The New Martian Chemistry Workshop July 27-28, 2009  Medford, Massachusetts

FINAL ANNOUNCEMENT — JUNE 2009

 

 

Sponsors
Jet Propulsion Laboratory
Lunar and Planetary Institute
Tufts University
NASA's Mars Exploration Program

Conveners
Mike Hecht,
  Jet Propulsion Laboratory
Sam Kounaves,
  Tufts University

Scientific Organizing Committee
Janice Bishop,
   NASA Ames/SETI
Max Coleman,
   Jet Propulsion Laboratory
Joel Hurowitz,
   Jet Propulsion Laboratory
Andy Knoll,
   Harvard University
Doug Ming,
   NASA Johnson Space Center
Brad Sutter,
   NASA Johnson Space Center

 


 

 
   
 

MEETING LOCATION AND DATE

   
 
   
   

A Workshop on The New Martian Chemistry will be held July 27–28, 2009, at Tufts University, in Medford, Massachusetts (just north of Boston). The dates and place were selected for the convenience of those attending the MEPAG Meeting at Brown University on July 29–30, 2009.


 

KEY POINTS:
  When:
    
July 27–28, 2009
  Where:
     
Medford, Massachusetts

 
   
  INTRODUCTION    
 
   
   

The Phoenix Mars Lander, using both aqueous chemistry and thermal analytical techniques, spent the summer of 2008 analyzing the northern polar martian soil. It discovered an alkaline soil that was dominated by soluble forms of calcium, magnesium, carbonate, perchlorate, and sodium, with lesser amounts of potassium and chloride, and an unknown amount of sulfate.

The extremely low freezing point of possible perchlorate salt solutions suggests that aqueous chemistry may occur on some scale even at present-day ambient temperatures.  Photochemistry may play a major role in determining chemical equilibria, and soil chemistry could contribute to regulating atmospheric water vapor.  Identifying the parent minerals of these ionic components and the processes that formed the salts represents not only a new set of challenges, but an emerging view of a martian geochemistry very different from that currently accepted.

   
 
   
  PURPOSE AND SCOPE    
 
   
   

The two-day workshop aims to bring together about 50 planetary and terrestrial scientists from relevant disciplines. Invited/contributed talks and breakout sessions will focus on the following themes:

Soil science.  The chemical properties of martian soil, their origin, and their evolution. Panel discussions will address how representative the Phoenix soil is; timescales of deposition, alteration, and transport; soil chemistry; and aqueous history.

Perchlorate and water.  Formation, transport, decomposition, and interaction with water, dominate form of soluble chlorine and its history, perchlorate proximity to ice and stability of liquid water regulation of atmospheric humidity.

Astrobiology. Implications of a Phoenix-like soil for the viability of microbes and  resources for habitability. What do we follow? Carbon? Nitrogen? Chlorine?

Mineralogy. Discussions will address the “Bibring hypothesis” that the epochs of Mars are defined by evolving soil chemistry, with ages of clays (Phyllosian), sulfates (Theiikian), and anhydrous ferric oxides (Siderikian), constituting the products of nonacidic aqueous alteration, acidic aqueous alteration, and aqueous-free oxidation respectively.

Upcoming Missions.  Discuss expectations for MSL instruments to further elucidate the recent soil chemistry findings, and the responses if soils are “Phoenix-like.” Discussion to address new investigations utilizing these instruments.

Wrap Up:  After addressing the “big questions” in martian chemistry, breakout groups will attempt to recommend the best path to the answers in terms of missions, instruments, laboratory work, and modeling.  The results will be presented at MEPAG and possibly submitted as a White Paper to the Decadal Survey.

   
 
   
  PROGRAM AND ABSTRACTS    
 
   
   

The program and abstracts are now available.  Please note that author notification letters will not be mailed out, so authors need to check the author index to determine when their presentation has been scheduled.

 

 

   
   
    REGISTRATION    
   
   
     
Through July 2, 2009 $150.00 Professional / $75.00 Student
July 3 –July 24, 2009 $175.00 Professional / $100.00 Student
After July 24, 2009 Onsite Registration Only
$200.00 Professional / $125.00 Student

The workshop fees will cover both days and includes a light breakfast of coffee (regular and decaffeinated), tea, and breakfast pastries; lunch; and an afternoon break of cold drinks and snacks. 

Credit card registrations:  Participants registering by credit card must use the secure electronic registration form.

Other methods of payment:  Those registering using any other method of payment (check, money order, or traveler’s check) must use the downloadable registration form.

Note:  Onsite registration will be via the meeting website by credit card only.

Cancellations:  A $25.00 cancellation fee will be charged on any cancellations received before July 13, 2009. No refunds will be given after July 13.

 

 

   
   
    ACCOMMODATIONS    
   
   
     

Participants are responsible for making their own travel and hotel reservations. For your convenience, a list of local hotels and a local area map are provided.

Based on availability, overnight accommodations (singles, air-conditioned, $63.00 per person, per night, including breakfast) may be reserved directly with the Tufts Conference Bureau.

   
   
   
    CONTACTS    
   
   
     

For further information regarding the format and scientific objectives of the meeting, contact

Michael Hecht
Jet Propulsion Laboratory
phone: 818-354-2774
e-mail: [email protected]

Samuel Kounaves
Tufts University
phone: 617-627-3124
e-mail: [email protected]

For further information regarding meeting logistics, please contact

Mary Cloud
Lunar and Planetary Institute
phone:  281-486-2143
e-mail: [email protected]

For questions about registration, please contact

Linda Tanner
Lunar and Planetary Institute
phone:  281-486-2142
e-mail:  [email protected]



   
   
   
   
SCHEDULE
   
   
   
     
July 2, 2009
Deadline for registration at reduced rate
July 27–28, 2009
The New Martian Chemistry Workshop,
in Medford, Massachusetts
   
     
   
           

 


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