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Selection and Characterization of the Landing Site for NASA CLPS PRISM1 Lunar Lander Mission CP-11
The NASA Commercial Lunar Payload Services (CLPS) program delivery known as "CP-11" will carry multiple payloads to the lunar surface in 2024. The payloads include (a) Lunar Vertex, the first science suite sponsored by the NASA Science Mission Directorate's Payloads and Research Investigations on the Surface of the Moon (PRISM) program, (b) JPL's CADRE (Cooperative Autonomous Distributed Robotic Explorers), a project from the NASA Space Technology Mission Directorate's Game Changing Development Program, (c) the Lunar Space Environment Monitor (LUSEM), a high-energy particle detector from the Korea Astronomy and Space Science Institute (KASI) and funded by the Ministry of Science and ICT of Korea (MSIT), and (d) MPAc (MoonLIGHT Pointing Actuator), a laser retro-reflector developed by the National Institute for Nuclear Physics (INFN-LNF) and funded by the European Space Agency.
Morphometric Characterization of Lunar Landing Sites
As ambitious surface exploration of the Moon commences in the 2020s, it is important to develop reliable and objective metrics for understanding the quality of future landing sites. A key prerequisite for any exploration and utilization of the lunar surface is a safe landing. One of the most important methods to provide understanding of potential metrics for landing site safety in the lunar context is the systematic comparison of candidate and historic landing sites. The goal of this project is to determine the morphometric parameters of the lunar surface at 16 successful lunar landing sites where adequate data exists to execute a quantitative comparison using various parameters. Quantitative analysis of Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter (LRO) data should inform mission planning activities by providing morphologic metrics for landing sites including slope, Terrain Ruggedness Index (TRI), and rock abundance. These comparisons will assist mission planners and exploration scientists by providing “calibration points” for using Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter (LRO) data to successfully plan and execute lunar powered descents in the future. The metrics included in this analysis describe the form of the terrain and can be calculated for any potential future landing site. Another objective of this project is to determine how the derived morphologic parameters for the same landing site change between common pixel scales. In ideal lighting conditions, 2m/px Narrow Angle Camera Digital Terrain Models (NAC DTMs) can be assembled using stereoscopic imagery from two or more concentric orbits of the LRO. However, due to low light conditions near the lunar poles, the highest quality data for many potential lunar landing sites comes from the Lunar Orbiter Laser Altimeter (LOLA). Therefore, we seek to assess how the derived slope and TRI values change as a function of changes in the DTM postings from 2m/px to 5m/px.
Evaluation of geophysical properties of the lunar regolith for the design of precursor scientific missions for the space exploration initiative
The following topics are addressed: (1) the frequency of encountering boulders that represent hazards to lunar operations; (2) the ease of lunar soil excavation; (3) the use of explosives in excavation operation; (4) the trafficability of the regolith; (5) problems encountered in mining (probably strip mining) of the regolith; (6) the stable angle(s) of repose in excavation of the regolith; (7) the layering to be encountered in the subsurface; (8) knowledge of the regolith site and the possibility of its general application to any site on the lunar surface; (9) the data needed to characterize a site for a lunar base; (10) the influence of regolith properties on the design of geophysical experiments from the lunar base; and (11) terrestrial analogues for the geophysical properties of the lunar regolith.
Analysis of telescope site selection for optical Deep Space Network.
In this paper, therefore, we present an analysis of site selection for an optical deep space network as performed by the ODSN study group at JPL. Given a set of mission requirements, we illustrate how the high-level requirements, along with the properties of the atmospheric channel, can be used to determine the site selection and the architecture of an ODSN. Moreover, we characterize candidate sites for a global optical network and their possible suitability for global architectures such as the linear dispersed optical subnet (LDOS) and cluster optical subnet network (COS).
Mars 2020 Surface Mission Modeling Landing Site Thermal Environments
This paper presents work done by the Mars 2020 Mission Planning Team to characterize landing site thermal environments. A process was developed to take in ground temperature simulation data for each landing site and efficiently discretize it into six thermal environment bins. The Mars 2020 Thermal Team then performed detailed heater and energy modeling in each of those environments. The heater modeling results were implemented into a Monte Carlo based surface mission model to understand mission performance impacts. The Mars 2020 Instrument Teams used the results to inform their design and to better understand how the thermal conditions at each landing site affected their instruments.
