Search Results (5)

The rock cycle, a cornerstone of geosciences, describes rock formation and transformation on Earth. However, this Earth-centric view overlooks the broader history of rock evolution across the cosmos, with two fundamental limitations: (i) Earth-centric paradigms that ignore extraterrestrial lithogenesis, excluding cosmically significant rocks and processes, and (ii) disciplinary fragmentation between geological and astrophysical sciences, from the micro- to the macroscale. This review proposes an extension of the rock cycle concept to a cosmic scale, exploring the origin of rocks and their evolution from interstellar space, through the aggregation of solid materials in protoplanetary disks, and their subsequent evolution on planetary bodies. Through systematic analysis of igneous, metamorphic, and sedimentary processes occurring beyond Earth, we identify four major domains in which distinct dynamics govern the rock cycle, each reworking rocks with domain-specific characteristics: (1) stellar and nebular dynamics, (2) protoplanetary disk dynamics, (3) asteroidal dynamics, and (4) planetary dynamics. Here we propose the cosmic rock cycle as a new epistemic tool that could transform interdisciplinary research and geoscience education. This perspective reveals Earth’s rock cycle as a rare and invaluable subset of rock genesis in the cosmos. Full article

Spectroscopic instruments were a part of payloads on orbiter and lander missions and delivered vast data sets to explore minerals, elements and molecules on air-less rocky planets, asteroids and comets on global and local scales. To answer current space science questions, the chemical composition of planetary rocks and soils at grain scale is required, as well as measurements of element (isotope) concentrations down to the part per million or lower. Only mass spectrometric methods equipped with laser sampling ion sources can deliver the necessary information. Laser sampling techniques can reduce the dimensions of the investigated sample material down to micrometre scale, allowing for the composition analysis of grain-sized objects or thin mineral layers with sufficiently high spatial resolution, such that important geological processes can be recognised and studied as they progressed in time. We describe the performance characteristics, when applied to meteorite and geological samples, of a miniaturised laser ablation/ionisation mass spectrometer (named LMS) system that has been developed in our group. The main advantages of the LMS instrument over competing techniques are illustrated by examples of high spatial (lateral and vertical) resolution studies in different meteorites, terrestrial minerals and fossil-like structures in ancient rocks for most elements of geochemical interest. Top-level parameters, such as dimension, weight, and power consumption of a possible flight design of the LMS system are presented as well. Full article

The article is devoted to the preliminary concept of the Future Planetary Defense System (FPDS) emphasizing astroballistics. This paper is intended to support international efforts to improve the planetary security of Earth. The work covers three areas of knowledge: astronautics, astrodynamics, and astroballistics. The most important part of the presented article is dynamic, contact combat modeling against small, deformable celestial bodies. For these purposes, the original, proprietary hydrocode of the free particle method (HEFPM-G) with gravity was used. The main aim of combat is to redirect potentially hazardous objects (PHOs) to orbits safe for Earth or destroy them. This concept’s first task is to find, prepare, and use dynamic three-dimensional models of the motion of celestial bodies and spacecraft or human-crewed spaceships in the solar system’s relativistic frame. The second task is to prepare the FPDS’ architecture and computer simulation space missions’ initial concepts in the internal part of the solar system. The third and main task covers simulating, using hydrocodes, and selected methods of fighting 100 m diameter rock material asteroids. Full article

Mössbauer (nuclear γ-resonance) spectroscopy is a powerful technique which is actively used in various fields from physics and chemistry to biology and medicine. Rudolf L. Mössbauer, who observed nuclear γ-resonance and published his results in 1958, got a Nobel Prize in physics in 1961 for this discovery. ⁵⁷Fe is the most widely used nucleus in Mössbauer spectroscopy. Therefore, a large variety of compounds containing iron can be studied by Mössbauer spectroscopy. It is well known that planetary matter contains various iron-bearing phases and minerals. Therefore, the extraterrestrial material from different meteorites, asteroids, and planets can be studied using ⁵⁷Fe Mössbauer spectroscopy as an additional powerful technique. Two parts of this review consider the results of more than 50 years of experience of Mössbauer spectroscopy applied for the studies of various meteorites, soils and rocks from the Moon and a recent investigation of the Martian surface using two rovers equipped with miniaturized Mössbauer spectrometers. Part I considered the results of Mössbauer spectroscopy of undifferentiated meteorites. Part II discusses the results of Mössbauer spectroscopy of differentiated meteorites formed in asteroids and protoplanets due to matter differentiation, as well as Lunar and Martian matter. Full article

Mössbauer (nuclear γ-resonance) spectroscopy is a powerful technique that is actively used in various fields, from physics and chemistry to biology and medicine. Rudolf L. Mössbauer, who observed nuclear γ-resonance and published his results in 1958, received a Nobel Prize in physics in 1961 for this discovery. The ⁵⁷Fe is the most widely used nucleus in Mössbauer spectroscopy. Therefore, a large variety of compounds containing iron can be studied by Mössbauer spectroscopy. It is well known that planetary matter contains various iron-bearing phases and minerals. Therefore, the extraterrestrial material from different meteorites, asteroids, and planets can be studied using ⁵⁷Fe Mössbauer spectroscopy as additional powerful technique. Two parts of this review consider the results of more than 50 years of experience of Mössbauer spectroscopy applied for the studies of various meteorites, soils and rocks from the Moon and recent investigation of the Mars surface using two rovers equipped with miniaturized Mössbauer spectrometers. Part I will discuss known results on Mössbauer spectroscopy of undifferentiated meteorites, which are the most primitive and formed with the solar system. Full article