R. A. Yingst
A5004903308- Planetary Science and Exploration
- Astro and Planetary Science
- Space Exploration and Technology
- Geology and Paleoclimatology Research
- Isotope Analysis in Ecology
- Geological and Geochemical Analysis
- Space Science and Extraterrestrial Life
- Geochemistry and Geologic Mapping
- Spaceflight effects on biology
- Marine and environmental studies
- Geomagnetism and Paleomagnetism Studies
- Astronomical and nuclear sciences
- Stellar, planetary, and galactic studies
- Geological and Geophysical Studies
- Aeolian processes and effects
- Methane Hydrates and Related Phenomena
- Image Processing and 3D Reconstruction
- Geological Modeling and Analysis
- Historical Astronomy and Related Studies
- Geological Studies and Exploration
- Archaeology and ancient environmental studies
- Gamma-ray bursts and supernovae
- Spacecraft Design and Technology
- Space exploration and regulation
- Paleontology and Stratigraphy of Fossils
Planetary Science Institute
2014-2024
Stony Brook University
2021
University of Maryland, College Park
2021
European Space Astronomy Centre
2021
Washington University in St. Louis
2021
Arizona State University
2014-2021
Jet Propulsion Laboratory
2021
National Aeronautics and Space Administration
2021
Delta Air Lines (United States)
2021
Smithsonian Institution
2021
Ancient lake system at Gale crater Since 2012, the Curiosity rover has been diligently studying rocky outcrops on Mars, looking for clues about past water, climate, and habitability. Grotzinger et al. describe analysis of a huge section sedimentary rocks near crater, where Mount Sharp now stands (see Perspective by Chan). The features within these sediments are reminiscent delta, stream, deposits Earth. Although individual lakes were probably transient, it is likely that there was enough...
H 2 O, CO , SO O S, HCl, chlorinated hydrocarbons, NO, and other trace gases were evolved during pyrolysis of two mudstone samples acquired by the Curiosity rover at Yellowknife Bay within Gale crater, Mars. O/OH-bearing phases included 2:1 phyllosilicate(s), bassanite, akaganeite, amorphous materials. Thermal decomposition carbonates combustion organic materials are candidate sources for . Concurrent evolution hydrocarbons suggests presence oxychlorine phase(s). Sulfides likely...
Observations by the Mars Science Laboratory Mast Camera (Mastcam) in Gale crater reveal isolated outcrops of cemented pebbles (2 to 40 millimeters diameter) and sand grains with textures typical fluvial sedimentary conglomerates. Rounded conglomerates indicate substantial abrasion. ChemCam emission spectra at one outcrop show a predominantly feldspathic composition, consistent minimal aqueous alteration sediments. Sediment was mobilized ancient water flows that likely exceeded threshold...
The Rocknest aeolian deposit is similar to features analyzed by the Mars Exploration Rovers (MERs) Spirit and Opportunity. fraction of sand <150 micrometers in size contains ~55% crystalline material consistent with a basaltic heritage ~45% x-ray amorphous material. component iron-rich silicon-poor host volatiles (water, oxygen, sulfur dioxide, carbon chlorine) detected Sample Analysis at instrument fine-grained nanophase oxide first described from soils MERs. similarity between materials...
Sedimentary rocks examined by the Curiosity rover at Yellowknife Bay, Mars, were derived from sources that evolved an approximately average martian crustal composition to one influenced alkaline basalts. No evidence of chemical weathering is preserved, indicating arid, possibly cold, paleoclimates and rapid erosion deposition. The absence predicted geochemical variations indicates magnetite phyllosilicates formed diagenesis under low-temperature, circumneutral pH, rock-dominated aqueous...
A New Dawn Since 17 July 2011, NASA's spacecraft has been orbiting the asteroid Vesta—the second most massive and third largest in solar system (see cover). Russell et al. (p. 684 ) use Dawn's observations to confirm that Vesta is a small differentiated planetary body with an inner core, represents surviving proto-planet from earliest epoch of formation; also confirmed as source howardite-eucrite-diogenite (HED) meteorites. Jaumann 687 report on asteroid's overall geometry topography, based...
The Mars Science Laboratory (MSL) Hand Lens Imager (MAHLI) investigation will use a 2-megapixel color camera with focusable macro lens aboard the rover, Curiosity, to investigate stratigraphy and grain-scale texture, structure, mineralogy, morphology of geologic materials in northwestern Gale crater. Of particular interest is stratigraphic record ∼5 km thick layered rock sequence exposed on slopes Aeolis Mons (also known as Mount Sharp). instrument consists three parts, head mounted turret...
Wind blowing over sand on Earth produces decimeter-wavelength ripples and hundred-meter- to kilometer-wavelength dunes: bedforms of two distinct size modes. Observations from the Mars Science Laboratory Curiosity rover Reconnaissance Orbiter reveal that hosts a third stable wind-driven bedform, with meter-scale wavelengths. These are spatially uniform in typically have asymmetric profiles angle-of-repose lee slopes sinuous crest lines, making them unlike terrestrial wind ripples. Rather,...
Abstract The Scanning Habitable Environments with Raman and Luminescence for Organics Chemicals (SHERLOC) is a robotic arm-mounted instrument on NASA’s Perseverance rover. SHERLOC has two primary boresights. Spectroscopy boresight generates spatially resolved chemical maps using fluorescence spectroscopy coupled to microscopic images (10.1 μm/pixel). second Wide Angle Topographic Sensor Operations eNgineering (WATSON); copy of the Mars Science Laboratory (MSL) Hand Lens Imager (MAHLI) that...
