载人月球探测科学目标及着陆区选址建议

聚焦月球探测和应用的前沿科学问题,基于载人航天和月球探测的技术能力以及月球与行星科学研究水平,围绕月球科学研究、月基科学研究和资源勘查利用3个方面,提出了载人月球探测任务的科学目标,包含9个顶层目标和38个具体目标。依据科学目标和国内外载人月球探测着陆区选择现状与发展趋势,提出了我国载人月球探测着陆区选择基本原则和流程。结合科学价值和载人登月任务的工程实施条件,提出了30个精选着陆区,并给出了后续确定着落区地址需考虑的因素。科学目标和着陆区选址建议是载人月球探测工程的重要牵引和顶层输入,将为工程的方案设计和后续实施提供支撑。

基于文献计量的月球科学前沿研判

月球是人类开展深空探测的首选目标,月球探测是世界各国科技竞争的制高点。开展月球科学前沿研判,对我国实施深空探测战略、规划行星科学研究路径,进而赢得未来竞争优势至关重要。基于Web of Science数据库,本文利用文献计量学方法,对月球科学领域论文产出数量、学科和期刊分布、主要国家和领先机构的竞争力、国际合作等进行了深度分析,并通过聚类分析获得当前研究热点,梳理出五大研究领域和七大前沿问题。过去20年,我国在月球科学研究取得了长足进步,但仍然存在优秀论文少、顶尖学者少、学术期刊少的问题。未来月球科学可能在三个方向上实现突破:月球的水仍将是国际月球探测和研究的重点;月球内部结构探测或是我国弯道超车的机遇;新的月球样品将进一步揭示月球形成和演化的奥秘。本研究结果可以为我国未来月球探测和研究的规划与组织提供参考。

中国首次火星探测任务科学目标与有效载荷配置

中国首次火星探测任务将于2020年实施,科学目标和有效载荷配置是工程任务的重要顶层设计之一。简要回顾了国外已实施火星探测任务的主要科学目标,介绍了我国首次火星探测任务科学目标、有效载荷配置,分析了科学目标的创新性和特色。

Apollo 11月壤样品中太阳风成因的水及其意义

为研究太阳风成因水在月表低纬度地区的分布特征,本文对中国科学院地质与地球物理研究所博物馆珍藏的一份Apollo 11月壤样品开展了单颗粒原位纳米离子探针H同位素和水含量深度剖面分析。结果表明月壤颗粒表层(<200nm)具有较高的水含量(剖面最大水含量变化范围为0.35%~1.59%,平均值为0.82%),该结果与前人对Apollo样品的报导类似。除一颗斜长石的H同位素组成(δD=-262‰)落在月幔范围内,其余颗粒表层均非常贫D(δD变化范围为-987‰~-642‰)。该强烈贫D的同位素组成与太阳风一致,完全不同于地球大气水,不仅证明这些样品的月球来源,并且主要是太阳风注入的贡献。矿物颗粒之间的水含量和δD值变化,很可能与太阳风注入后的扩散丢失程度不同有关。另外,我们观察到橄榄石、单斜辉石和长石的水含量剖面比较类似,整体呈现随深度逐渐递减的趋势。相比之下,玻璃质颗粒的水含量剖面呈现随深度先上升再降低的峰形特征,峰位在25~43nm深度。这两者之间的差异很可能跟H在矿物和玻璃中的扩散速率、辐射损伤层等的差异有关。本项研究也证明,即使对于H这样易于受地球污染的元素,在普通条件下(北京、瓶中密封)经过长达50多年的时间,仍能很好地保存注入月壤颗粒中的太阳风信息。但是低温、干燥和真空/惰性气体环境仍是长期保存的有利条件。

Bulk Chemical Composition of the Ningqiang Carbonaceous Chondrite:An Issue of Classification

The Ningqiang meteorite is a fall carbonaceous chondrite, containing various Ca-, Al-rich inclusions that usually escaped from secondary events such as high-temperature heating and low- temperature alteration. However, it has not yet been classified into any known chemical group. In order to address this issue, 41 elements of the bulk Ningqiang meteorite were analyzed using inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry （ICP-MS） and inductively coupled plasma atom emission spectrometry （ICP-AES） in this study. The Allende （CV3） carbonaceous chondrite and the Jilin （H5） ordinary chondrite were also measured as references, and our analyses are consistent with the previous results. Rare earth and other refractory lithophile elements are depleted in Ningqiang relative to both Allende and mean CK chondrites. In addition, the REE pattern of Ningqiang is nearly flat, while that of Allende shows slight enrichment of LREE relative to HREE. Siderophile elements of Ningqiang are close to those of mean CK chondrites, but lower than those of Allende. Our new analyses indicate that Ningqiang cannot be classified into any known group of carbonaceous chondrites, consistent with previous reports.

