e-Pulsar - Webletter of the IAAA Jun

Jun - Jul 2001
Astronomical Feature of the Month
Martian Soil

NORTHWARD - HOOOOOO!
Dave actually painted this acrylic image depicting an exploration party setting out on a snowmobile trip across the Martian polar region in the early 22nd century.

Hi Gang! What’s that bright red light in the sky? Why – it’s MARS of course! Short issue this month due to mailing cost savings. Check out the art and “special something” in the Astronomical Feature of the Month.

Jon!

The combination of science and imagination can yield amazing results. A perfect example is the special treat in this month's issue of the Pulsar. Called “JSC Mars-1”, the simulant is a natural material made from volcanic ash. It approximates the reflectance spectrum, mineralogy, chemical composition, grain size, density, porosity, and magnetic properties of the oxidized soils of Mars. For now, JSC Mars-1 offers people an opportunity to physically “get in touch” with the exploration of Mars.
Soil Graph

Weathering of glassy volcanic ash and cinder cones on Mauna Kea volcano, Hawaii, has produced material that simulates Martian soil quite closely. JSC Mars-1 was obtained from the ash of Pu'u Nene, a volcanic cone some 6000 feet up on Mauna Kea's south flank. Overlying soil was first removed then the altered ash was hand-collected to prevent contamination. The excavated ash was then partially dried on site and passed through 1mm stainless-steel sieves. After moving to a warehouse, it was further dried with solar and propane heaters and again passed through 1mm sieves. Finally, it was packaged in contamination-proof buckets for storage and shipment. The main difference between JCS Mars-1 and true Martian soil is the abundance of water in JSC Mars-1. Spectral analysis of Martian soil shows it is extremely dry. The graph to the left shows the spectrographic comparison between LSC Mars-1 and Martian soil. For you mineralogists out there, JCS Mars-1 is a mix of volcanic ash particles with alteration rinds of various thicknesses and particles consisting entirely of altered ash. The ash is composed of finely crystallized and glassy particles of a volcanic rock known as “hawaiite.”

Samples are available free (except for postage) in limited quantities for investigators and educators from:

Office of the Curator, NASA, Johnson Space Center, Houston, TX 77058 USA

Is There Life on Mars?
by Robin Hart

Robin digitally depicts a friendly meeting between a human astronaut and a native Martian.