PETRA · Deciphering the magnetic record of planetary rocks using spacecraft and laboratory measurements
Horizon 2020 — Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions
- Duration
- 2019-09-01 → 2023-10-26
- EU contribution
- €257,620
- Participants
- 2
- Scheme
- MSCA-IF
Lines connect the coordinator with its partners.
Results in brief
Deciphering the magnetic record of planetary rocks using spacecraft and laboratory measurements
The project PETRA aims at improving our understanding about planetary formation and evolution by deciphering the information carried by the magnetic record of billion years old extraterrestrial rocks. The evolution over time of planetary magnetic fields as recorded by rocks are directly related to properties of the planetary bodies’ deep interiors, to surface processes such as hydrothermal activity and meteor impacts, and to atmospheric and climate evolution. Therefore, studying the magnetic record of rocks opens a window into the deep interior and the geological past of a planetary body. Space missions that are either led by the European Space Agency (ESA) (e.g., the mission to planet Mercury, BepiColombo) or involve collaboration with ESA (e.g., the lunar program Artemis, and the sample return phase of the Mars 2020 mission) create an unprecedented opportunity to drastically expand our understanding about planetary formation and evolution. Maximizing the outcome of these missions relies on optimizing the synergy between studies based on spacecraft magnetic field measurements and laboratory studies of magnetized samples. This project lies precisely at this intersection. It focuses on studying the geological history of planet Mars and of the Moon by studying meteorites, lunar return samples and spacecraft magnetic field measurements. Main conclusions: All available paired stones of the oldest Martian meteorite have had their primary magnetic records overwritten by strong hand magnets on Earth. A study on dating the magnetic record of its 4.4 Gyr old minerals prior to arrival on Earth is in progress. The lunar magnetic field has experienced fluctuations in its intensity, at least since 3.4 Gyr ago. The origin of the Reiner Gamma lunar magnetic anomaly, the landing site of the upcoming Lunar Vertex space mission, is probably a dike emanating from the Marius Hills volcanic complex.
Data: CORDIS, © European Union
Project objective
Magnetized rocks hold answers to fundamental questions about the formation and evolution of terrestrial planets. However, retrieving this information is far from trivial. Currently, there are two approaches to tackle this. One is through processing of spacecraft magnetic field measurements and the other one is through laboratory measurements of planetary samples. The first aim of this project is to develop a novel mathematical technique that will allow the extraction of magnetization information both from spacecraft measurements and laboratory samples. The second aim is to apply this methodology to constrain the evolution of the terrestrial and Martian magnetic fields over geological times. This has important implications concerning the planets’ evolution of their thermal state, composition, atmosphere, climate and ultimately of their habitability over geological times. This project will strengthen the position of Europe in space research as it will increase the benefits of space missions such as the ongoing ESA mission Swarm and the future sequence of Mars sample return missions, for which a statement of intent to collaborate has been recently signed between ESA and NASA. Moreover, this project will allow the transfer of expertise concerning the use of a SQUID magnetic microscope, from the US (MIT, the Partner Organization) to Europe (IPGP, the Beneficiary). This laboratory instrument, currently being installed at IPGP, is the first one to be installed in a European lab. This project will allow me to complement my experience in the study of the lithospheric magnetic fields of Earth and Mars using satellite measurements with training in ultra-high sensitivity laboratory paleomagnetic measurements. My solid background in mathematics, signal processing and planetary magnetism, the world-leading expertise of the supervisors and the research excellence of the host institutes will enable a successful outcome for the project and a broad dissemination of its results.
Original text from CORDIS.
Participants
- INSTITUT DE PHYSIQUE DU GLOBE DE PARIS · ParisCoordinatorFrance
- MASSACHUSETTS INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY · CambridgeUnited States
Links
Data: CORDIS, © European Union