Center for Space Science and Exploration (ISR-CSSE)

The Center for Space Science and Exploration (CSSE) serves as the focal point for civilian space efforts at Los Alamos National Laboratory. Formed in 1999 to promote scientific excellence in space science and exploration at LANL, CSSE nurtures and coordinates nondefense space science and space technology efforts throughout LANL. Its primary objective is to facilitate the development and execution of basic science and new technology that support the Laboratory’s national security mission. The programs represented by CSSE allow overt demonstration of advanced US technical capabilities, development of high-risk technologies, opportunities to publish in an unclassified environment, collaborations with universities, establishment of foundation science that is applied to core Laboratory national security programs and support for basic science and its associated attraction and retention of top scientists. CSSE acts as the liaison with sponsoring organizations (primarily NASA) and administers educational and outreach activities for the space science work at LANL. Although this includes activities across the entire Laboratory, ISR Division constitutes the largest number of programs represented in CSSE.

The unclassified work performed at LANL for non-defense customers is highly synergistic with numerous Department of Energy (DOE), Department of Defense (DoD) and Department of Homeland Security (DHS) programs. For example, the space-based nuclear detonation detection program is clearly advanced by NASA programs such as neutron spectrometry, which has allowed detection of water on the Moon and Mars, RF geolocation and characterization of lightning, characterization of the space environment, and detection and measurement of fast transient astrophysical events such as gamma-ray bursts. Similarly, remote sensing of Earth is not only important for such core areas as nonproliferation and intelligence programs, but it is also a critical component for understanding climate change, natural disasters and the impact of humans on the environment. NASA programs also help assess the signatures and backgrounds that are the foundation for interpretation of data in DOE, DoD and DHS programs.

Space Programs
Today's space programs build on space science and technology work that dates back to the earliest days of space exploration with the Vela satellite program begun in the early 1960s. Growing involvement of the civilian sector has been key to maintaining and enhancing these capabilities. LANL currently hosts over 100 NASA- and National Science Foundation (NSF)-sponsored space projects. Funding for these civilian space science projects has increased over the past several years from about $3 million a few years ago to a current level of nearly $30 million.

In FY03, NASA programs grew substantially in both funding and projects. NASA awards programs using a peer review process and LANL’s success rate has remained above 50 percent for the past three years, which is unusually high within the space science community. In FY03, LANL’s proposal success rate was over 66 percent.

Mars Odyssey
Staff in several divisions throughout LANL have teamed up to develop and implement the first global planetary hydrology model to study the past and present structure and dynamics of Mars subsurface hydrology and to investigate the presence of a water table. Team members are assimilating and interpreting large-volume data sets as inputs to the model: (1) global distributions of elemental abundance, mineralogy, near-surface water, salinity, surface temperature, albedo, and thermal conductivity measured using the infrared, gamma-ray, and neutron spectrometers on Mars Odyssey, and (2) global topography maps from the Mars Global Surveyor laser altimeter. Additionally, we are performing key experiments on the water loading of hydrous minerals. This project will yield the first global planetary hydrology model, the first analysis of multiple large global databases using advanced algorithms, and detailed characterization of near-surface neutron and gamma ray signals.

This cross-disciplinary study produced several important scientific results during its first year. Analysis and interpretation of Mars Odyssey Neutron Spectrometer data shows that the water content at some equatorial regions of Mars approaches 12% by mass (see Fig. 1), a result that was completely unpredicted due to the warm equatorial surface temperatures and dearth of atmospheric water vapor. Thermogravimetric experiments on clays (Na and Ca smectites) and a smectite (Chabazite) show that these ubiquitous minerals can load 10-22% of water by mass at the equatorial subsurface conditions of Mars, which may partially explain the observation of high water abundance. Interestingly, regions of high water content space near the equator do not correlate with geologic age of the region or with fluvial terrain features. Herb Funsten is the PI for these efforts.

Figure 1. Minimum water-equivalent hydrogen determined from epithermal neutron counting data from the Mars Odyssey neutron spectrometer.

NASA/Cassini Mission to Saturn
With Saturn orbital insertion occurring in July 2004, we are making progress on our science planning and data analysis preparations. LANL scientists are members of 15 and leaders of four of the 16 science topic teams formed to address Cassini Plasma Spectrometer (CAPS) science objectives. We are also actively developing algorithms to compute plasma properties (such as density, temperature and flow velocity) from CAPS measurements. On the science side, a more detailed study of the Cassini measurements of Jupiter's bowshock has been completed, and a follow-up study of waves and particles observed in the foreshock region upstream from the bowshock has also been submitted for publication. LANL participated in a study of pick-up ions formed in the solar wind by the ionization of interstellar neutral atoms as they stream through the solar system. CAPS has directly detected both H+ and He+ pick-up ions. The ratio of H+ to He+ is significantly lower than anticipated, but calculations by the CAPS team show that this is attributable to a "shadow" of neutral H atoms produced by large ionization losses as the interstellar neutrals passed through the inner heliosphere before arriving on solar-wind streamlines connected to the Cassini spacecraft. Michelle Thomsen is the LANL PI for Cassini.

