Hyperspectral non-destructive analyses of Martian return samples under quarantine

Alexandre Simionovici (1) , Laurence Lemelle (2) , Pierre Beck (3) , Tristan Ferroir (2) , Andrew Westphal (4) , Pascale Chazalnoel (5) , André Debus (5) , Michel Viso (5) , Laszlo Vincze (6) , Sole Vicente A. (7) , François Fihman (8)

1 LGCA - Laboratoire de Géodynamique des Chaines Alpines
2 LST - Laboratoire de Sciences de la Terre
3 LPG - Laboratoire de Planétologie de Grenoble
4 SSL - Space Sciences Laboratory [Berkeley]
5 CNES - Centre National d'Études Spatiales [Toulouse]
6 Department of Analytical Chemistry
7 ESRF - European Synchrotron Radiation Facility
8 6TEC

In preparation for the upcoming sample return missions containing potential biohazards which may have withstood the rigors of space travel we present a hyperspectral method of in-situ analysis of grains combining several non-destructive imaging diagnostics, performed in BSL4 quarantine conditions. This offers an alternative to the analyses in facilities at large, using optimized experimental setups while keeping the samples in conditions of quarantine. Our methodology was tested during analyses of meteorites and cometary and interstellar grains from the recent NASA Stardust mission.

Domains: Geomorphology

Alexandre Simionovici, Laurence Lemelle, Pierre Beck, Tristan Ferroir, Andrew Westphal, et al.. Hyperspectral non-destructive analyses of Martian return samples under quarantine. Meteoritics and Planetary Science, 2009, 44, pp.A191. ⟨insu-00448071⟩