Cosmochemistry: Understanding the Solar System through analysis of extraterrestrial materials

Abstract

Cosmochemistry is the chemical analysis of extraterrestrial materials. This term generally is taken to mean laboratory analysis, which is the cosmochemistry gold standard because of the ability for repeated analysis under highly controlled conditions using the most advanced instrumentation unhindered by limitations in power, space, or environment. Over the past 40 y, advances in technology have enabled telescopic and spacecraft instruments to provide important data that significantly complement the laboratory data. In this special edition, recent advances in the state of the art of cosmochemistry are presented, which range from instrumental analysis of meteorites to theoretical-computational and astronomical observations.

Evaluation of pneumatic nebulization and ns-laser ablation ICP-MS for bulk elemental analysis and 2-dimensional element mapping of iron meteorites

“…The continuously improving sensitivity, precision and spatial resolution of modern analytical techniques, applied to a diversity of (extra-)terrestrial materials, constantly rene our view on the cosmochemical history of the early solar system and even lead to a deeper understanding of the processes taking place before its formation. 1,2 Extraterrestrial materials are available from various sources, with meteorites being the most common, falling in great numbers on the surface of the Earth. Of these, iron meteorites are the most widespread, not only because of their resistance to weathering and a higher survival rate during atmospheric entry, but also because of the higher likelihood that these will be recognized as unusual objects.…”

Microgravity metal processing: from undercooled liquids to bulk metallic glasses

“…The Genesis mission provided one the finest moments in the history of BMGs when it crash-landed in the Utah desert in 2004, due to a faulty parachute. The BMG sample was one of the only targets that survived the impact and was later used to answer fundamental questions about solar wind composition (see refs 26–30 ). Figure 4a shows the flight mock-up of Genesis on display at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Pasadena, CA.…”

Towards In-Situ Geochemical Analysis of Planetary Rocks and Soils by Laser Ablation/Ionisation Time-of-Flight Mass Spectrometry

“…Knowledge of the chemical composition of planetary bodies is important in our understanding of the planetary system formation and contributes to the comprehension of the origin and evolution of the solar system [1]. Chemistry imposes important constraints on the current models of the origin and evolution of our solar system and is the key to understanding the physical and chemical conditions and processes that formed the first solids, planetesimals, planets and their moons.…”