KECK INSTITUTE FOR SPACE STUDIES

     

Unlocking the Climate Record Stored within Mars' Polar Layered Deposits - Part II

November 28 – December 1, 2017
California Institute of Technology - Pasadena, CA 91125

Final Report

First Workshop Summary:

The primary goal of this study is to identify the most effective means of extracting climate signals from the polar layered deposits (PLD) of Mars. In support of this goal, the objectives of the first workshop were to:

  1. establish the “big picture” science questions in Mars climate science addressed by investigating the PLD
  2. identify and prioritize measurements to address these questions
  3. define instruments and/or missions to perform these measurements

Each of these objectives was successfully accomplished. Four major science questions emerged:

  • What are the present and past fluxes of volatiles, dust, and energy into and out of the polar regions?
  • How does orbital forcing, and exchange with other reservoirs affect those fluxes?
  • What chemical and physical processes form and modify layers in the PLD?
  • What is the timespan, completeness, and temporal resolution recorded in the PLD?

Workshop participants defined key measurements to address these questions with a range of in-situ and remote sensing techniques. Basic orbiter, lander, and rover mission architectures were envisioned to implement these measurements.

Second Workshop:

This workshop has two major objectives:

  1. develop viable concepts for orbital and surface implementations of a PLD mission
  2. identify key technology gaps that could be addressed with near-term and long-term investments

Using the major science questions defined in the first workshop, we will further develop the overall “science story” and top-level objectives of a Mars PLD mission. Participants will then form breakout groups to develop detailed mission concepts for an orbital and surface implementation. Reports from these groups will include prioritized measurements needed to address the science objectives, along with clear “baseline” and “threshold” missions. Key technology gaps will be identified and researched in sufficient detail to provide a roadmap for future development.


Tuesday, November 28, 2017
Keck Center - Think Tank, Room 155

8:15 - 8:45 Coffee and Refreshments
8:45 - 9:00 Welcome and Logistics Michele Judd
9:00 - 9:30 Participant Introductions Michele Judd
9:30 - 10:00 Summary of Study and Previous Workshop Paul, Shane, Isaac
10:00 - 10:30 Goals for this Workshop Paul, Shane, Isaac
10:30 - 11:00 Break
11:00 - 12:30 Refine and Finalize Goals for this Workshop  
12:30 - 2:00 Group Picture and Lunch at the Athenaeum
2:00 - 2:30 Select Breakout Groups  
2:30 - 3:30 Breakout Groups: Measurement Requirements (Four Groups)  
3:30 - 4:00 Break
4:00 - 4:30 Writing Time / Brainstorming  
4:30 - 5:15 Breakout Group Reports  
5:15 - 5:45 Choose Lightning Talks  
5:45 - 6:00 Pack up and walk to the Athenaeum
6:00 Dinner at the Athenaeum

Wednesday, November 29, 2017

Keck Center - Think Tank, Room 155

Time
Event
Speaker
8:00 - 8:30 Institute Opens - FREE THINK TIME
8:30 - 9:00 Coffee and Refreshments at Keck Center
9:00 - 9:15 Logistics and Team Lead Goals for the Day Michele Judd and Team Leads
9:15 - 10:00 Absolute Age-dating techniques TBD
10:00 - 10:30 Lightning Talks (2) TBD by participants
10:30 - 11:00 Break
11:00 - 11:30 Selection of Breakout Groups: Absolute Age-Dating All
11:30 - 12:30 Breakout Groups Meet Groups
12:30 - 2:00 Lunch at the Athenaeum
2:00 - 2:30 Writing Time / Brainstorming Groups
2:30 - 3:30 Report outs from breakout groups
(15 mins each, group discussion as needed)
TBD by participants
3:30 - 4:00 Break
4:00 - 4:15 Selection of Breakout Groups and Topics  
4:15 - 5:45 Breakout Groups Meet Groups
5:45 Pack up and leave for offsite team dinner (or team-building event)
6:00 OPTIONAL: No-host dinner (or team-building event)

Thursday, November 30, 2017

Keck Center - Think Tank, Room 155

Time
Event
Speaker
8:00 - 8:30

Institute Opens - FREE THINK TIME

8:30 - 9:00

Coffee and Refreshments at Keck Center

9:00 - 9:15 Logistics and Team Lead Goals for the Day Michele Judd and Team Leads
9:15 - 9:45 Report outs from breakout groups (10 mins each) Groups
9:45 - 10:30 Overview Talk: EDL + Mobility Sarah Milkovitch + JPL
10:30 - 11:00 Break
11:00 - 11:15 Lightning Talk TBD by participants
11:15 - 11:30 Selection of Breakout Groups and Topics All
11:30 - 12:30 Breakout Groups Meet All
12:30 - 2:00  Lunch on your own
2:00 - 2:30 FREE THINK TIME (individual, or self organizing small groups) All
2:30 - 3:30 Breakout Groups Meet (continued) All
3:30 - 4:00 Break
4:00 - 4:45 Report outs from breakout groups (15 mins each) Groups
4:45 - 5:30 Plenary Discussion, selection of final breakout groups All
5:30 Pack up and walk to Athenaeum All
6:00 Dinner at the Athenaeum (with spouses and significant others)

Friday December 1, 2017

Keck Center - Think Tank, Room 155

Time
Event
Speaker
8:00 - 8:30

Institute Opens - FREE THINK TIME

8:30 - 9:00

Coffee and Refreshments at Keck Center

9:00 - 9:15 Logistics and Team Lead Goals for the Day Michele Judd and Team Leads
9:15 - 10:30 Breakout Groups (advocacy, illustrations, final report outline, etc.) All
10:30 - 11:00 Break
11:00 - 11:45 Final study activities and assignments - Group Discussion All
11:45 - 12:00 Workshop Closeout All
12:00 Workshop Concludes  

Workshop Participants:

  • Don Banfield – Cornell University
  • Patricio Becerra – Universität Bern
  • Peter Buhler – Caltech
  • Shane Byrne – University of Arizona-LPL
  • Bethany Ehlmann – Caltech and JPL
  • Jeremy Emmett -  New Mexico State University
  • Jennifer Hanley – Lowell Observatory
  • Candy Hansen - Planetary Science Institute
  • Paul Hayne – JPL
  • Mike Hecht - MIT
  • Ken Herkenhoff – US Geological Survey
  • Jack Holt – University of Texas
  • Melinda Kahre – NASA-Ames Research Center
  • Armin Kleinboehl – JPL
  • Michelle Koutnik- University of Washington
  • Dan Lalich - University of Texas at Austin
  • Sarah Milkovich - JPL
  • Thomas Navarro – UCLA
  • Rachel Obbard – Dartmouth College
  • David Paige – UCLA
  • Sergio Parra -  Georgia Tech
  • Matthew Perry – Planetary Science Institute
  • Sylvain Piqueux - JPL
  • Isaac Smith – Planetary Science Institute
  • Rob Staehle - JPL
  • Jennifer Stern – NASA Goddard Space Flight Center
  • Kris Zacny – Honeybee Robotics