Mars 2020 Surface Mission Modeling Landing Site Thermal Environments
This paper presents work done by the Mars 2020 Mission Planning Team to characterize landing site thermal environments. A process was developed to take in ground temperature simulation data for each landing site and efficiently discretize it into six thermal environment bins. The Mars 2020 Thermal Team then performed detailed heater and energy modeling in each of those environments. The heater modeling results were implemented into a Monte Carlo based surface mission model to understand mission performance impacts. The Mars 2020 Instrument Teams used the results to inform their design and to better understand how the thermal conditions at each landing site affected their instruments.
Mars 2020 Surface Mission Modeling: Landing Site Thermal Environments
This paper presents work done by the Mars 2020 Mission Planning Team to characterize landing site thermal environments. A process was developed to take in ground temperature simulation data for each landing site and efficiently discretize it into a handful of thermal bin environments. The Mars 2020 Thermal Team then performed detailed heater and energy modeling in each of those environments. The heater modeling results were implemented into a Monte Carlo based surface mission model to understand mission performance impacts. The Mars 2020 Instrument Teams used the results to inform their design and to better understand how the thermal conditions at each landing site affected their instruments.
Regulation of insulin-like growth factor I transcription by cyclic adenosine 3',5'-monophosphate (cAMP) in fetal rat bone cells through an element within exon 1: protein kinase A-dependent control without a consensus AMP response element
Insulin-like growth factor I (IGF-I) is a locally synthesized anabolic growth factor for bone. IGF-I synthesis by primary fetal rat osteoblasts (Ob) is stimulated by agents that increase the intracellular cAMP concentration, including prostaglandin E2 (PGE2). Previous studies with Ob cultures demonstrated that PGE2 enhanced IGF-I transcription through selective use of IGF-I promoter 1, with little effect on IGF-I messenger RNA half-life. Transient transfection of Ob cultures with an array of promoter 1-luciferase reporter fusion constructs has now allowed localization of a potential cis-acting promoter element(s) responsible for cAMP-stimulated gene expression to the 5'-untranslated region (5'-UTR) of IGF-I exon 1, within a segment lacking a consensus cAMP response element. Our evidence derives from three principal observations: 1) a transfection construct containing only 122 nucleotides (nt) of promoter 1 and 328 nt of the 5'-UTR retained full PGE2-stimulated reporter expression; 2) maximal PGE2-driven reporter expression required the presence of nt 196 to 328 of exon 1 when tested within the context of IGF-I promoter 1; 3) cotransfection of IGF-I promoter-luciferase-reporter constructs with a plasmid encoding the alpha-isoform of the catalytic subunit of murine cAMP-dependent protein kinase (PKA) produced results comparable to those seen with PGE2 treatment, whereas cotransfection with a plasmid encoding a mutant regulatory subunit of PKA that cannot bind cAMP blocked PGE2-induced reporter expression. Deoxyribonuclease I footprinting of the 5'-UTR of exon 1 demonstrated protected sequences at HS3A, HS3B, and HS3D, three of six DNA-protein binding sites previously characterized with rat liver nuclear extracts. Of these three regions, only the HS3D binding site is located within the functionally identified hormonally responsive segment of IGF-I exon 1. These results directly implicate PKA in the control of IGF-I gene transcription by PGE2 and identify a segment of IGF-I exon 1 as being essential for this hormonal regulation.
Discovery, characterization, and application of chromosomal integration sites in the hyperthermophilic archaeon Sulfolobus islandicus
Sulfolobus islandicus , an emerging archaeal model organism, offers unique advantages for metabolic engineering and synthetic biology applications owing to its ability to thrive in extreme environments. Although several genetic tools have been established for this organism, the lack of well-characterized chromosomal integration sites has limited its potential as a cellular factory. Here, in this work, we systematically identified and characterized 13 artificial CRISPR RNAs targeting eight integration sites in S. islandicus using the CRISPR-COPIES pipeline and a multi-omics-informed computational workflow. We leveraged the endogenous CRISPR-Cas system to integrate the reporter gene lacS and validated heterologous expression through a β-galactosidase assay, revealing significant positional effects. As a proof of concept, we utilized these sites to genetically manipulate lipid ether composition by overexpressing glycerol dibiphytanyl glycerol tetraether (GDGT) ring synthase B (GrsB). This study expands the genetic toolbox for S. islandicus and advances its potential as a robust platform for archaeal synthetic biology and industrial biotechnology.
