The dawn mission to the minor planet ceres (diameter 950 KM) began in 2014 after its successful mission to vesta. Dawn acquired image, spectral, and topographic data during its approach to ceres (late…

This federal contract award was granted by NASA's Shared Services Center to the Planetary Science Institute (PSI), a non-profit research organization in Tucson, Arizona. The $599,794.00 award supports research to produce a revised global geologic map of the dwarf planet Ceres based on data collected during NASA's Dawn mission. The proposed work will utilize Dawn Framing Camera images, Visible and Infrared Mapping Spectrometer data, and other mission data to conduct geologic mapping, determine relative ages and stratigraphy, and update the Ceres chronostratigraphy and geologic time scale. This research supports the science return of the Dawn mission and generates a useful digital geologic map product for the scientific community. The award does not have a set-aside designation, indicating PSI's technical capabilities in winning the competitive contract.

The dawn mission to the minor planet ceres (diameter 950 KM) began in 2014 after its successful mission to vesta. Dawn acquired image, spectral, and topographic data during its approach to ceres (late 2014) through two extended missions, until the dawn mission concluded in november 2018. Global geologic mapping of ceres began with framing camera images acquired during the approach and survey phases of the mission. Data acquired during the high altitude mapping orbit (hamo) provided a second iteration of the global geologic map of ceres, to be generated at a spatial resolution of 140 m/pixel. Acquisition of low altitude mapping orbit (lamo) permitted ceres to be divided into 15 quadrangles for higher resolution geologic mapping (35 m/pixel). Lastly, following dawn s nominal mission to ceres, two extended missions were approved and additional data at various altitudes (and resulting resolutions) were acquired (XM01-XM07), but not incorporated into any global geologic mapping products. This proposed work will utilize dawn framing camera (FC) images, visible and infrared (VIR) mapping spectrometer multispectral data, gamma RAY and neutron detector (grand) data, and derived topographic data to construct a revised global geologic map of ceres based on systematic analysis of the complete dawn mission datasets. This proposed geologic map of ceres will be published as a U.S. Geological survey (USGS) special investigation map (SIM) at 1:3M (equatorial) and 1:1.5M (polar). This investigation supports the science return of the dawn mission and generates a useful digital geologic map product for the community. We propose three main research tasks: (1) conduct geologic mapping. We will produce a global geologic map of ceres building on previous geologic maps of ceres at various scales. (2) determine relative ages and stratigraphy of mapped units and features via analysis of crater size-frequency distribution statistics and stratigraphic relations (e.g., superposition, cross-cutting). (3) update ceres chronostratigraphy and geologic time scale (as necessary). We propose to evaluate the global geology of ceres where important spatial and temporal relationships between geologic materials and processes are preserved. Identifying and modeling surface processes requires a complete characterization and stratigraphic analysis of the resulting geologic units. We will construct a global geologic map of the surface of ceres to address outstanding science questions regarding the nature and stratigraphy of its impact record, and other past geologic activity. The objectives of this proposal are directly relevant to NASA s ddap solicitation. They will enhance the scientific return of discovery program missions and broaden the scientific participation in the analysis of data collected by discovery missions. The resulting geologic map will assist in evaluating the evolution of ceres by complementing the science products produced by the FC, VIR and grand teams. Our team includes previously funded members of the dawn mission and the dawn at ceres participating scientist (davps) investigation who were responsible either for the global geologic mapping of ceres, geologic mapping at the lamo quad scale, and/or provided instrument and data support. Also, team members have strong backgrounds in mapping the geology of rocky and ICY planetary bodies, data processing and/or analysis, and each member brings a specific set of data analysis skills and geologic expertise that will enable US to map ceres and accomplish the scientific objectives proposed in this investigation.