NASA Solar System Exploration Research Virtual Institute (SSERVI) - Netherlands team

The Netherlands lunar and planetary science community is affiliate member to NASA’s Solar System Exploration Research Virtual Institute (SSERVI, formerly the NASA Lunar Science Institute NLSI). These pages give an overview of our wide range of activities related to science on, of, and from the Moon, Near Earth Asteroids, Mars’ moons Phobos and Deimons, and the near space environments of these SSERVI target bodies.

For additional information please contact the team coordinator:
Dr. Wim van Westrenen
Faculty of Earth and Life Sciences
VU University Amsterdam
De Boelelaan 1085
1081 HV Amsterdam, The Netherlands
Phone +31 20 5987279, Fax +31 20 6462457
w.van.westrenen@vu.nl

Latest news

January 20, 2014. Finally updated these pages after a long hiatus! Check out the nine new US SSERVI teams that NASA selected at the end of last year.

Science

Current Dutch lunar science focuses on two areas: (a) Experimental lunar interior science (b) (Radio)astronomy-related research on and from the Moon government-supported and commercial missions

Experimental lunar science

Since 2007, VU University Amsterdam houses a high-pressure laboratory that is exclusively dedicated to lunar interior research. This laboratory was built with funding from a European Science Foundation (ESF) European Young Investigator (EURYI) award to dr. Wim van Westrenen. The lunar research team currently holds 5 full-time positions, making it one of the largest research groups focusing on the lunar interior in the world. The project involves close collaboration with Utrecht University’s geophysics department. The aim of this research is to develop a fully consistent, complete physical and chemical model for the origin and evolution of the Moon. To reach this aim, the group is obtaining novel constraints on the physical properties and compositions of the materials forming the lunar crust, mantle and core using a multidisciplinary approach. Systematic high-pressure, high-temperature experiments on lunar compositions are used to quantify the distribution of elements between minerals and melts in the Moon’s interior. Densities of these phases are being measured as a function of pressure and temperature for the first time, using new in situ measurement techniques using synchrotron X-ray radiation. The team aims to combine these experimental data with the latest surface compositional data from lunar space missions as well as computer simulations (thermochemical convection modeling) of the dynamics of the early lunar interior. ESA’s research headquarters (ESTEC) is located in the Netherlands, and several BSc and MSc students have pursued their BSc and MSc research projects at ESTEC focussed on lunar surface observations.

(Radio)astronomy-related research on and from the Moon

The Netherlands Institute for Radio Astronomy ASTRON has been conducting a number of studies together with EADS Astrium on lunar landers and their use for erecting a Low Frequency Array (LOFAR)-like radio telescope on the Moon, as well as using it for geophysical measurements (seismology). Currently ASTRON are conducting a study for an orbiting radio antenna array around the Moon under contract from ESA. Consortium member Prof. Falcke organized two workshops (sponsored by ASTRON, EADS, and RadioNet - a EU network of radio astronomers), entitled “Towards a European Infrastructure for Lunar Observatories” and co-corganized two conferences, called “To Moon and Beyond” in Bremen, Germany. Funding by the KNAW is used to develop a prototype for a lunar radio antenna. This project is performed in synergy with antenna developments for the AUGER cosmic ray detector which is funded by NOVA (the national Astronomy Research School). Scientific goals of the prototype antenna, which is targeted to fly with the first ESA moon lander, are to measure - among others - the lunar radio environment, cosmic ray (and potentially meteorite) impacts, and the lunar ionosphere. A recent project by consortium members from KVI and ASTRON called “NuMoon” uses the Moon as a giant particle detector, by observing it with (Dutch) radio telescopes (first the Westerbork Synthesis Radio Telescope/WSRT, to be followed shortly by LOFAR). The experiment has just produced the best limit on the existence of ultra-high energy neutrinos and was featured in New Scientist, see http://www.newscientist.com/article/dn17561-moon-used-as-giant-particle-detector.html. This experiment links up with research activity (a) mentioned above, as knowledge of the structure of the Moon is of high relevance, and as the interaction of neutrinos happens underneath the lunar regolith (tens to hundreds of meters below the surface). As part of this research, data will be gathered on the reflectivity and emissivity of the lunar surface at radio wavelengths between 15 and 240 MHz with very good spatial resolution.