Physical and Hydraulic Properties of RCRA Borehole Samples from the Hanford Site : Final Report, Fiscal Years 2023-2024
Sediment from 44 core samples collected from Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) boreholes drilled in the 200 East and 200 West areas of the Hanford Site were characterized for physical and hydraulic properties (Table S.1). Characterization data included gravimetric water contents and matric potentials, grain-size distributions, saturated hydraulic conductivity, water retention characteristics, and unsaturated hydraulic conductivity. These properties provide site-specific data and parameters that can be used in subsurface flow and contaminant transport models to assess the transport and fate of contaminants in the vadose zone and underlying aquifer systems. The analyzed core samples come from specific areas and depth intervals at the Hanford Site that were targeted for sampling to address data gaps identified by site contractors (Khaleel 2020). X-ray computed tomography (XCT) was used to evaluate the general textural characteristics of the samples and to determine which samples to use for further physical and hydraulic property characterization. Subsequent sample selection was determined by consensus after review of the XCT images by Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, Central Plateau Cleanup Company, and INTERA staff.
Enrichments for phototrophic bacteria and characterization by morphology and pigment analysis
The purpose of this investigation was to examine several sulfide containing environments for the presence of phototrophic bacteria and to obtain enriched cultures of some of the bacteria present. The field sites were Alum Rock State Park, the Palo Alto salt marsh, the bay area salt ponds, and Big Soda Lake (near Fallon, Nevada). Bacteria from these sites were characterized by microscopic examination, measurement of in vitro absorption spectra, and analysis of carotenoid pigments. Field observations at one of the bay area salt ponds, in which the salt concentration was saturating (about 30 percent NaCl) and the sediments along the shore of the pond covered with a gypsum crust, revealed a layer of purple photosynthetic bacteria under a green layer in the gypsum crust. Samples of this gypsum crust were taken to the laboratory to measure light transmission through the crust and to try to identify the purple photosynthetic bacteria present in this extremely saline environment.
AmeriFlux FLUXNET-1F US-Akn Savannah River Site
This is the AmeriFlux Management Project (AMP) created FLUXNET-1F version of the carbon flux data for the site US-Akn Savannah River Site. This is the FLUXNET version of the carbon flux data for the site US-Akn Savannah River Site produced by applying the standard ONEFlux (1F) software. Site Description - The site is characterized by a mix of pine and deciduous hardwood forests with a general canopy height of 25m which was established in the 1950s. Management of the forest around the site is performed by the USFS-Savannah River and consists of prescribed burning of the understory on a 3-4 year cycle.
Modeling commercial-scale CO 2 storage in the gas hydrate stability zone with PFLOTRAN v6.0
Abstract. Safe and secure carbon dioxide (CO2) storage is likely to be critical for mitigating some of the most dangerous effects of climate change. In the last decade, there has been a significant increase in activity associated with reservoir characterization and site selection for large-scale CO2 storage projects across the globe. These prospective storage sites tend to be selected for their optimal structural, petrophysical, and geochemical trapping potential. However, it has also been suggested that storing CO2 in reservoirs within the CO2 hydrate stability zone (GHSZ), characterized by high pressures and low temperatures (e.g., Arctic or marine environments), could provide a natural thermodynamic barrier to gas leakage. Evaluating the prospect of commercial-scale, long-term storage of CO2 in the GHSZ requires reservoir-scale modeling capabilities designed to account for the unique physics and thermodynamics associated with these systems. We have developed the HYDRATE flow mode and the accompanying fully implicit parallel well model in the massively parallel subsurface flow and reactive transport simulator PFLOTRAN to model CO2 injection into the marine GHSZ. We have applied these capabilities to a set of CO2 injection scenarios designed to reveal the challenges and opportunities for commercial-scale CO2 storage in the GHSZ.
