research And Technology Studies (DRATS) Integrate geology objectives with other goals: Astrobiology and Atmospheric sciences Health and safety Remnant magnetic fields/radiation Reactivity of soils and dust In Situ Resource Utilization Water/ice Planetary protection Can we retire special regions? What measurements are required? Evolvable, flexible field planning Keep the public invested and engaged in the Journey to Mars Affordable & Sustainable Geoscience?