The Dutch space industry has also been active in instrument development related to these focus areas. Since the early beginnings of space exploration in the sixties, Dutch institutes and companies have been strongly involved in the development of scientific instrumentation for astronomy and Earth observation missions. Astronomy missions such as Ans, IRAS, XMM, ISO and Herschel and Earth observation missions such as ERS-2, Envisat and EOS-AURA all carried Netherlands-built instruments and led to significant scientific discoveries. Coinciding with the start of ESA’s Aurora programme, national instrumentation expertise is now also directed to planetary exploration missions. To date this has resulted in a national contribution to the development of the Life Marker Chip instrument on the ExoMars mission. Concerning lunar science and exploration in particular, a TNO-led initiative aims to place a Raman/LIBS instrument on lunar missions including the commercial 2012 Odyssey Moon’s MoonOne mission and the ESA Lunar Lander mission. The Raman/LIBS instrument is a fundamental, next-generation instrument for mineralogical and elemental (atomic) characterisation of lunar soil and rock samples. It uses an Optical Head to illuminate samples with laser light that generates physical phenomena (Raman shift and plasma for the LIBS) with light emission. Emitted light is collected and relayed to a spectrometer using optical fibres to record a spectrum on a CCD for sample identification. The main science objective of the instrument onboard a lunar mission would be to determine the mineralogical and elemental composition of the lunar surface, to (1) provide details on the geological and geochemical evolution of the Moon (2) perform detailed in-situ mapping of lunar material of interest for lunar exploitation means and the realization of a future lunar base (3) demonstrate and validate technology for future planetary exploration missions and terrestrial spin-offs.

Netherlands team members

Below is a list of Netherlands SSERVI team members and their expertise. The team is a consortium consisting of academic researchers based in the Netherlands that are active in lunar and planetary science, with backgrounds ranging from astroparticle physics and astrobiology to geochemistry, and members of the national space industry community involved in designing instrumentation specifically suitable for lunar and planetary missions (both in orbit and on the surface). A representative of the recently founded Netherlands Space Office (NSO), the government institution which coordinates space science and technology activities, is also included.

Permanent staff

Postdoctoral researchers

PhD students

Netherlands Space Office Representative

Contact information

Prof. Dr. Wim van Westrenen
Faculty of Earth and Life Sciences
VU University Amsterdam
De Boelelaan 1085
1081 HV Amsterdam, The Netherlands
Phone +31 20 5987279, Fax +31 20 6462457
w.van.westrenen@vu.nl

Publications

Peer-reviewed publications 2009-2014 (partial list)

Rai N, van Westrenen W (2014) Lunar core formation: New constraints from metal-silicate partitioning of siderophile elements. Earth and Planetary Science Letters 388, 1-10.

Rai N, Ghosh S, Wälle M, van Westrenen W (2013) Quantifying the effect of solid phase composition and structure on solid-liquid partitioning of siderophile and chalcophile elements in the iron-sulfur system. Chemical Geology 357, 85-94.

de Vries J, Jacobs MHG, van den Berg AP, Wehber M, Lathe C, McCammon CA, van Westrenen W (2013) Thermal equation of state of synthetic orthoferrosilite at lunar pressures and temperatures. Physics and Chemistry of Minerals 40, 691-703.

Kempl J, Vroon PZ, Zinngrebe E, van Westrenen W (2013) Si isotope fractionation between Si-poor metal and silicate melt at pressure-temperature conditions relevant to metal segregation in small planetary bodies. Earth and Planetary Science Letters 368, 61-68.

de Meijer RJ, Anisichkin VF, van Westrenen W (2013) Forming the Moon for terrestrial silicate-rich material. Chemical Geology 345, 40-49.