Abstract NASA’s Dragonfly mission will send a rotorcraft lander to the surface of Titan in mid-2030s. Dragonfly's science themes include investigation Titan’s prebiotic chemistry, habitability, and potential chemical biosignatures from both water-based “life as we know it” (as might occur interior mantle ocean, cryovolcanic flows, and/or impact melt deposits) “life, but not that use liquid hydrocarbons solvent (within lakes, seas, aquifers). Consideration these solvents simultaneously led...
Perseverance images of a delta on Mars The rover landed in Jezero crater, Mars, February 2021. Earlier orbital showed that the crater contains an ancient river was deposited by water flowing into lake billions years ago. Mangold et al . analyzed taken shortly after landing show distant cliff faces at edge delta. exposed stratigraphy and sizes boulders allowed them to determine past level discharge rates. An initially steady flow transitioned intermittent floods as planet dried out. This...
Abstract Europa is a premier target for advancing both planetary science and astrobiology, as well opening new window into the burgeoning field of comparative oceanography. The potentially habitable subsurface ocean may harbor life, globally young comparatively thin ice shell contain biosignatures that are readily accessible to surface lander. Europa’s icy also offers opportunity study tectonics geologic cycles across range mechanisms compositions. Here we detail goals mission architecture...
The Mars rover Opportunity has explored Victoria crater, an approximately 750-meter eroded impact crater formed in sulfate-rich sedimentary rocks. Impact-related stratigraphy is preserved the walls, and meteoritic debris present near rim. size of hematite-rich concretions decreases up-section, documenting variation intensity groundwater processes. Layering walls preserves evidence ancient wind-blown dunes. Compositional variations with depth mimic those 6 kilometers to north demonstrate that...
Abstract The Mars Science Laboratory Mast camera and Descent Imager investigations were designed, built, operated by Malin Space Systems of San Diego, CA. They share common electronics focal plane designs but have different optics. There are two Mastcams dissimilar length. Mastcam‐34 has an f /8, 34 mm length lens, the M‐100 /10, 100 lens. M‐34 field view is about 20° × 15° with instantaneous (IFOV) 218 μrad; (FOV) 6.8° 5.1° IFOV 74 μrad. can focus from 0.5 m to infinity, ~1.6 infinity. All...
Abstract The Mars Science Laboratory mission reached Bradbury Landing in August 2012. In its first 500 sols, the rover Curiosity was commissioned and began investigation of habitability past present environments within Gale Crater. traversed eastward toward Glenelg, investigating a boulder with highly alkaline basaltic composition, encountering numerous exposures outcropping pebble conglomerate, sampling aeolian sediment at Rocknest lacustrine mudstones Yellowknife Bay. On sol 324, turned...
Abstract What allows a planet to be both within potentially habitable zone and sustain habitability over long geologic time? With the advent of exoplanetary astronomy ongoing discovery terrestrial‐type planets around other stars, our own solar system becomes key testing ground for ideas about what factors control planetary evolution. Mars provides system's longest record interplay physical chemical processes relevant on an accessible rocky with atmosphere hydrosphere. Here we review current...
Abstract We measured sand sizes and shapes on diverse eolian bedforms in Gale crater to help constrain models of sediment transport Mars. All grains are subangular rounded with circularities ~0.93–0.97, indicating an extensive abrasion history. There two types active based grain size: (1) ripples composed 50‐ 150‐μm (2) that also include 250‐ 500‐μm along their crests, some cases small amounts even coarser (up 1.4 mm). The smallest (50–150 μm) volumetrically the most abundant at all...
Abstract We describe preliminary results from the first 100 sols of ground temperature measurements along Mars Science Laboratory's traverse Bradbury Landing to Rocknest in Gale. The data show long‐term increases mean that are consistent with seasonal evolution. Deviations expected trends within diurnal cycle observed and may be attributed rover environmental effects. Fits measured amplitudes using a thermal model suggest surfaces have inertias range 265–375 J m −2 K −1 s −1/2 , which values...
Abstract During Martian solar days 57–100, the Mars Science Laboratory Curiosity rover acquired and processed a solid (sediment) sample analyzed its mineralogy geochemistry with Chemistry Mineralogy Sample Analysis at instruments. An aeolian deposit—herein referred to as Rocknest sand shadow—was inferred represent global average soil composition selected for study facilitate integration of analytical results observations from earlier missions. first‐time activities, Hand Lens Imager (MAHLI)...
Images of Vesta taken by the Dawn spacecraft reveal large‐scale linear structural features on surface asteroid. We evaluate morphology structures to determine what processes caused them form and implications this has for history as a planetary body. The dimensions shape these suggest that they are graben similar those observed terrestrial planets, not fractures or grooves such found smaller asteroids. As graben, their vertical displacement versus length relationship could be evaluated...
Abstract The Dawn mission was designed to test our hypothesis about the origin and evolution of early solar system by visiting largest differentiated basaltic asteroid, 4 Vesta, believed be a survivor from earliest times rocky body formation. Observations orbit show that Vesta is parent Howardite, Eucrite, Diogenite meteorites. has an iron core eucritic–diogenitic crust. Its surface characterized abundant impact craters but with no evident volcanic features. It two ancient basins in southern...
Abstract Prior to the arrival of Dawn spacecraft at Ceres, dwarf planet was anticipated be ice‐rich. Searches for morphological features related ice have been ongoing during Dawn's mission Ceres. Here we report identification pitted terrains associated with fresh Cerean impact craters. The exhibit strong similarities materials previously identified on Mars (where is implicated in pit development) and Vesta presence debated). We employ numerical models investigate formation Ceres discuss...