Efforts as a participating scientist in the 2018 insight mission to mars would involve research, mission operations support and e/PO efforts. The research that would be pursued involves four…

This is a $285,450.00 grant award from the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) to The Research Foundation For The State University Of New York, doing business as Stony Brook University. The grant supports Stony Brook's participation as a Participating Scientist in the InSight mission to Mars. The research under this award involves four key tasks focused on characterizing the chemical composition and structure of the Martian crust, mantle, and planetary differentiation processes, leveraging data from the InSight mission's instruments as well as other Mars mission data sources. Stony Brook will also provide operational and public engagement support for the InSight mission. This award does not have a set-aside designation and runs through August 30, 2023.

Efforts as a participating scientist in the 2018 insight mission to mars would involve research, mission operations support and e/PO efforts. The research that would be pursued involves four inter-related tasks: (1) constrain heat production (i.e., k, TH, u abundances) as a function of depth in the martian crust in the vicinity of the the insight landing site; (2) constrain the chemical composition and compositional structure of the martian crust; (3) evaluate models for the chemical composition of the martian mantle, focusing mainly on proposals that IT is FE- and moderately volatile element-enriched compared to the earth; and (4) compare the compositions of the martian mantle and crust to those of other terrestrial planets and major rocky bodies (e.g., moon, vesta), focusing mainly on the nature and controls of silicate differentiation of large rocky planetary bodies. This research program is highly responsive to the science objectives of the insight mission. IT would either directly address or greatly expand on each of the four objectives under goal a (understand the formation and evolution of terrestrial planets). IT is also well aligned with two of the eight "special investigations" that are considered by NASA to be particularly desirable, including (1) investigating the subsurface thermal and physical environment, (2) being an interdisciplinary investigation (i.e., geochemistry, geophysics) that addresses the formation, evolution and structure of mars, and includes comparative studies with other terrestrial planets. Insight data required to support these studies include heat flux data from the heat flow and physical properties probe (HP3) and crust-mantle-core structure and physical properties derived from the seismic experiment for interior structure (seis). The scope of insight data required to fully carry out the proposed research all fall within level 1 objectives of the mission. Non-insight planetary flight (nipf) data required to support this research include mars odyssey gamma-RAY spectroscopy (GRS) elemental data (especially for k, TH) and chemical data for martian soils and rocks obtained by the MER (spirit, opportunity) and MSL (curiosity) rovers. In addition, chemical and isotopic data for a variety of martian meteorites will be considered. All nipf and other non-insight data that would be used are publicly available in the planetary data system (PDS), in published papers, or both. The expertise of the PI does not warrant participation in the instrument site selection working group (isswg), although he would be willing to take part in such activities if deemed of use by the project. However, the PI would commit to supporting insight operations in the following ways: (1) taking active part in the crust theme group; (2) taking active part in the deep interior theme group; (3) participating in science operations working group (sowg) meetings when required and working with both sowg chairs and long term planners in support of weekly spacecraft sequencing; (4) attending science team meetings and (5) participating in any required training. The PI would also commit to participating in and supporting the e/PO activities of the mission, including leveraging outreach and science communication resources at stony brook university.