Quantifying the chemical composition of weathering products of Hainan basalts with reflectance spectroscopy and its implications for Mars

With the development of the hyperspectral remote sensing technique,extensive chemical weathering profiles have been identified on Mars.These weathering sequences,formed through precipitation-driven leaching processes,can reflect the paleoenvironments and paleoclimates during pedogenic processes.The specific composition and stratigraphic profiles mirror the mineralogical and chemical trends observed in weathered basalts on Hainan Island in south China.In this study,we investigated the laboratory reflectance spectra of a 53-m-long drilling core of a thick basaltic weathering profile collected from Hainan Island.We established a quantitative spectral model by combining the genetic algorithm and partial least squares regression(GA-PLSR)to predict the chemical properties(SiO2,Al2O3,Fe2O3)and index of laterization(IOL).The entire sample set was divided into a calibration set of 25 samples and a validation set of 12 samples.Specifically,the GA was used to select the spectral subsets for each composition,which were then input into the PLSR model to derive the chemical concentration.The coefficient of determination(R2)values on the validation set for SiO2,Al2O3,Fe2O3,and the IOL were greater than 0.9.In addition,the effects of various spectral preprocessing techniques on the model accuracy were evaluated.We found that the spectral derivative treatment boosted the prediction accuracy of the GA-PLSR model.The improvement achieved with the second derivative was more pronounced than when using the first derivative.The quantitative model developed in this work has the potential to estimate the contents of similar weathering basalt products,and thus infer the degree of alteration and provide insights into paleoclimatic conditions.Moreover,the informative bands selected by the GA can serve as a guideline for designing spectral channels for the next generation of spectrometers.

Tianwen-1 MINPA observations in the solar wind

The Mars Ion and Neutral Particle Analyzer(MINPA)is one of the three scientific instruments onboard the Tianwen-1 orbiter to investigate the Martian space environment.During Tianwen-1’s transfer orbit to Mars,the MINPA was switched on to measure the solar wind ions.Here,we present the first results of the MINPA observations in the solar wind.During cruise,nearly half of the MINPA ion field-of-view(FOV)was blocked by the lander capsule;thus only the solar-wind ions with azimuthal speeds pointing towards the unblocked FOV sectors could be detected.We perform a detailed comparison of the MINPA’s solar wind observations with data from Earth-based missions when MINPA reached its count-rate peak,finding a general consistency of the ion moments between them.The blocking effect due to the lander is evaluated quantitatively under varying solar-wind velocity conditions.Despite the blocking effect,the MINPA’s solar wind measurements during the transfer orbit suggest a good performance.

Estimation of surface water content at the Tianwen-1 Zhurong landing site

China’s first Mars rover,Zhurong,successfully landed in the south of Utopia Planitia.The surface water content at the landing area can provide constraints on mineral formation conditions and help us better understand the evolution of the Martian aqueous and geological environment.In this work,the surface kinetic temperature of the Zhurong landing area was derived by analyzing data from the Mars Express Observatoire pour la Minéralogie,l’Eau,les Glaces et l’Activité(OMEGA)spectrometer.Using the Discrete Ordinate Radiative Transfer(DISORT)model,we performed atmospheric correction and thermal correction for the OMEGA data to obtain the surface effective single-particle absorption thickness(ESPAT)parameter to evaluate the surface water content.The surface water content distribution at the landing area was relatively uniform at a lateral scale of~10 km.At the Zhurong landing site,the surface water content in the topmost layer(a few hundred micrometers)of the regolith was 5−8 weight percent water(wt%H_(2)O),assuming surface particle sizes of<45μm,or 1.6−2.5 wt%H_(2)O,assuming surface particle sizes in the range of 125−250μm.The Mars Surface Composition Detector(MarSCoDe)onboard Zhurong also observed significant H_(2)O/OH signals in the landing area.Our results provide an important regional context for the hydration state of the area and can be further verified by the H content derived from the Laser-Induced Breakdown Spectrometer(LIBS)data of MarSCoDe.

Two Lunar Mare Soil Simulants

Two new lunar mare soil simulants,NAO-2 and NAO-3,have been created in National Astronomical Observatories(NAO),Chinese Academy of Sciences.These two simulants were produced from low-titanium basalt and high-titanium basalt respectively.The chemical composition,mineralogy, particle size distribution,density,angle of internal friction,and cohesion of both simulants have been analyzed,indicating that some characteristics of NAO-2 and NAO-3 are similar to those of Apollo 14 and Apollo 11 landing site soils.NAO-2 and NAO-3 will be of great benefit to the scientific and engineering research on lunar soil.