Analysis of platinum-group elements in drill core samples from the Meishan Permian-Triassic boundary section, China

There is a long-standing controversy of what triggered the extinction at the Permian-Triassic boundary, the most severe mass extinction in the geologic record, including flood basaltic volcanism and/or bolide impact hypothesis. In order to clarify various pieces of evidence for the mass extinction event at the Permian-Triassic boundary, some researchers from some laboratories throughout the world have made a comprehensive study on a group of samples from the Meishan area of China. Some fresh core samples from the Permian-Triassic boundary in the Meishan area were analyzed in this study. The results showed that there is no Ir anomaly. Moreover, the PGEs patterns of those samples show obvious differentiation characteristics, that is different from the case encountered in meteorites. So no evidence supports the hypothesis of extraterrestrial impact. In contrast, the PGEs patterns are similar to those of Siberian and Emeishan basalts, which indicates that those PGEs are derived mainly from the basalts, lending a support to the correlation between mass extinction at the Permian-Triassic boundary and flood basaltic volcanism. This study has also confirmed the results for samples from section C prior to the analysis of the samples.

Bulk compositions of metallic Fe-Ni of chondrites: Constraints on fractionation of siderophile and chalcophile elements

Bulk compositions of metallic Fe-Ni from two equilibrated ordinary chondrites, Jilin (H5) and Anlong (H5), and two unequilibrated ones, GRV 9919 (L3) and GRV 021603 (H3), were analyzed by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS). The CI-, Co-normalized abundances of siderophile and chalcophile elements of metallic Fe-Ni from the unequilibrated ordinary chondrites correlate with 50% condensation temperatures (i.e., volatility) of the elements. The refractory siderophile elements (i.e., platinum group elements, Re), Au, Ni and Co show a flat pattern (1.01×CI Co-normalized), while moderate elements (As, Cu, Ag, Ga, Ge, Zn) decrease with volatility from 0.63×CI (Co-normalized, As) to 0.05×CI (Co-normalized, Zn). Cr and Mn show deficit relative to the trend, probably due to their main partition in silicates and sulfides (nonmagnetic). Metallic Fe-Ni from the equilibrated ordinary chondrites shows similar patterns, except for strong deficit of Cr, Mn, Ag and Zn. It is indicated that these elements were almost all partitioned into silicates and/or sulfides during thermal metamorphism. The similar deficit of Cr, Mn, Ag and Zn was also found in iron meteorites. Our analyses demonstrate similar behaviors of W and Mo as refractory siderophile elements during condensation of the solar nebula, except for slight depletion of Mo in the L3 and H5 chondrites. The Mo-depletion of metallic Fe-Ni from GRV 9919 (L3) relative to GRV 021603 (H3) could be due to a more oxidizing condition of the former than the latter in the solar nebula. In contrast, the Mo-depletion of the metallic Fe-Ni from the H5 chondrites may reflect partition of Mo from metal to silicates and/or sulfides during thermal metamorphism in the asteroidal body.

Space weathering simulation and spectrum decoding

Visible and near-infrared spectra are routinely used to achieve mineral abundances and mineral chemistry of the global surfaces of the Moon and asteroids.However,these spectra can be significantly modified by space weathering,including micrometeorite impacting,solar wind implanting and cosmic ray irradiation.In this paper we report results of laser-bombarding experiments on the Jilin ordinary chondrite,simulating micrometeorite impacting on the surface of asteroids.After laser bombardment,the spectra became significantly redder and moderately darker. With the Modified Gaussian Model(MGM)method,the absorption band positions of olivine can be decoded from the modified spectra,which are correlated with their fayalite contents.In addition,a continuum of the modified spectra can be decoded,and its slope may be used to depict the degree of space weathering.However,relative strengths of the absorption sub-bands of olivine and pyroxenes show significant variant after the bombardment, hence they cannot be used to estimate the relative abundances of high-Ca to low-Ca pyroxenes of the lunar surface and other matured surfaces of asteroids.

Progress of Planetary Science in China

The national and international progress in deep space exploration has greatly promoted the development of planetary science in China.Substantial progress in different areas of planetary science has been achieved in 2020-2022.In this report,we summarize the research achievements obtained in China in the last three years.The achievements include the research on geology,geochemistry,and space physics of the Moon,Mars,Mercury,Venus,giant planets,asteroids,and comets.The recent work on science objectives,mission payloads,and analytical capabilities that supports the lunar and deep space exploration program of China has also been introduced in this report.Finally,we report the progress on developments of discipline and research team of planetary science in China.