Anand M, Crawford IA, Balat-Pichelin M, Abanades S, van Westrenen W, Péraudeau G, Jaumann R, Seboldt W (2012) A brief review of chemical and mineralogical resources on the Moon and likely initial In Situ Resource Utilization (ISRU) applications. Planetary and Space Science 74 [Special issue ‘Scientific Preparations for Lunar Exploration’], 42-48.

Linnarsson D, Carpenter J, Fubini B, Gerde P, Loftus D, Prisk K, Staufer U, Tranfield E, van Westrenen W (2012) Toxicity of lunar dust. Planetary and Space Science 74 [Special issue ‘Scientific Preparations for Lunar Exploration’], 57-71.

Flahaut J, Blanchette-Guertin J-F, Jilly C, Sharma P, Souchon A, van Westrenen W, Kring DA (2012) Identification and characterization of science-rich landing sites for lunar lander missions using integrated remote sensing observations. Advances in Space Research 50 [Special Issue on Lunar Exploration], 1647-1665.

van Kan Parker M, Sanloup C, Sator N, Guillot B, Tronche EJ, Perrillat J-P, Mezouar M, Rai N, van Westrenen W (2012) Neutral buoyancy of titanium-rich melts in the deep lunar interior. Nature Geoscience, doi:10.1038/ngeo1402.

Borst AM, Foing BH, Davies GR, van Westrenen W (2012) Surface mineralogy and stratigraphy of the lunar South Pole-Aitken basin from Clementine UV/VIS and NIR data. Planetary and Space Science, in press.

van Kan Parker M, Mason PRD, van Westrenen W (2011) Trace element partitioning between ilmenite, armalcolite and anhydrous silicate melt: implications for the formation of lunar high-Ti mare basalts. Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta 75, 4179-4193.

Sanloup C, van Westrenen W, Dasgupta R, Maynard-Casely H, Perrillat JP (2011) Compressibility change in iron-rich melt and implications for core formation models. Earth and Planetary Science Letters 306, 118-122.

van Kan Parker M, Mason PRD, van Westrenen W (2011) Experimental study of trace element partitioning between lunar orthopyroxene and anhydrous silicate melt: effects of lithium and iron. Chemical Geology 285, 1-14.

Nebel O, Mezger K, van Westrenen W (2011) Rubidium isotopes in primitive chondrites: constraints on Earth’s volatile element depletion and lead isotope evolution. Earth and Planetary Science Letters 305, 309-316.

van Kan Parker M, Agee CB, Duncan MS, van Westrenen W (2011) Compressibility of molten Apollo 17 orange glass and implications for density crossovers in the lunar mantle. Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta 75, 1161-1172.

Tronche EJ, van Kan Parker M, de Vries J, Wang Y, Sanehira T, Li J, Chen B, Gao L, Klemme S, McCammon CA, van Westrenen W (2010) The thermal equation of state of FeTiO3 ilmenite based on in situ X-ray diffraction at high pressures and temperatures. American Mineralogist 95, 1708-1716.

van Kan Parker M, Sanloup C, Tronche EJ, Perrillat JP, Mezouar M, Rai N, van Westrenen W (2010) Calibration of a diamond capsule cell assembly for in situ determination of liquid properties in the Paris-Edinburgh press. High Pressure Research 30, 332-341.

de Vries J, van den Berg A, van Westrenen W (2010) The formation and evolution of a lunar core from ilmenite-rich magma ocean cumulates. Earth and Planetary Science Letters 292, 139-147.

Laan EC, Ahlers B, van Westrenen W, Heiligers J, Wielders A (2009) Moon4You: A combined Raman / LIBS instrument for lunar exploration. Proceedings of SPIE 7441, 744114, doi:10.1117/12.825883.

