A frozen Apollo 17 pattern being processed inside a nitrogen-purged glove field at NASA’s Johnson House Heart in Houston. The pattern is one among many being studied as a part of the Apollo Subsequent Era Pattern Evaluation Program (ANGSA) program. Credit score: NASA/Robert Markowitz
Scientists at NASA’s Goddard House Flight Heart in Greenbelt, Maryland, not too long ago obtained samples of the lunar floor which were rigorously saved in a freezer at NASA’s Johnson House Heart in Houston since Apollo 17 astronauts returned them to Earth in December 1972.
This analysis is a part of the Apollo Subsequent Era Pattern Evaluation Program, or ANGSA, an effort to review the samples returned from the Apollo Program prematurely of the upcoming Artemis missions to the Moon’s South Pole.
Scientists at NASA’s Goddard House Flight Heart in Greenbelt, Maryland, not too long ago obtained samples of the lunar floor which were curated in a freezer at NASA’s Johnson House Heart in Houston since Apollo 17 astronauts returned them to Earth in December 1972. Credit score: NASA’s Goddard House Flight Heart
Nevertheless, the method of getting the samples from Johnson to researchers at Goddard – in addition to researchers at NASA’s Ames Analysis Heart in California’s Silicon Valley, the Naval Analysis Laboratory in Washington, D.C., and the College of Arizona, Tucson – was rather more troublesome than you may suppose. It’s a course of that started greater than 4 years in the past when NASA’s Julie Mitchell and her Artemis curation group at Johnson started designing and retrofitting a facility to course of the frozen Apollo 17 samples. This was a brand new method and scientists had been excited to make use of a way that may very well be utilized to future lunar missions.
“We began this in early 2018 and there’s been numerous technical challenges that we’ve needed to overcome to get so far,” stated Mitchell. “This was seen as a follow run for getting ready a facility for future chilly pattern processing.”
“By doing this work we’re not simply facilitating Artemis exploration, however we’re facilitating future pattern return and human exploration into the remainder of the photo voltaic system,” Mitchell added. “I really feel very privileged to contribute on this small approach by growing the capabilities for us to gather these supplies, deliver them dwelling safely, and curate them for the long run.”
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As soon as the power was prepared, Ryan Zeigler, Apollo pattern curator within the Astromaterials Analysis and Exploration Science (ARES) Division at Johnson, and his group needed to adapt to the distinctive situations designed by Mitchell’s group to maintain the samples frozen throughout processing, which included decreased visibility because of frost and challenges manipulating the samples whereas working with thick gloves in a nitrogen-purged glove field, all of which befell inside a walk-in freezer maintained at minus 4 levels Fahrenheit (minus 20 C). Having the ability to hold samples frozen might be essential for Artemis as astronauts probably return ice samples from the Moon’s South Pole.
“All the pieces we do includes numerous logistics and numerous infrastructure, however including the chilly makes it lots tougher,” stated Zeigler. “It’s an essential studying lesson for Artemis, as with the ability to course of samples within the chilly might be much more essential for the Artemis mission than it's for Apollo. This work provides us some classes discovered and a superb feed ahead for Artemis.”
As soon as the frozen samples had been processed and subdivided at Johnson by lunar pattern processor Jeremy Kent, the samples had been then categorical shipped in a cooler with dry ice, instantly opened at Goddard, and saved in a safe freezer. For the scientists now working with the treasures, there’s one thing particular about receiving samples that haven’t been investigated in practically 5 many years.
Three ARES scientists course of frozen Apollo 17 samples inside a walk-in freezer maintained at minus 4 levels Fahrenheit (minus 20 C). Beneath the laboratory robe, they don parkas, gloves, and hats to maintain heat. Credit score: NASA/Robert Markowitz
Jamie Elsila, a analysis scientist within the Astrobiology Analytical Laboratory at Goddard, is specializing in the examine of small, risky natural compounds for her analysis and evaluation of the pattern. Earlier analysis confirmed that some lunar samples comprise <div class="text-wrapper"><br />Amino acids are a set of organic compounds used to build proteins. There are about 500 naturally occurring known amino acids, though only 20 appear in the genetic code. Proteins consist of one or more chains of amino acids called polypeptides. The sequence of the amino acid chain causes the polypeptide to fold into a shape that is biologically active. The amino acid sequences of proteins are encoded in the genes. Nine proteinogenic amino acids are called "essential" for humans because they cannot be produced from other compounds by the human body and so must be taken in as food.<br /></div>"
</div></div>' data-gt-translate-attributes='["attribute":"data-cmtooltip", "format":"html"]'>amino acids, that are important to life on Earth. Her group desires to know their origin and distribution within the photo voltaic system.
“We expect among the amino acids within the lunar soils could have shaped from precursor molecules, that are smaller, extra risky compounds similar to formaldehyde or hydrogen cyanide,” stated Elsila. “Our analysis objective is to determine and quantify these small natural risky compounds, in addition to any amino acids, and to make use of the info to know the prebiotic natural chemistry of the Moon.”
Natalie Curran, principal investigator for the Mid Atlantic Noble Gasoline Analysis Lab at Goddard, focuses on understanding the historical past that the samples could have skilled throughout their lifetime on the Moon. The floor of the Moon is a harsh setting and in contrast to the Earth, it doesn’t have an environment to guard it from publicity to house.
“Our work permits us to make use of noble gases, similar to argon, helium, neon, and xenon, to measure the period a pattern has been uncovered to cosmic rays, and this may also help us perceive the historical past of that pattern,” stated Curran. “Cosmic rays will be damaging to natural materials that could be in a pattern, so understanding the period helps to find out the consequences that publicity has had on the natural.”
Each Elsila and Curran are in possession of frozen and non-frozen lunar samples. When these samples had been dropped at Earth, a portion was saved at room temperature and one other portion was frozen, permitting for comparability between the 2 teams. Scientists will analyze each units of samples to determine if there are variations within the natural content material. Understanding any variations brought on by the completely different curation strategies may inform future choices about easy methods to retailer samples returned by Artemis astronauts, a part of what the ARES group at Johnson might be doing.
For Elsila, “it’s very cool to consider all of the work that went into amassing the samples on the Moon after which all of the forethought and care that went into preserving them for us to have the ability to analyze right now,” she famous.
As for Curran, “whenever you consider how these samples have come from one other world, how far they've traveled and the photo voltaic system historical past they've preserved within them, it all the time blows my thoughts,” she added.
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