Paper No. 37-5
Presentation Time: 6:30 PM
EXPLORING LAVA TUBES AND OTHER VOID SPACES ACROSS THE SOLAR SYSTEM WITH THE GEOPHYSICAL EVOLUTION OF THE DYNAMICS AND EVOLUTION OF THE SOLAR SYSTEM (GEODES) TEAM (Invited Presentation)
YOUNG, Kelsey1, WHELLEY, Patrick L.2, KRUSE, Sarah3, BELL Jr., Ernest R.4, RICHARDSON, Jacob A.5, BUCZKOWSKI, Debra L.6, WYRICK, Danielle7, ESMAEILI, Sanaz8, JAZAYERI, Sajad3, ZHU, Wenlu9, MONTESI, Laurent10, WILLIAMS, Edward10, CONNOR, Charles11, NAIDS, Adam12, COAN, David13, NG, Yisha14, STRAUSS, Beck15, AKIN, David16, WASSER, Molly17, WHELLEY, Nicole18, SIEGLER, Matthew A.19, GHENT, Rebecca20 and SCHMERR, Nicholas C.21, (1)Planetary Geology, Geophysics, and Geochemistry Laboratory, NASA Goddard Space Flight Center, 8800 Greenbelt Rd, Greenbelt, MD 20771, (2)Planetary Geology, Geophysics and Geochemistry Lab, Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, MD 20771, (3)Department of Geology, University of South Florida, 4202 East Fowler Avenue, SCA 528, Tampa, FL 33620, (4)Department of Geology, University of Maryland, 8000 Regents Drive, College Park, MD 20742, (5)Department of Astronomy, University of Maryland, College Park, MD 20742, (6)University of Maryland Baltimore County, Catonsville, MD, (7)Department of Earth, Material, and Planetary Sciences, Southwest Research Institute, San Antonio, TX, (8)Department of Geology, University of South Florida, 4202 East Fowler Avenue, SCA 528, Tampa, MD 33620, (9)University of Maryland, Department of Geology, Geology Building (#237), College Park, MD 20742-4211, (10)Department of Geology, University of Maryland, 237 Regents Drive, College Park, MD 20742, (11)Department of Geology, Univ of South Florida, 4202 East Fowler Avenue, SCA 528, Tampa, MD 33620, (12)NASA, Johnson Space Center, 2101 E NASA Pkwy, Houston, TX 77058, (13)The Aerospace Corporation, NASA Johnson Space Center, 2101 E NASA Pkwy, Houston, MD 77058, (14)NASA Johnson Space Center, 2101 E NASA Pkwy, Houston, MD 77058, (15)NIST, NASA Goddard Space Flight Center, 8800 Greenbelt Rd, Greenbelt, MD 20771, (16)Department of Aerospace Engineering, University of Maryland, College Park, MD 20742, (17)ADNET Systems Inc, NASA Goddard Space Flight Center, 8800 Greenbelt Rd, Greenbelt, MD 20771, (18)University of Maryland, College Park, NASA Goddard Space Flight Center, 8800 Greenbelt Rd, Greenbelt, MD 20771, (19)Roy M. Huffington Department of Earth Sciences, Southern Methodist University, PO Box 750395, Dallas, TX 75275-0395, (20)Planetary Science Institute, Tucson, AZ 85719, (21)Department of Geology, University of Maryland, College Park, MD 20742
The Geophysical Evolution Of the Dynamics and Evolution of the Solar System (GEODES) team, funded by the Solar System Exploration Research Virtual Institute, explores the use of geophysical methods to explore lava tubes, void spaces, ice deposits, regolith, and magma-tectonic systems. While GEODES applies geophysical techniques to a multitude of processes, the Tubes/Voids theme specifically applies geophysical techniques to exploring the formation and evolution of lava tubes and other void spaces (fracture systems, etc.) across the Solar System. Tubes and voids have been identified as a resource for future exploration as they can serve both as volatile reservoirs as well as shelter for astronauts from damaging radiation and micrometeorite impacts during long duration exploration. GEODES builds on several years of NASA-funded research investigating and developing an exploration strategy for lava tubes with the TubeX project, which combined Ground Penetrating Radar, magnetometry, gravimetry, and seismic studies with high-resolution LiDAR models of lava tubes to determine the optimum exploration strategy.
The GEODES Tubes/Voids theme builds from this foundation by addressing several key objectives. First, we investigate how tubes evolve after their initial formation and evaluate the stability of this exploration resource. Second, we evaluate the relationship between lava tube formation and geometry to surface expression by analyzing terrestrial field LiDAR data and Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter Camera data, and modelling tube formation to evaluate final geometry. Third, we characterize void spaces on small bodies by applying field geophysical tools to mapping subsurface fractures and characterizing these fractures as potential resources for human exploration. Finally, we will develop a Concept of Operations for the exploration of lava tubes and void spaces for future human and robotic explorers by defining exploration risks, designing a strategy for traversing into and through lava tubes, and managing exploration assets during this scientific exploration.
The next four years of GEODES work will combine fieldwork, remote sensing analysis, laboratory work, and modelling to form a comprehensive picture of lava tubes and void spaces across the Solar System.
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