Jester S, Falcke H (2009) Science with a lunar low-frequency array: From the dark ages of the Universe to nearby exoplanets, New Astronomy Reviews 53, 1-26.

van Kan Parker M, Liebscher A, Frei D, van Sijl J, van Westrenen W, Blundy JD, Franz G (2009) Experimental and computational study of trace element distribution between orthopyroxene and anhydrous silicate melt: substitution mechanisms and the effect of iron. Contributions to Mineralogy and Petrology, doi:10.1007/s00410-009-0435-0.

Grande M, Maddison BJ, Howe CJ, Kellett BJ, Sreekumar P, Huovelin J, Crawford IA, d’Uston CL, Smith D, Anand M, Bhandari N, Cook A, Fernandes V, Foing B & 16 others (2009) The C1XS X-ray Spectrometer on Chandrayaan-1. Planetary and Space Science 57, 717-724.

Scholten O et al. (2009) First results of the NuMoon experiment. Nucl. Instr. and Meth. A 604, S102.

Stewart AJ, van Westrenen W, Schmidt MW, Guenther D (2009) Minor element partitioning between fcc Fe metal and Fe-S liquid at high pressure: the role of crystal lattice strain. Earth and Planetary Science Letters 284, 302-309.

Swinyard BM, Joy KH, Kellett BJ, Crawford IA, Grande M, Howe CJ, Fernandes VA, Gasnault O, Lawrence DJ, Russell SS, Wieczorek MA, Foing BH and the SMART-1 team (2009) X-ray fluorescence observations of the moon by SMART-1/D-CIXS and the first detection of Ti K alpha from the lunar surface. Planetary and Space Science 57, 744-750.

Below is a partial list of earlier Moon-related publications (co-)authored by our team members

Angel R, Worden SP, Borra EF, Eisenstein DJ, Foing B, et al. (2008) A cryogenic liquid-mirror telescope on the moon to study the early universe. Astrophyscial Journal 680, 1582-1594.

Draper DS, van Westrenen W (2007) Quantifying garnet-melt trace element partitioning using lattice-strain theory: Assessment of statistically significant controls and a new predictive model. Contributions to Mineralogy and Petrology 154, 731-746.

Foing BH (2002) Preface - Lunar exploration. Planetary and Space Science 50, 14-15.

Foing BH (2004) The case for the first Indian robotic mission to the Moon. Current Science 87, 1061-1065.

Foing BH, Duke M, Galimov E, et al. (2001) Highlights from ICEUM4, the 4th International Conference on the Exploration and Utilisation of the Moon. Earth Moon and Planets 85, 133-142.

Foing BH, Heather DJ, Almeida M (2001) The science goals of ESA’s SMART-1 mission to the Moon. Earth Moon and Planets 85, 523-531.

Foing BH, Racca GD, Josset JL, et al. (2008) SMART-1 highlights and relevant studies on early bombardment and geological processes on rocky planets. Physica Scripta T130, Art. No 014026.

Foing BH, Racca GD, Marini A, et al. (2006) SMART-1 mission to the Moon: Status, first results and goals. Advances in Space Research 37, 6-13.

Foing BH, Racca GD, Marini A, et al. (2005) SMART-1 after lunar capture: First results and perspectives. Journal of Earth System Science 114, 687-98.

Foing BH, Racca GD, Marini A, et al. (2003) SMART-1 mission to the moon: Technology and science goals. Advances in Space Research 31, 2323-2333.

Foing BH, Van Susante P, Almeida M, et al. (2001) Lunar Explorers Society: Goals and activities. Earth Moon and Planets 85, 533-538.

Huovelin J, Alha L, Andersson H, Andersson T, Browning R, Drummond D, Foing B and 13 others (2002) The SMART-1 X-ray solar monitor (XSM): calibrations for D-CIXS and independent coronal science. Planetary and Space Science 50 1345-1353.

Laan EC, Ahlers B, van Westrenen W, Heiligers J, Wielders A (2009) Moon4You: A combined Raman / LIBS instrument for lunar exploration. Proceedings of SPIE 7441, 744114, doi:10.1117/12.825883.

