Emma Quinlan

10017615

The Lunar and Planetary Laboratory (LPL) was first founded in 1960 by Gerard P. Kuiper at the campus of the University of Arizona, Tucson. In 1973, the Department of Planetary Science (PtyS) was formed to compliment the LPLs research and to educate budding new Planetary Scientists. The Department of Planetary Sciences/Lunar and Planetary Laboratory is an academic institution that pursues scholarly research and education across the broad discipline of planetary and solar systems science through use of theoretical studies and data analysis, laboratory and field investigations, numerical modelling, telescopic observations, remote sensing, spacecraft instrumentation, and space mission development and operations.

LPL has been involved with many missions over the years and are currently engaged in these six missions; Cassini VIMS, HiRISE, Mercury MESSENGER, OSIRIS-REx, Rosettas VIRTIS and WISE. Cassini VIMS

The Cassini spacecraft was launched in October 1997 and is currently orbiting around Saturn and its mysterious satellite Titan. The Cassini spacecraft contains the Visual and Infrared Mapping Spectrometer (VIMS). The VIMS is a colour camera which can take images in 352 wavelengths, ranging from 300nm to 5100nm. As humans we can only detect light in 3 wavelengths; blue (420nm), yellow (534nm) and red (564nm). The wavelengths (300-5100nm) in which VIMS sees outcompetes that of our eyes, therefore making colour and light identification more accurate (see below: Saturn and the innermost rings).

Above: The Lunar and Planetary Laboratory on the campus of the University of Arizona In Kuipers day, research was undertaken using telescopes. Nowadays, research involves using spacecraft, analysing samples in laboratories, or creating theories to fit results seen in observational data. Current research being undertaken by LPL and PtyS includes; Astrobiology, Catalina Sky Survey, Electron Microbe Lab, Climate Change, PIRL, Spacewatch, Solar & Heliospheric and Theoretical Astrophysics. With research and missions to hand, it is the perfect place to learn and progress. The purpose of VIMS is to investigate the surface composition and atmosphere of Titan and Saturn and to distinguish Saturns rings. In-depth details of the VIMS equipment and operation can be found in this paper: The Visual and Infrared Mapping Spectrometer for Cassini (http://www.ifsiroma.inaf.it/cassini/downloads/VIMSpaper.pdf)

Emma Quinlan

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HiRISE

So far, there are missions to Saturn and Mars! Next is Mercurys turn. Mercury MESSENGER

HiRISE stands for the High Resolution Imaging Science Experiment. This powerful high resolution camera is on-board the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter. HiRISE has produced thousands of images of Mars since its orbital insertion on 10th March 2006. The mission is still on-going. This visible camera reveals small-scale objects in the debris blankets of mysterious gullies and details of geologic structure of canyons, craters, and layered deposits. Images from HiRISE have enabled planetary scientists to identify geological features on the surface which had been previously unseen by earlier flybys. Below is an image depicting the improvement of resolution between the Mars Orbital Camera (Mars Global Surveyor) and HiRISE.

MESSENGER stands for MErcury Surface, Space ENvironment, GEochemistry and Ranging. The MESSENGER mission was launched in 2004 to investigate the surface of our innermost silicate planet, Mercury. MESSENGER has 7 instruments in which to analyse Mercury; Mercury Dual Imaging System (MDIS), Gamma-Ray and Neutron Spectrometer (GRNS), Magnetometer (MAG), Mercury Laser Altimeter (MLA), Mercury Atmospheric and Surface Composition Spectrometer (MASCS), Energetic Particle and Plasma Spectrometer (EPPS) and Radio Science (RS). The most recent developments from the mission were published on 29th November 2012 with MESSENGER finding new evidence for water ice at Mercury's poles. http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/mess enger/main/index.html Asteroid and Cometary exploration will be up and running in the near future!

Emma Quinlan

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OSIRIS-REx

Rosettas VIRTIS

OSIRIS-REx is an asteroid sample return mission. The main aim is to sample the carbonaceous near Earth asteroid known as (101955) 1999 RQ36. OSIRIS-REx will intercept the comet in October 2018. This sample will help us investigate planet formation and the origin of life, and the data collected at the asteroid will also aid our understanding of asteroids that can impact Earth. (101955) 1999 RQ36 has an orbital period of 436.6 days with an orbital velocity of 27.8 km/s. It is 500m in diameter and has a rotational period of 4.3 hrs. OSIRIS-REx aims to complete 5 scientific objectives; To map the surface of the asteroid Collect samples and analyse sample site Return samples to Earth for analysis Measure the orbit of the asteroid Compare the data collected with telescope observations WISE

The Rosetta mission was launched on 2nd March 2004. Its mission is to intercept the comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko to analyse the cometary nucleus and environment. On its 10 year journey to 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko, Rosetta has intercepted two asteroids 2867 Steins (2008) and 21 Lutetia (2010). Once Rosetta meets 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko, the spacecraft will orbit the comet in its orbital path around the Sun. The Rosetta spacecraft carries the Visual and Infrared Thermal Imaging Spectrometer (VIRTIS). The purpose of VIRTIS is to use spectral mapping and spectroscopy to obtain these 5 objectives; Study a comet nucleus and its environment Identify solids on the nucleus surface Idenitify gaseous elements Identify the conditions of the coma Measure the nucleus temperature By completing these objectives the Rosetta mission contributes to our understanding of cometary environments. Imaging the whole sky completes the active LPL missions!

The WISE mission was launched on 14th December 2009 and was injected straight into a synchronous Sun orbit. WISE carries an infrared-sensitive telescope which will image the whole of the sky. The missions science objectives are as so; Find luminous galaxies and stars closest to the Sun Detect asteroids in the Main Asteroid Belt (>3km) Allow studies on topics ranging from planetary disc evolution to history of star formation in galaxies

Emma Quinlan

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The Head of Planetary Science and Director of the Lunar and Planetary Laboratory is Timothy D. Swindle. LPL Address and Contact Details: Lunar and Planetary Laboratory 1629 E. University Blvd. Tucson AZ 85721-0092 Phone: 520.621.6963 / Fax: 520.621.4933

Both the LPL and PtyS are found in the Kuiper and Sonett Space Science buildings along the East University Boulevard and in the Michael J. Drake (OSIRIS-REx) building along Sixth Avenue. The Kuiper and Sonett Space buildings are located near to the Flandrau Planetarium. If there is any spare time on your visit to LPL/PtyS, this is a recommended space attraction to visit. As seen below the three main buildings of the LPL can be seen highlighted by red stars. The main entrance for Kuiper and Sonett Space buildings can be accessed via the University Boulevard. The main entrance for the Michael J. Drake building can be accessed via the northwest corner of Sixth Avenue/Drachman Street.

Above: Kuiper Building, Sonnet Space Building and Michael J. Drake Building For further information on LPL and PtyS please visit: http://www.lpl.arizona.edu/ .