Project Prometheus – NASA’s Space Nuclear Power Programs
LANL is an integral participant in NASA’s Project Prometheus – both in the radioisotope power systems and now on the Jupiter Icy Moons Orbiter (JIMO) Mission. LANL was selected to participate in designing the JIMO reactor in FY03. JIMO is the first mission defined in the space nuclear program, Prometheus. The mission of JIMO is to orbitally characterize three of Jupiter’s moons, Callisto, Ganymede and Europa, using a nuclear reactor to power the spacecraft. Engineers and nuclear physicists across LANL will be designing and helping NASA build a space fission power supply. This will be the first civilian space reactor to be built in over 40 years. Jim Lee is the LANL PI for JIMO.

LANL fabricates the radioisotope heater units (RHU) used in current NASA missions. Project Prometheus is developing the next generation radioisotope power systems for future space missions. Current work in this area includes radioisotope heat sources for a Pluto mission, Stirling radioisotope generator mission and multi-mission radioisotope thermal generators. The latest suite of RHUs are on board the two Mars Exploration Rovers, “Spirit” and “Opportunity,” that landed on Mars earlier this year. Marty Bowidowicz is the PI for the radioisotope programs.

Figure 2. An artist's rendering of the nuclear-powered Jupiter Icy Moons Orbiter spacecraft.

NASA/Neutral Particle Imaging: IMAGE and TWINS
LANL has become recognized as one of the premier institutions in energetic neutral atom measurements that can remotely sense the charged ion distributions in the magnetosphere. The LANL-built Medium Energy Neutral Atom (MENA) imager on NASA'S IMAGE satellite was launched in 2000. TWINS, consisting of two ENA imagers, will be launched in 2004 and 2006. MENA analysis has focused on magnetospheric storms and sub-storms. An analysis of the March 31, 2001 storm using MENA data showed that the main phase of this disturbance was due to tail currents rather than ring currents as is commonly assumed. We have continued to refine our calculations of the MENA geometric factor to produce more accurate conversions from counts to physical flux units. We have also developed a flexible forward-modeling tool to compare observed ENA emissions with the emissions expected from a multi-parameter magnetospheric ion flux distribution, with constraints imposed by actual in situ measurements from LANL charged-particle instruments. Ruth Skoug is the LANL PI for Neutral Atom science missions.

NASA/Genesis Solar Wind Sample Return
The Genesis mission continues to collect solar wind in its L1 halo orbit. Launched in August 2001, its goal is to return samples of the solar wind to Earth in September 2004. Most of the important science observations will be carried out once the samples are back on Earth. Meanwhile, using the LANL on-board monitors, observations to date have led to the discovery that bi-directional electrons are characteristic of coronal hole wind at 1 AU. Previously bi-directional electron events were thought to be endemic only to coronal mass ejections. The discovery has led to improved discrimination between the solar-wind regimes. Roger Wiens is the LANL PI for Genesis.

Plasma Thruster Research
The need to apply reliable, powerful and long-term thrust for large payload deep space missions dictates development of new ion thrust engine technologies. The newest types of engine ideas employ a large applied magnetic field that can be varied to "nozzle" the flow of ions as well as resonantly heat them. However, they are confined to travel along the field lines and can strike the spacecraft unless they detach from the field lines. We are studying and characterizing the physics of this detachment process. A large vessel has been mated to our existing plasma source, and first measurements of the plasma flow along the diverging field lines has begun. Plasma characterization is implemented with electrostatic, diamagnetic and ion energy probes. Existing theory concerning plasma flow along divergent field lines in these ion engine geometries is being extended to include the effects of collisional losses, instabilities, and electrostatic boundary effects inherent in the Earth-bound measurement of these plasmas.

Education and Outreach Programs
CSSE is a strong proponent of education and public outreach. Space is a natural draw, and few other topics attract as wide an audience as space can. Outreach activities with the Bradbury Science Museum are offered throughout the year; special guests, such as former Los Alamos employees and current astronauts John Phillips and Don Pettit, come and talk about their space adventures; and robotic workshops are conducted in northern New Mexico schools. These are a few of the outreach activities developed and supported by CSSE.

Undergraduate Student Research Program
CSSE was successful in establishing a new space related education program at LANL. NASA selected LANL to become a participating “center” in its highly successful Undergraduate Student Research Program (USRP). Undergraduate students spend the summer at LANL under this program working on NASA space-related projects. The USRP program offers undergraduate students from across the United States mentored research experiences at the NASA Centers and Los Alamos. The students gain exposure to technical work and participate in technical projects. Over 1,700 students applied for the USRP program in 2003; eight were selected to come to LANL. It was a very successful summer for the students as well: one student was part of team for which a patent is being requested, and two other students won the Best Poster Presentation in Earth and Space Science at the LANL Student Symposium, one in the graduate student category and one in the undergraduate category. Many of the students had papers that were or will be published, and one of the students was invited to present her work at the University of California-San Diego with her mentor.

Summer Teacher’s Workshop
Each summer for the past six years, a select group of teachers representing grades K-12, spend an intensive two weeks at LANL learning about space science and related subjects. Scientists and technologists from across the Laboratory teach the teachers about their individual subject areas. After a break, the teachers return to the Laboratory to develop a set of lesson plans to be used back in their classrooms. Each team of teachers is made up of teachers from each of the three grade levels: K-6, middle school and high school. This provides insights for the teachers they otherwise might not obtain from uniform grade level teams.

This program has been extremely successful, and NASA has highlighted it in the Office of Space Science Education and Public Outreach Report.

Visit the CSSE home page for more information.