Lytvynenko T, Zaetz I, Voznyuk T, Kovalchuk M, Rogutskyy I, Mytrokhyn O, Lukashov D, Estrella-Liopis V, Borodinova T, Mashkovska S, Foing BH, Kordyum V, Kozyrovska N (2006) A rationally assembled microbial community for growing Tagetes patula L. in a lunar greenhouse. Research in Microbiology 157, 87-92.

Marini AE, Racca GD, Foing BH (2002) SMART-1 technology preparation for future planetary missions. Advances in Space Research 30, 1895-1900.

Pieters CM, Head JW, Isaacson P, Petro N, Runyon C, Ohtake M, Foing BH, Grande M (2008) Lunar international science coordination/calibration targets (L-ISCT). Advances in Space Research 42, 248-258.

Racca G, Foing BH (2003) A solar-powered visit to the moon: The SMART-1 mission. ESA Bulletin 113, 14-27.

Racca GD, Foing BH, Coradini M (2001) SMART-1: The first time of Europe to the Moon; wandering in the Earth-Moon space. Earth Moon and Planets 85, 379-390.

Rama Murthy V, van Westrenen W, Fei Y (2003) Experimental evidence that potassium is a substantial radioactive heat source in planetary cores. Nature 423, 163-165.

Rathsman P, Kugelberg J, Bodin P, Racca GP, Foing B, Stagnaro L (2005) SMART-1: Development and lessons learnt. Acta Astronautica 57, 455-468.

Scholten O, Bacelar J, Braun R, de Bruyn AG, Falcke H, Stappers B, Strom RG (2006) Optimal radio window for the detection of ultra-high energy cosmic rays and neutrinos off the Moon. Astropart. Phys. 26, 219.

Shkuratov YG, Stankevich DG, Kaydash VG, Omelchenko VV, Pieters CM, Pinet PC, Chevrel SD, Daydou YH, Foing BH, Sodnik Z, Josset JL, Taylor LA, Shevchenko VV (2003) Composition of the lunar surface as will be seen from SMART-1: A simulation using Clementine data. Journal of Geophysical Research – Planets 108 E4, Article Number: 5020.

Volp J, Foing BH (2003) www.lunarexplorer.org: Educating the general public. Advances in Space Research 31, 2455-2460.

van Westrenen W, Draper DS (2007) Quantifying garnet-melt trace element partitioning using lattice-strain theory: New crystal-chemical and thermodynamic constraints. Contributions to Mineralogy and Petrology 154, 717-730.

Background

What is the NASA Solar System Exploration Research Virtual Institute?

The NASA Solar System Exploration Research Virtual Institute (SSERVI) was founded to extend NASA’s existing lunar science programs. The virtual institute has dispersed teams across the US working together to help lead NASA’s research activities related to the exploration and science of the Moon, Near-Earth ASteroids, Phobos, and Deimos. Team investigations focus on one or more aspects of science related to these objects. SSERVI and its predecessor, the NASA Lunar Science Institute (NLSI), developed an international partnership program to provide collaborative opportunities for its researchers within the global science community. After Canada, South Korea, the United Kingdom, Saudi Arabia and Israel, the Netherlands became the 6th international partner in September 2010. Germany became an associate member in 2011.

More information about SSERVI can be found at http://sservi.nasa.gov

Why did the Netherlands join?

Netherlands-based activities in lunar and planetary science are in many ways complementary to the work being pursued by the nine US SSERVI Teams announced in 2008. As such, we think both SSERVI and the Dutch science community can benefit greatly from increased interaction that will stem from an affiliate membership. In addition, we hope this partnership is instrumental in showcasing to national and European policy makers how active the national lunar and planetary science community is. National expertise of specific interest to the SSERVI can broadly be divided into three areas:

Hosted by VU University Amsterdam, Cluster Deep Earth and Planetary Science