Martian regolith simulant (or Martian soil simulant) is a terrestrial material that is used to simulate the chemical and mechanical properties of Martian regolith for research, experiments and prototype testing of activities related to Martian regolith such as dust mitigation of transportation equipment, advanced life support systems and in-situ resource utilization.
A small pile of JSC MARS-1A[1]A jar of Martian regolith simulant JSC MARS-1A
After the Viking landers and the Mars Pathfinder's rover landed on Mars, the onboard instruments were used to determine the properties of the Martian soil at the landing sites. The studies of the Martian soil properties led to the development of JSC Mars-1 Martian regolith simulant at NASA's Johnson Space Center in 1998.[2][3] It contained palagonitictephra with a particle size fraction of less than 1 millimeter. The palagonitic tephra, which is glassyvolcanic ash altered at low temperature, was mined from a quarry at the Pu'u Nene cinder cone. The studies of the cone, which is located between Mauna Loa and Mauna Kea in Hawaii, indicate that the tephra is a close spectral analog to the bright regions of Mars.[4]
When the original supply of JSC Mars-1 ran out, there were needs for additional material. NASA's Marshall Space Flight Center contracted Orbital Technologies Corporation to supply 16 metric tons of lunar and Martian simulants. The company also made an additional eight tons of Martian simulant available for other interested parties to purchase.[5][6] However, as of 2017 JSC Mars-1A is no longer available.
After milling to reduce its particle size, JSC Mars-1A can geopolymerize in alkaline solutions forming a solid material. Tests show that the maximum compressive and flexural strength of the 'martian' geopolymer is comparable to that of common clay bricks.[7]
MMS or Mojave Mars Simulant was developed in 2007 to address some issues with JSC Mars-1. While JSC Mars-1 did simulate the color of Martian regolith, it performed poorly in many qualities, including its hygroscopic tendencies—it had undergone weathering that attracts water, making it more clay-like. MMS, however, was hygroscopically inert due to minimal weathering and the way it was crushed, which allowed it to better simulate that feature of Martian regolith, among others. MMS was found naturally as whole rocks in a volcanic formation near the town of Boron, California, in the western Mojave desert. After crushing, basalt sands were processed and graded into particular sizes, MMS Coarse and MMS Fine. MMS Dust consists of smaller basalt particles matching the particle size distribution of Martian dust. A separate volcanic event created red-colored cinder which is mined and crushed to create MMS Cinder.[3]
MGS-1edit
MGS-1 or Mars Global Simulant was developed starting in 2018 as the first mineralogically accurate Martian regolith simulant.[8] It is based on the Rocknest soil in Gale crater on Mars that has been analyzed extensively by the NASA Curiosity rover. MGS-1 is produced by mixing pure minerals together in accurate proportions, with a realistic particle size distribution. The simulant is available from the not-for-profit Exolith Lab[9] at the University of Central Florida. MGS-1 does not include perchlorates by default, so cannot be used to test the effects of that aspect of the Martian regolith.[8][10] However, end users can spike the material with perchlorate salts or other superoxide species.
Exposure to regolith simulants may pose some health risks due to the fine particles and the presence of crystalline silica. JSC Mars-1A has slight hazard on inhalation and eye contact which may cause irritation to eyes and respiratory tract. There has been research into the toxicity of the simulants to the body cells. JSC MARS-1 is considered to have dose-dependent cytotoxicity. Therefore, it is recommended for precautions to minimize fine dust exposure in large-scale engineering applications.[12]
Although perchlorates were discovered on Mars in 2008 by the Phoenix lander, none of the simulants include perchlorates. This reduces the health risk posed by the simulants compared to actual Martian soil. Early simulants predated this discovery, but the latest simulant, MGS-1, still does not include them.[8]
Structural useedit
A study at UCSD showed that Martian regolith could be formed by itself into very strong bricks, with application of pressure.[13][14]
^"Lunar & Mars Soil Simulant". Orbitec. Retrieved 27 April 2014.
^J.G. Mantovani; C.I. Calle. (PDF). NASA Kennedy Space Center. Archived from the original (PDF) on 5 March 2016. Retrieved 10 May 2014.
^ abBeegle, L. W.; G. H. Peters; G. S. Mungas; G. H. Bearman; J. A. Smith; R. C. Anderson (2007). Mojave Martian Simulant: A New Martian Soil Simulant(PDF). Lunar and Planetary Science XXXVIII. Retrieved 27 April 2014.
^Allen, C. C.; Morris, R. V.; Lindstrom, D. J.; Lindstrom, M. M.; Lockwood, J. P. (March 1997). (PDF). Lunar and Planetary Exploration XXVIII. Archived from the original (PDF) on 10 September 2014. Retrieved 28 April 2014.
