Geological Society of America

T37 Void Spaces on Planetary Bodies

Monday, 26 October 2020
5:30 PM - 8:00 PM
Meeting Rooms

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

Paper number: T37-5
Program: Technical Sessions
Time: 6:30 PM – 6:45 PM

Authors

Kelsey Young Presenting Author
NASA Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, MD
Wenlu Zhu
University of Maryland, College Park, MD
Laurent Montesi
University of Maryland, College Park, MD
Edward Williams
Ellicott City, MD
Charles Connor
Univ of South Florida, Tampa, MD
Adam Naids
Johnson Space Center, Houston, TX
David Coan
NASA Johnson Space Center, Houston, MD
Yisha Ng
Houston, MD
Beck Strauss
NASA Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, MD
David Akin
University of Maryland, College Park, MD
Molly Wasser
NASA Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, MD
Patrick L. Whelley
Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, MD
Nicole Whelley
NASA Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, MD
Matthew A. Siegler
Southern Methodist University, Dallas, TX
Rebecca Ghent
Tucson, AZ
Nicholas Schmerr
University of Maryland, College Park, MD
Sarah Kruse
University of South Florida, Tampa, FL
Ernest R. Bell
University of Maryland, College Park, MD
Jacob Richardson
University of Maryland, College Park, MD
Debra Buczkowski
JHU Applied Physics Laboratory, Laurel, MD
Danielle Wyrick
Southwest Research Institute Space Science Division, San Antonio, TX
Sanaz Esmaeili
University of South Florida, Tampa, MD
Sajad Jazayeri
University of South Florida, Tampa, FL

Abstract

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.

Geological Society of America Abstracts with Programs. Vol. 52, No. 6

doi: 10.1130/abs/2020AM-357799

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