{"project":{"acronym":"WES","projectId":16843,"title":"Electrostatic Spectrometer for Mars Rover Wheel","primaryTaxonomyNodes":[{"taxonomyNodeId":10722,"taxonomyRootId":8816,"parentNodeId":10721,"level":3,"code":"TX07.1.1","title":"Destination Reconnaissance and Resource Assessment","definition":"Destination reconnaissance and resource assessment technologies characterize, sample, and map the surface environment to quantify the locations and abundances of material and energy resources accessible from the surface. Orbital remote sensing or deployed surface devices and instruments are used to probe, sample, and analyze possible dynamic atmospheric and surface/subsurface material composition and physical/chemical properties. This mapping includes the combination of environmental, terrain, geological, and resource information to estimate accessibility and plan extraction operations.","exampleTechnologies":"Instruments and devices to: detect, locate, and quantify specific surface and subsurface chemical species (such as water or other high-value elements or minerals); determine properties of the destination atmosphere including composition, dynamic behavior, and other environmental factors related to utilization of atmospheric resources; measure geotechnical (mechanical) properties of the destination surface and subsurface for assessments of resource accessibility; assess or measure interactions between the surface environment and exploration capabilities (e.g. rocket plumes) that may affect resource accessibility; and models and simulate to extend discrete-site resource sampling into a broader mapping of accessible resources","hasChildren":false,"hasInteriorContent":true}],"benefits":"
This technology would benefit Mars Sample Return Mission in the mid 2020s. The electrostatic sensors would provide valuable information on the electrostatic properties of the Martian regolith and on the electrostatic properties of space materilas in contact with the regolith. The sensors should also determine when the rover is driving over a different type of regolith.
","description":"Develop a simple electrostatic spectrometer that can be mounted on the wheels of a Mars rover to continuously and unobtrusively determine the mineral composition and water content of the Martian soil. By constantly and passively sampling the soil, we expect that the spectrometer will be able to identify the presence of minerals of interest. Mission scientists can use this information to determine where to stop the rover and deploy the specialized spectrometers that require sample collection, such as the Alpha Particle X-Ray Spectrometer on MSL. Earlier electrostatic sensors developed in our laboratory showed feasibility of differentiating wet and dry Mars simulant. With the proposed sensors, we expect to be able to differentiate minerals by studying the electrostatic spectrum generated.
","startYear":2013,"startMonth":1,"endYear":2014,"endMonth":4,"statusDescription":"Completed","principalInvestigators":[{"contactId":334471,"canUserEdit":false,"firstName":"Michael","lastName":"Johansen","fullName":"Michael R Johansen","fullNameInverted":"Johansen, Michael R","middleInitial":"R","primaryEmail":"michael.r.johansen@nasa.gov","publicEmail":true,"nacontact":false}],"programManagers":[{"contactId":37541,"canUserEdit":false,"firstName":"Barbara","lastName":"Brown","fullName":"Barbara L Brown","fullNameInverted":"Brown, Barbara L","middleInitial":"L","primaryEmail":"barbara.l.brown@nasa.gov","publicEmail":true,"nacontact":false}],"projectManagers":[{"contactId":363469,"canUserEdit":false,"firstName":"Pamela","lastName":"Mullenix","fullName":"Pamela A Mullenix","fullNameInverted":"Mullenix, Pamela A","middleInitial":"A","primaryEmail":"pamela.a.mullenix@nasa.gov","publicEmail":true,"nacontact":false}],"coInvestigators":[{"contactId":61262,"canUserEdit":false,"firstName":"Carlos","lastName":"Calle","fullName":"Carlos I Calle","fullNameInverted":"Calle, Carlos I","middleInitial":"I","primaryEmail":"carlos.i.calle@nasa.gov","publicEmail":true,"nacontact":false},{"contactId":506431,"canUserEdit":false,"firstName":"Michael","lastName":"Hogue","fullName":"Michael D Hogue","fullNameInverted":"Hogue, Michael D","middleInitial":"D","primaryEmail":"michael.d.hogue@nasa.gov","publicEmail":true,"nacontact":false},{"contactId":369437,"canUserEdit":false,"firstName":"Paul","lastName":"Mackey","fullName":"Paul J Mackey","fullNameInverted":"Mackey, Paul J","middleInitial":"J","primaryEmail":"paul.j.mackey@nasa.gov","publicEmail":true,"nacontact":false}],"website":"","libraryItems":[{"files":[],"id":3270,"title":"A feasibility study of the Wheel Electrostatic Spectrometer","libraryItemTypeId":762,"projectId":16843,"primary":false,"publishedDateString":"","url":"http://www.electrostatics.org/images/ESA_2014_A_Johansen_et_al.pdf","contentType":{"lkuCodeId":762,"code":"LINK","description":"Link","lkuCodeTypeId":341,"lkuCodeType":{"codeType":"LIBRARY_ITEM_TYPE","description":"Library Item Type"}}}],"transitions":[],"responsibleMd":{"acronym":"MSD","canUserEdit":false,"city":"","external":false,"linkCount":0,"organizationId":4910,"organizationName":"Mission Support Directorate","organizationType":"NASA_Mission_Directorate","naorganization":false,"organizationTypePretty":"NASA Mission Directorate"},"program":{"acronym":"KSC IRAD","active":true,"description":"The Center Chief Technologist at Kennedy Space Center sponsors one or more internal solicitations throughout each year depending on available funds. These NASA internal solicitations use a blend of Independent Research and Development (IRAD), Center Innovation Fund (CIF) and/or Core Technical Capabilities (CTC) Special Studies funds to stimulate and encourage technology development, creativity, and innovation.
The objective is to address the technology needs and gaps of the Agency, as well as the nation. For these reasons, IRAD funds distributed to Kennedy Space Center support emerging technologies and creative initiatives that leverage the Center’s talent pool and unique capabilities. The program consists of relatively short term projects (typically a year or less in duration) which are awarded internally through a competitive proposal process at the discretion of the Center Chief Technologist. Basic criteria for the program have been outlined by NASA Office of the Chief Technologist (OCT) with fair latitude at the discretion of each Center Chief Technologist.
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