^. Planet LLC. Archived from the original on 28 April 2014. Retrieved 28 April 2014.
^"Get Hands-on with Another Planet: Martian Soil Simulant Now Available". Orbitec Press Release. 26 October 2007. Retrieved 28 April 2014.
^ abAlexiadis, Alberini, Meyer; Geopolymers from lunar and Martian soil simulants, Adv. Space Res. (2017) 59:490–495, doi:10.1016/j.asr.2016.10.003
^ abcCannon, Kevin (January 2019). "Mars global simulant MGS-1: A Rocknest-based open standard for basaltic martian regolith simulants". Icarus. 317 (1): 470–478. Bibcode:2019Icar..317..470C. doi:10.1016/j.icarus.2018.08.019. S2CID 126101787.
^"Toxic Mars: Astronauts Must Deal with Perchlorate on the Red Planet". space.com. 13 June 2013. Retrieved 26 November 2018.
^Parker, Holly. "SEEING RED: Mars exhibit coming to Brazosport Planetarium (091012 mars 3)". The Facts, Clute, TX. Retrieved 29 April 2014.
^Latch, JN; Hamilton RF, Jr; Holian, A; James, JT; Lam, CW (January 2008). "Toxicity of lunar and Martian dust simulants to alveolar macrophages isolated from human volunteers". Inhalation Toxicology. 20 (2): 157–65. CiteSeerX10.1.1.474.1877. doi:10.1080/08958370701821219. PMID 18236230. S2CID 96179164.
^"Engineers investigate a simple, no-bake recipe to make bricks from Martian soil". ScienceDaily. April 27, 2017. Retrieved January 13, 2019.
^Chow, Brian J.; Chen, Tzehan; Zhong, Ying; Qiao, Yu (2017-04-27). "Direct Formation of Structural Components Using a Martian Soil Simulant". Scientific Reports. 7 (1): 1151. Bibcode:2017NatSR...7.1151C. doi:10.1038/s41598-017-01157-w. ISSN 2045-2322. PMC5430746. PMID 28450723.
November 23, 2023
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Martian regolith simulant or Martian soil simulant is a terrestrial material that is used to simulate the chemical and mechanical properties of Martian regolith for research experiments and prototype testing of activities related to Martian regolith such as dust mitigation of transportation equipment advanced life support systems and in situ resource utilization A small pile of JSC MARS 1A 1 A jar of Martian regolith simulant JSC MARS 1A Contents 1 Variations 1 1 JSC Mars 1 and JSC Mars 1A 1 2 MMS 1 3 MGS 1 2 Health risks 3 Structural use 4 See also 5 ReferencesVariations editJSC Mars 1 and JSC Mars 1A edit After the Viking landers and the Mars Pathfinder s rover landed on Mars the onboard instruments were used to determine the properties of the Martian soil at the landing sites The studies of the Martian soil properties led to the development of JSC Mars 1 Martian regolith simulant at NASA s Johnson Space Center in 1998 2 3 It contained palagonitic tephra with a particle size fraction of less than 1 millimeter The palagonitic tephra which is glassy volcanic ash altered at low temperature was mined from a quarry at the Pu u Nene cinder cone The studies of the cone which is located between Mauna Loa and Mauna Kea in Hawaii indicate that the tephra is a close spectral analog to the bright regions of Mars 4 When the original supply of JSC Mars 1 ran out there were needs for additional material NASA s Marshall Space Flight Center contracted Orbital Technologies Corporation to supply 16 metric tons of lunar and Martian simulants The company also made an additional eight tons of Martian simulant available for other interested parties to purchase 5 6 However as of 2017 JSC Mars 1A is no longer available After milling to reduce its particle size JSC Mars 1A can geopolymerize in alkaline solutions forming a solid material Tests show that the maximum compressive and flexural strength of the martian geopolymer is comparable to that of common clay bricks 7 nbsp Geopolymers from lunar JSC 1A and Martian JSC MARS 1A dust simulants produced at the University of Birmingham 7 MMS edit MMS or Mojave Mars Simulant was developed in 2007 to address some issues with JSC Mars 1 While JSC Mars 1 did simulate the color of Martian regolith it performed poorly in many qualities including its hygroscopic tendencies it had undergone weathering that attracts water making it more clay like MMS however was hygroscopically inert due to minimal weathering and the way it was crushed which allowed it to better simulate that feature of Martian regolith among others MMS was found naturally as whole rocks in a volcanic formation near the town of Boron California in the western Mojave desert After crushing basalt sands were processed and graded