Grants and Contributions

Knowledge Development

Knowledge Development

The interior structure and surface morphology of asteroids reflect the net result of processes contributing to their formation
and subsequent evolution. We will conduct geophysical studies using data returned by the OSIRIS REx mission to asteroid
Bennu, a small near-Earth asteroid ~500m across, focusing on the surface morphology of craters. We will investigate whether
crater interiors display different properties compared with their exteriors and whether there is any dependence of these
properties on spatial location and/or crater diameter to inform how craters probe the subsurface structure of Bennu

The OSIRIS-REx mission will return a sample from asteroid Bennu. The analysis of this sample will help determine this
asteroid’s history. This mission will enable detailed and coordinated laboratory analyses of asteroid material on samples from
asteroid 101955 Bennu that have known and well-characterized geological contexts. This research will use the Pacific Center
for Isotope and Geochemical Research at UBC to measure the bulk elemental abundances in the returned asteroid sample.
Based on the information from the spacecraft encounter, we expect that Bennu’s bulk elemental composition reflects that of
its parent asteroid and is similar to the composition of the Sun.
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Orbital remote sensing observations have provided invaluable pieces of information to build our knowledge of the composition and processes occurring in the lunar polar regions. For example, these missions have allowed to confirm the presence of cold traps and regions in topographic lows which never receive direct sunlight and confirm the presence of water ice. The VIPER rover mission will provide critical and localized observations to better interpret the orbital remote sensing observations. Here we propose to use observations from VIPER to study the local mineralogy, volatile content, and space weathering, and compare them with regional information from orbital measurements.

The OSIRIS-REx spacecraft successfully collected a sample of asteroid Bennu in October 2021 and is on its return journey to Earth to deliver the sample in September 2023.

To enable the full science value of this precious sample to be realized we will conduct a number of activities over the next three years. These include:
• Laboratory spectral analysis of meteorites that may be relevant to Bennu, specifically heated carbonaceous chondrites (to understand how primitive Bennu may be and associated implications for prebiotic chemistry on Earth)
• Examine data for the sampling site before and after sampling to understand Bennu’s internal structure and any “space weathering” effects
• Develop procedures to analyze the returned sample on a grain-by-grain basis (to maximize science return for the sample)
• Conduct the preliminary spectroscopic analysis of the returned sample to understand how varied it may be and to inform sample curation, analysis, and allocation to the scientific community.

The to-be-measured physical properties of asteroid Bennu's rocks - their strength, elasticity, seismic velocities, and
thermal conductivity - constrain aspects of its current geology and how it responds to impacts. The thermal
properties - how the asteroid absorbs, conducts, and radiates heat - influence how Bennu's orbit slowly evolves.
Bennu is comprised of rock fragments from at least one much larger parent asteroid and physical property
measurements may allow estimation of the parent's size. The University of Calgary will be concentrating on
determining the strengths, seismic velocities, and elasticity of Bennu’s returned samples

As the initial letter in the acronym OSIRIS-REx signifies one of the core mission objectives is to return a sample of an asteroid to help us better understand the origins not only of the solar system but perhaps also ourselves. In preparation to study these precious samples we are beginning a multistage research program now focused on meteoritical and terrestrial analog materials. The fundamental purpose of this program is to establish the methods and protocols we will need to ensure not only that the maximum research benefits are gained from OSIRIS-REx material but also that the material is properly curated and that samples are preserved for future study.
The research program is divided into two fundamental areas: mineralogical and organics. Both areas will rely heavily on elemental and isotopic analysis to be performed by us in cooperation with our research consortium partners but the critical initial work of sample curation and sample categorization will be undertaken at the ROM.
Several of the carbonaceous chondrite meteorite types can serve as Bennu-like analogs. They will be invaluable in creating techniques and protocols for studying OSIRIS-REx sample return material. These types are the CV-CK, CM and the unique Tagish Lake CI2 meteorite. Each type will provide different analog materials: CAI and chondrules (CV-CK); mineral grains (olivine, pyroxenes, metal-sulfides, clays, serpentines, carbonates, phosphates, etc.), soluble and insoluble organic matter (CM and Tagish), etc. which will be our best approximations of what OSIRIS-REx may return. Since the mission will be returning regolith material, we will also be looking for xenolithic components from non-carbonaceous impactors such as ordinary chondrites, iron-nickel or achondritic meteorites. The ROM collection also contains a wide selection of all these types of meteorites for comparison. Additionally, the ROM mineral collection contains extensive suites of clay, serpentine group and related minerals which are encountered in aqueously altered carbonaceous chondrites such as the CM and CI types which will also serve as analogs.

This study will aid in the preparation for the analysis of the pristine samples to be returned from asteroid
(101955) Bennu – Canada’s first pristine samples returned from space. It has three parts:
1. Continue the development of thermal measurement techniques to investigate the returned-samples.
2. Gain some experience working with pristine and fragile samples that may contain volatiles.
3. Prove out our new measurement chambers that will allow spectroscopic analyses while maintaining
cleanliness and volatile preservation.
4. Assess other techniques that may be used to quantify properties of chondritic meteorites,
particularly at the micro-scale.

Dr. Cloutis has been involved in the NASA Mars Perseverance Rover mission since 2013, as a Co-Investigator on the Mastcam-Z
Science Team (and as a Collaborator on the SuperCam Science Team). Mastcam-Z was selected for flight on the rover and is
currently operating on Mars. He proposes to continue, deepen, and expand this involvement through this Announcement of
Opportunity.
With this Co-Investigator grant he will be able to more fully participate in this ongoing mission. The Co-Investigator grant will
allow: (1) The proposer to attend team meetings of the full rover team and Mastcam-Z and SuperCam teams; (2) fund
Canadian students to contribute more fully to rover and instrument operations in various roles; (3) respond to new discoveries
by the mission via short-turnaround supporting laboratory studies; (4) train Canadian students via analogue field deployment
to be able to better engage in rover data analysis; (5) bring new Canadian HQP into planetary exploration