A New View of the Lunar South Pole from the Lunar Orbiter Laser Altimeter (LOLA)
Upcoming missions to the lunar south pole require detailed maps over large areas to fully characterize landing sites locally and regionally and to place their data into proper geologic context. To that end, we enhanced the Lunar Orbiter Laser Altimeter (LOLA) altimetry dataset for the south polar region, from which we produced new maps of topography, topographic roughness, and permanently shadowed regions (PSRs). The roughness maps reveal a diversity of terrains characterized by hectometer-scale roughness which is controlled in this region primarily by cratering and downslope mass transport. The south polar region is littered with linear roughness features of order ~1 – 10 km wide and ~10s – 100s of km long hypothesized to be secondary impacts within extended ejecta rays. Non uniformities in these features could reflect variations in secondary impactor properties and/or target terrain properties. Poleward of 80° S, the PSR cumulative size-frequency distribution (CSFD) shows an approximately power-law behavior whose exponent has a spatial variation of ~10%. PSRs with areas < 1 km2 contain 15 ± 5% of the total PSR area. Finally, we studied the effect of false positives and false negatives on the accuracy of the measured PSR cumulative size-frequency distribution (CSFD) and on the area for any individual PSR. The new maps presented here have many applications in the science and exploration of the lunar south polar region, such as geologic mapping and traverse planning.
MRCI Subtask 2.3: Developing Industrial Partnerships and Regional Technical Collaboration Final Technical Summary Report
Under the objective of regional data collection and helping accelerate deployment, MRCI collaborated with industrial stakeholders in their project planning, characterization, and analysis. Some examples of these collaborations are given below. The data and information shared by the industrial collaborations added to the regional CCS framework development and were incorporated into the overall datasets, while addressing any proprietary data requirements. Three examples of collaborative partnerships with industry that have provided geologic characterization data relevant and beneficial to the MRCI program are discussed below, including: the UIC Class II Injection Facility in Eastern Ohio, the Core Energy CO2-EOR (enhanced oil recovery) operation in Otsego County Michigan, and the Marquis ethanol plant in Hennepin Illinois.
Unsupervised Clustering of Microseismic Events and Focal Mechanism Analysis at the CO 2 Injection Site in Decatur, Illinois
Characterization of induced microseismicity at a carbon dioxide (CO 2 ) storage site is critical for preserving reservoir integrity and mitigating seismic hazards. We apply a multilevel machine learning (ML) approach that combines the nonnegative matrix factorization and hidden Markov model to extract spectral representations of microseismic events and cluster them to identify seismic patterns at the Illinois Basin-Decatur Project. Unlike traditional waveform correlation methods, this approach leverages spectral characteristics of first arrivals to improve event classification and detect previously undetected planes of weakness. By integrating ML-based clustering with focal mechanism analysis, we resolve small-scale fault structures that are below the detection limits of conventional seismic imaging. Our findings reveal temporal bursts of microseismicity associated with brittle failure, providing insights into the spatio-temporal evolution of fault reactivation during CO 2 injection. This approach enhances seismic monitoring capabilities at CO 2 injection sites by improving fault characterization beyond the resolution of standard geophysical surveys.
The evolution of model Rh/Fe 3 O 4 (001) catalysts in hydrogen environments
Single metal atoms dispersed on oxides are a new emerging class of catalysts owing to their unique electronic and chemical properties. Here, in this study, we have prepared a series of model single-atom catalysts possessing well-characterized Rh sites that include Rh adatoms (Rh ad ), mixed surface layers with octahedrally-coordinated Rh (Rh oct ), as well as metallic Rh clusters and nanoparticles (Rh met ) on Fe 3 O 4 (001). Using X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and scanning tunneling microscopy (STM), we investigated the activity of such model systems towards H2 and their stability in reducing environments. Our results show that the atomically dispersed Rhad and Rhoct species do not activate H 2 , which would result in the formation of surface hydroxyls on Fe 3 O 4 (001). In contrast, the presence of Rh met in H 2 results in the formation of hydroxyls and subsequent etching of the Fe 3 O 4 (001) at higher temperatures (≥ 500 K) due to water formation via the Mars-van Krevelen mechanism. Additionally, such surface etching leads to the release of the Rh oct from the surface lattice and their sintering to Rh met . To bridge the material gap between the surface science models and high surface area catalysts, we perform parallel studies on powder Rh/Fe 3 O 4 catalysts. The XPS characterization shows remarkable similarities between these systems. Further, our surface science studies provide an atomistic picture of the behavior of high surface area catalysts in the H 2 atmosphere.