Asteroidal meteorites record a period of time we no longer have access to, from molecular cloud components to the formation and early evolution of planetesimals, the building blocks of planets. This…

The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) awarded a $199,971.41 grant to the University of California Santa Cruz (UCSC) to support research on asteroidal meteorites and their implications for exoplanet atmospheres and early planetary formation. Specifically, the grant will fund the establishment of cosmochemistry and scanning electron microscope laboratories at UCSC to conduct experiments constraining the timing of fluid activity in early planetesimals and the initial abundance of iron-60 in the solar system. The award will also support the salaries of one postdoctoral researcher, two graduate students, and at least one undergraduate student working in the cosmochemistry lab. Funds will further cover travel to conferences and workshops as well as laboratory supplies. This research aims to further NASA's Planetary Science Division goals of understanding the content, origin, and evolution of the solar system and the potential for life elsewhere.

Asteroidal meteorites record a period of time we no longer have access to, from molecular cloud components to the formation and early evolution of planetesimals, the building blocks of planets. This proposal's research will entail: 1) establishing the cosmochemistry and scanning electron microscope (SEM) labs at UC santa cruz, 2) placing constraints on exoplanet atmospheres and bulk composition through laboratory experiments, 3) understanding the timing and conditions of fluid activity in early planetesimals, and 4) constraining the initial abundance of 60FE in the solar system. The early career award would be used to support the research of the PI, the salaries of a postdoc, two graduate students, and at least one undergrad in the cosmochemistry lab at UC santa cruz. The ECA would also go toward travel to the conferences and workshops, and laboratory supplies. The research activities described here all support NASA planetary sciences divisions goal of ascertaining the content, origin, and evolution of the solar system and the potential for life elsewhere.