Mars sample return analogue sample library

NASA-ESA are jointly preparing the Mars Sample Return (MSR) campaign and are planning to collect and transport a set of martian samples from Mars to Earth for the purpose of scientific investigation, based on the highest priority recommendations of the international science community. The samples are being collected by NASA’s Mars 2020 Perseverance Rover [1,2] and consist of a variety of rocks (e.g., sedimentary and volcanic), regolith, and atmospheric gas.

Analogue samples, representing various properties of the Mars 2020 samples, are needed for engineering, science, curation, and planetary protection developments in the context of Mars Sample Return (MSR).  Depending on the activity for which the analogue sample material will be used, different properties or groups of properties of the analogue sample may be important, including but not limited to geophysical, geochemical, geomechanical, or mineralogical properties.

Analogues are selected for their representativity in attributes that are most relevant for e.g. (i) tests performed as part of research and development activities, (ii) validation and verification of sample processing or analysis, or (iii) for use in outreach or communications activities. Characteristics may range from basic physical or geological properties (e.g. density, grain size distribution, porosity) to mineralogical, bulk chemical or other higher order parameters that are defined to serve the needs of the above. An analogue sample may be a natural sample collected from the field or an existing collection or a synthetic sample.

The collection of new natural samples from the field is carried out through dedicated field campaigns, which are supported by NASA and ESA. The characterization of analogue samples will be performed at the Norwegian Geotechnical Institute (NGI) in Oslo, Norway and will be supported by ESA. All MSR analogue samples are stored at and distributed from the Natural History Museum in Oslo in collaboration with the University of Oslo (UiO). This activity is supported by the Norwegian Space Agency (NOSA) and ESA. The UiO will be responsible for establishing an MSR analogue sample catalogue, sub-sectioning samples, and distributing analogue samples in response to allocation decisions taken on requests received. The sample allocation process will be managed by a NASA-ESA MSR Analogue Sample Allocation Panel (ASAP). Requests for analogue samples will be made via a web-interface and processed in a timely manner.

 

References: [1] Farley K. & Stack K. (2022) Mars 2020 Initial Reports, Vol. 1 Crater Floor Campaign, Aug. 11, 2022. [2] Farley K. & Stack K. (2023) Mars 2020 Initial Reports, Vol. 2, Delta Front Campaign, Feb. 15, 2023