Geotectonic evolution of lunar LQ-4 region based on multisource data

The Sinus Iridum region, the first choice for China＇s＂Lunar Exploration Project＂is located at the center of the lunar LQ-4 area and is the site of Chang＇e-3 （CE-3）＇s soft landing. To make the scientific exploration of Chang＇e-3 more targeted and scientific, and to obtain a better macro-level understanding of the geotectonic environment of the Sinus Iridum region, the tectonic elements in LQ-4 region have been studied and the typical structures were analyzed statistically using data from CE-1, Clementine, LRO and Lunar Prospector missions. Also, the mineral components and periods of mare basalt activities in the study area have been ascertained. The present study divides the tectonic units and establishes the major tectonic events and sequence of evolution in the study area based on morphology, mineral constituents, and tectonic element distribution.

月球探测进展与国际月球科研站

月球作为地球唯一的天然卫星,因其独一无二的位置资源、极具特点的环境资源、丰富的物质资源,是人类进行空间探测和开发利用太空的首选目标.地月系是太阳系探测的试验场,月球是迈向更远深空的中转站.月球科学研究对推动空间科学发展具有重要作用.月球资源开发利用对人类的可持续发展具有重要意义.近年来,我国月球探测取得了举世瞩目的成就,在完成"绕落回"三步走后,必将以更好地服务于月球科学探测和资源开发利用为目标,增进人类科学认知,拓展人类生存空间,服务人类社会可持续发展.本文梳理和评述了国内外月球探测发展现状与发展趋势,归纳了未来月球探测所涉及的主要任务、前沿科学问题和关键技术,提出我国月球探测发展建议.月球探测是建设航天强国的重要标志,当前我国正从航天大国迈向航天强国,在月球探测方面应该有大国思维,保持战略定力,继续发挥优势,牵头组织国际月球科研站大科学工程.

月球科研站的关键科学问题

基于第302期“双清论坛”,本文总结了基于月球科研站的科学研究进展,围绕月球地质、近月空间环境、月基观测、月基生命实验和资源利用等领域,梳理了月球科研站的研究方向及总体科学目标,凝练了该领域未来5~10年的关键科学问题,探讨了前沿研究方向和发展战略。

Research of Lunar Water-Ice and Exploration for China’s Future Lunar Water-Ice Exploration

Since the 1990s,the existence of water-ice in the permanent shadow areas of the lunar polar regions and the problem of water in the early lunar period have become the hot spot of international lunar exploration.This paper analyzes the research progress and existing problems of lunar water-ice detection in recent years.Based on the analysis of expected foreign lunar water-ice exploration missions,the major scientific problems of lunar water-ice are analyzed.From different exploration methods,this paper tentatively puts forward the scientific tasks,payload configuration,functional requirements,and possible scientific outputs of water-ice in China's future lunar exploration projects,which can provide reference for future lunar exploration missions.

Volcanism and Deep Structures of the Moon

Volcanism is the most important endogenic geological process of the Moon,which is closely related to its internal structure and thermal history.Lunar volcanism is one of the most important topics for lunar science and explorations.Recent lunar orbital observations,in situ explorations,and sample return missions have returned a new generation of high-resolution datasets,which greatly enriched our knowledge of lunar volcanism.Here,we summarize recent advances in the duration and spatial distribution of lunar mare volcanism,as well as origin of volcanic landforms such as lava flows,sinuous rilles,lava tubes,domes,and cones.We proposed several outstanding problems in the study of temporal and spatial span of lunar volcanism,the formation mechanism of the varied volcanic landforms,and their relation with deep structures.To solve these problems,more in situ explorations and sample return missions from various volcanic units are needed.

New achievements from CE-3 mission

The Chang＇E-3 （CE-3） mission began with a smooth countdown and flawless launch on the Long March 3B rocket from the Xichang satellite launch center at 01：30 CST on December 2, 2013. It landed on the northeastern Imbrium basin （340.49°E, 44.12°N） at 21：11 CST on December 14, 2013, and the Yutu rover was deployed from the lander the next morning at 04：35.