Dr Richard Greenwood

This funding bid is an application to the Royal Society International Exchange Scheme - Cost Share Programme 2022 for funds to facilitate scientific exchange visits with the Kochi Institute in Japan.

Samples of Martian origin will be returned to Earth via JAXA’s MMX mission in about six years from now (2029), with Mars surface-collected materials returned to Earth by the NASA/ESA MSR collaboration in about ten years’ time (2033). The timescale involved, particularly for participation in MMX, are tight and action is needed now to ensure that the UK science community is ready to play a full role in the analysis of these precious materials. Appropriate action is required on a number of fronts. We need to be ready in terms of having suitably trained scientists with a relevant expertise in cutting edge analysis techniques relevant to the characterization of Martian samples. We need to maintain and enhance the capabilities of our world-leading analytical facilities that are essential to the analysis of Martian samples. These facilities will provide the scientific leverage required to be part of any initial analysis initiative. And critically, we need to be able to demonstrate to our partner space agencies that we have the appropriate clean handling facilities and preparation techniques relevant to the manipulation of pristine returned samples. This proposal sets out in detail a framework for addressing these issues by providing a PhD opportunity to undertake a cutting-edge oxygen isotope study by laser assisted- fluorination of Martian meteorite samples. The samples that will be analyzed are closely aligned to the composition of the materials already collected and cached by the Perseverance Rover. Oxygen isotope analysis by laser fluorination is a key Martian analysis technique in which the UK is the world-leader. The scientific outputs from this study are critical to understanding the evolution and interactions between the Martian hydrosphere, lithosphere and atmosphere. This work needs to be completed in advance of initial sample return in order to maximize the scientific outputs once the main phase of characterization work commences. This study will not only train a new Mars sample specialist, but will help to sustain and develop our leadership role in Mars critical laser fluorination analysis. In addition, this will provide benefits for the wider UK extraterrestrial analysis community through rapid allocation of returned Mars material, as was the case for asteroidal particles returned by the JAXA Hayabusa2 mission. We will also be obtaining an early allocation in the upcoming NASA OSIRIS-REx initial analysis phase (October 2023). As a consequence of our involvement in these missions, we have developed a range of clean sample manipulation techniques. These will be further developed during the course of this study. The technical expertise and hardware products developed during this project will be disseminated to other groups within the UK analysis community. By making this specialist expertise more widely available we will provide a competitive advantage to other UK-based researchers seeking to bid for pristine returned samples.

This bid is for approximately £3,000 from the Meteoritical Society Endowment Fund to purchase two secure display cabinets. These cabinets will showcase museum grade meteorite specimens. The cabinets will form an important resource for future outreach activities. The ability to display high-quality meteorite samples will assist in our efforts to obtain more substantial funding for our ongoing outreach activities.

STFC Public Engagement Nucleus Award 2024 Stage 2 For many school-aged students, space research is a subject far-removed from their daily lives. They may have heard of meteorites, cosmic dust, micrometeorites, meteors, shooting stars etc, but will almost certainly feel that these have little or no relevance to their own day-to-day experiences. Space rocks may be on display in national museums, but not in the classroom. Using a practical, hands-on approach, this project aims to dispel such misconceptions. The project will raise the “science capital” of the target group of students by bringing into their classrooms a range of extraterrestrial materials that they will then be able to interact with in a practical hands-on way. They will hunt for micrometeorites in their local area and analyze extraterrestrial samples using portable desk-top scanning electron microscopes available from both the Open University and the Natural History Museum. Each school involved in the project will have their own dedicated all-sky camera that will provide them with daily feedback on meteor and fireball activity in their local area. The participating schools will network to exchange samples, data and ideas. Based on recent experience elsewhere, this project will yield new extraterrestrial materials (“urban micrometeorites”) that the participating students will work with, and through this interaction develop a deeper, more profound understanding of key science areas. Through this practical experience, we seek to raise their “science capital”. Some of the new space materials that they discover will be analyzed at Diamond. This will provide the students with the opportunity to see a full science progression, from the initial discovery of new cosmic dust particles, characterization by optical and electron microscopy, to analysis using sophisticated apparatus, such as Diamond. This journey for the students will be exciting and provide a unique insight into how real science works.

STFC Open 2018 DTP