into particular sizes MMS Coarse and MMS Fine MMS Dust consists of smaller basalt particles matching the particle size distribution of Martian dust A separate volcanic event created red colored cinder which is mined and crushed to create MMS Cinder 3 MGS 1 edit MGS 1 or Mars Global Simulant was developed starting in 2018 as the first mineralogically accurate Martian regolith simulant 8 It is based on the Rocknest soil in Gale crater on Mars that has been analyzed extensively by the NASA Curiosity rover MGS 1 is produced by mixing pure minerals together in accurate proportions with a realistic particle size distribution The simulant is available from the not for profit Exolith Lab 9 at the University of Central Florida MGS 1 does not include perchlorates by default so cannot be used to test the effects of that aspect of the Martian regolith 8 10 However end users can spike the material with perchlorate salts or other superoxide species Health risks edit nbsp Fine dusts of JSC MARS 1A inside a container 11 Exposure to regolith simulants may pose some health risks due to the fine particles and the presence of crystalline silica JSC Mars 1A has slight hazard on inhalation and eye contact which may cause irritation to eyes and respiratory tract There has been research into the toxicity of the simulants to the body cells JSC MARS 1 is considered to have dose dependent cytotoxicity Therefore it is recommended for precautions to minimize fine dust exposure in large scale engineering applications 12 Although perchlorates were discovered on Mars in 2008 by the Phoenix lander none of the simulants include perchlorates This reduces the health risk posed by the simulants compared to actual Martian soil Early simulants predated this discovery but the latest simulant MGS 1 still does not include them 8 Structural use editA study at UCSD showed that Martian regolith could be formed by itself into very strong bricks with application of pressure 13 14 See also editList of Mars analogs Lunar regolith simulant Martian soil Mineralogy of Mars RegolithReferences edit Lunar amp Mars Soil Simulant Orbitec Retrieved 27 April 2014 J G Mantovani C I Calle Dielectric Properties of Martian Soil Simulant PDF NASA Kennedy Space Center Archived from the original PDF on 5 March 2016 Retrieved 10 May 2014 a b Beegle L W G H Peters G S Mungas G H Bearman J A Smith R C Anderson 2007 Mojave Martian Simulant A New Martian Soil Simulant PDF Lunar and Planetary Science XXXVIII Retrieved 27 April 2014 Allen C C Morris R V Lindstrom D J Lindstrom M M Lockwood J P March 1997 JSC Mars 1 Martian regolith simulant PDF Lunar and Planetary Exploration XXVIII Archived from the original PDF on 10 September 2014 Retrieved 28 April 2014 JSC 1A Lunar and Martian Soil Simulants Planet LLC Archived from the original on 28 April 2014 Retrieved 28 April 2014 Get Hands on with Another Planet Martian Soil Simulant Now Available Orbitec Press Release 26 October 2007 Retrieved 28 April 2014 a b Alexiadis Alberini Meyer Geopolymers from lunar and Martian soil simulants Adv Space Res 2017 59 490 495 doi 10 1016 j asr 2016 10 003 a b c Cannon Kevin January 2019 Mars global simulant MGS 1 A Rocknest based open standard for basaltic martian regolith simulants Icarus 317 1 470 478 Bibcode 2019Icar 317 470C doi 10 1016 j icarus 2018 08 019 S2CID 126101787 Exolith Lab Toxic Mars Astronauts Must Deal with Perchlorate on the Red Planet space com 13 June 2013 Retrieved 26 November 2018 Parker Holly SEEING RED Mars exhibit coming to Brazosport Planetarium 091012 mars 3 The Facts Clute TX Retrieved 29 April 2014 Latch JN Hamilton RF Jr Holian A James JT Lam CW January 2008 Toxicity of lunar and Martian dust simulants to alveolar macrophages isolated from human volunteers Inhalation Toxicology 20 2 157 65 CiteSeerX 10 1 1 474 1877 doi 10 1080 08958370701821219 PMID 18236230 S2CID 96179164 Engineers investigate a simple no bake recipe to make bricks from Martian soil ScienceDaily April 27 2017 Retrieved January 13 2019 Chow Brian J Chen Tzehan Zhong Ying Qiao Yu 2017 04 27 Direct Formation of Structural Components Using a Martian Soil Simulant Scientific Reports 7 1 1151 Bibcode 2017NatSR 7 1151C doi 10 1038 s41598 017 01157 w ISSN 2045 2322 PMC 5430746 PMID 28450723 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Martian regolith simulant amp oldid 1166825476, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
