00-024Summary

Cover Page/Proposal Summary

ROSS-99    NRA 99-OSS-01

Date Due: 5/3/99

NASA PROCEDURE FOR HANDLING PROPOSALS

This proposal shall be used and disclosed for evaluation purposes only, and a copy of this Government notice shall be applied to any reproduction or abstract thereof. Any authorized restrictive notices that the submitter places on this proposal shall also be strictly complied with. Disclosure of this proposal for any reason outside the Government evaluation purposes shall be made only to the extent authorized by the Government.

Proposal Type: New Proposal

Proposal Category: Laboratory

Major Equipment Proposal? No

Do you intend to submit an Education/Public Outreach (E/PO) proposal? No

Proposal Title:
Laboratory Study of Ion-Irradiated and UV-Photolyzed Ices

Abbreviated Proposal Title:
Study of ion- and uv-processed ices

Principal Investigator:
Dr. Marla Moore
Astrochemistry Branch Laboratory for Extraterrestrial Physics Code 691
NASA Goddard Space Flight Ctr.
Greenbelt, MD 20771
Phone: 301-286-9031   Fax: 301-286-1757   E-mail: ummhm@lepvax.gsfc.nasa.gov

SignatureDate
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Co-Investigators and Collaborators:
Type    Name    Affiliation    E-mail
Sci Co-I   Dr. Reggie Hudson   Eckerd College   Hudsonrl@eckerd.edu
Sci Collab   Dr. Perry Gerakines   NRC/NASA/Goddard Space Flight Center   Perry.Gerakines@gsfc.nasa.gov
Sci Collab   Dr. Robert Ferrante   US Naval Academy   Ferrante@brass.mathsci.usna.edu
Sci Collab   Dr. Joseph Nuth   NASA/Goddard Space Flight Center   u1jan@lepvax.gsfc.nasa.gov
Sci Collab   Dr. Dave Glenar   NASA/Goddard Space Flight Center   Dave.Glenar@gsfc.nasa.gov
Sci Collab   Dr. Paul Mahaffy   NASA/Goddard Space Flight Center   Paul.Mahaffy@gsfc.nasa.gov


Proposal Summary:

We propose laboratory studies of proton-irradiated and uv-photolyzed icy mixtures relevant to comets and icy satellites. Products will be compared and studied in three steps. (1) At low temperatures, products will be identified using mid-IR spectroscopy.The quantity of products will be used to predict the composition of cosmic ices as a function of processing (either ion or uv ) which relates to their exposure. (2) Spectra of compounds less volatile than water become detectable as the processed ice is "freeze-dried". Compounds will be identified using mid-IR- and mass-spectra. These less volatile materials could remain on a comet's surface, or remain as coatings on grains released into the coma. (3) Room temperature residues will be analyzed using mid-IR, and near-IR spectra. In some cases reflection spectra in the visible-near-IR and GC-MS analysis will be included. Results of experiments will help predict the range and complexity of molecular species expected on a comet's surface. We will continue to collaborate with instrument groups at Goddard involved in Champollion/DS4 by providing residues for pyrolysis-MS analysis, and by interfacing the ice irradiation chamber with a near-IR camera so spectra of ices at different stages of processing and warming can be measured.