NanoSIMS analytical technique and its applications in earth sciences

Despite the significant improvement on spatial resolution, NanoSIMS still preserves relatively high mass resolution, sensitivity, and analytical precision. It has become an important analytical platform to determine chemical compositions of solid materials, and has been widely used in space, earth, life, and materials sciences, etc. By using a Cs＋ ion beam with a size as small as 50 nm scanning over sample surfaces, we are able to obtain high spatial resolution images of up to 7 species simultaneously. When utilizing Faraday cup, high analytical precision of 0.3‰-0.5‰ （1SD） for C, O and S isotopic analysis can be achieved. Although this precision level is still lower than that of conventional SIMS, it already meets the major requirements of Earth Sciences. In 2011, the first NanoSIMS of China （Cameca NanoSIMS 50L） was installed at Institute of Geology and Geophysics, Chinese Academy of Sciences. Based on the working mechanism and analytical modes of the instrument, this paper will systematically introduce the analytical methods established with the NanoSIMS and their potential applications in earth sciences. These methods include trace element distribution images in mineral zoning, high spatial resolution （2-5/am） Pb-Pb and U-Pb dating, water content and H isotopic analysis for silicate glass and apatite, C isotopic analysis for diamond and graphite, O isotopic analysis for carbonate, S isotopic analysis for sulfides. In addition, the specific requirements for sample preparation will also be introduced in order to facilitate domestic earth scientists＇ use.

Cosmic-ray exposure and gas retention ages of the Guang-mingshan(H5) chondrite

Isotopic compositions of noble gases from the Guangmingshan chondrite were analyzed. Based on the analyses of cosmogenic nuclei, cosmic-ray exposure age of the meteorite is (65±10.0) Ma (3He), (80±12) Ma (21Ne) and (65±10.0) Ma (38Ar), with an average of 70 Ma. This is the highest exposure age of H-group ordinary chondrites. Gas retention ages of K-Ar and U, Th-4He are (4230±100) Ma and (3300±60) Ma, respectively. The smaller ages of 3He than 21Ne and 4He than Ar suggest that both 3He and 4He lost together. This is probably related to a solar heating effect of a meteorite with a small perihelion during the last exposure period.

Petrography,mineral chemistry and shock metamorphism of Yamato 984028 lherzolitic shergottite

Y984028 is a new lherzolitic shergottite,consisting of poikilitic and non-poikilitic lithologies.The mafic silicates are FeO-poor,and the chromite is TiO 2-poor in the poikilitic lithology compared to the grains in the non-poikilitic lithology.This meteorite shares similarmineral petrography andmineral chemistry with GRV 99027,but is not paired with the latter because of their different shock-induced features.Y984028 was severely shocked and experienced no significant thermal metamorphism after the main impact event.Hence,Y984028 serves as a probe for the study of meteorite impact processes on terrestrial surfaces.The melt veins in Y984028 are characterized by the absence of any high-pressure polymorphs,the presence of abundant smallmineral fragments,and the prevailing granulation textures of olivine and chromite.These features are consistent with adiabatic melting during the release of shock-induced high-pressure and quenching at ambient pressure.

FeO-rich silicates and Ca, Al-rich inclusions in Qingzhen andYamato 691 (EH3) meteorites: Evidence for migration of mass in the solar nebula

The Qingzhen and Yamato 691 (EH3) enstatite chondrites, which formed under extremely reducing condi-tions, are studied using the scanning electron microscope and electron probe microanalyzer. Both meteorites contain FeO-rich silicates and minor Ca, Al-rich inclusions. Most FeO-rich silicates are Ca-poor pyroxenes and occur as frag-ments in matrix. A few grains of FeO-rich silicates were found in chondrules, and FeO-rich olivine is rare. In Qingzhen, FeO-rich silicates commonly contain abundant dust-like Ni-poor metals, which probably formed through reduction of FeO. In contrast, only a few fragments of FeO-rich silicates in Yamato 691 enclose dust-like metals. This difference is consistent with a more reducing condition of Qingzhen than Yamato 691. Ca, Al-rich inclusions have similar modal compositions and mineral chemistry as their counterparts in carbonaceous chondrites. We suggest that (1) the FeO-rich silicates probably formed in oxidized regions of the solar nebula, and then moved into the

NanoSIMS imaging method of zircon U-Pb dating

We report an imaging method of zircon U-Pb dating with NanoSIMS 50 L, which overcomes the significant U-Pb fractionation as the pit was sputtered deeper during conventional spot mode analysis and can be applied to irregular small grains or heterogeneous areas of zircon. The U-Pb and Pb-Pb ages can be acquired simultaneously for 2 μm×2 μm(for small grains) or 1 μm×9 μm(for zoned grains), together with Zr, Y and other trace elements distributions. Using zircon M257 as standard, the U-Pb ages of other zircon standards, including Qinghu, Plesovice, Temora and 91500, were measured to(2σ) as158.8±0.8, 335.9±3.4, 412.0±12 and 1067±12 Ma, respectively, consistent with the recommended values within the analytical uncertainties. Tiny zircon grains in the impact melt breccia of the lunar meteorite SaU 169 were also measured in this study,with a Pb-Pb age of 3912±14 Ma and a U-Pb age of 3917±17 Ma, similar to previous results reported for the same meteorite.The imaging method was also applied to determine U-Pb age of the thin overgrowth rims of Longtan metamorphic zircon, with a Pb-Pb age of 1933±27 Ma and a U-Pb age of 1935±25 Ma, clearly distinct from the Pb-Pb age of 2098±61 Ma and the U-Pb age of 2054±40 Ma for detrital cores.