Methods for Experimental Planetary Geology in Reduced-gravity Parabolic Flight: A Case Study of Researching Impact Crater Ejecta
Geologists have long conducted laboratory experiments to offer a controlled environment for understanding processes that occur in nature and linking those processes with natural geologic landforms. And, for over 70 yr, pilots and researchers have accessed reduced-gravity and microgravity conditions...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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IOP Publishing
2025-01-01
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| Series: | The Planetary Science Journal |
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| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.3847/PSJ/adb74c |
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| author | Kirby D. Runyon Daniel D. Durda Viliam Klein Constantine C. C. Tsang Chloe B. Beddingfield Carolyn M. Ernst Olivier S. Barnouin H. Todd Smith |
| author_facet | Kirby D. Runyon Daniel D. Durda Viliam Klein Constantine C. C. Tsang Chloe B. Beddingfield Carolyn M. Ernst Olivier S. Barnouin H. Todd Smith |
| author_sort | Kirby D. Runyon |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Geologists have long conducted laboratory experiments to offer a controlled environment for understanding processes that occur in nature and linking those processes with natural geologic landforms. And, for over 70 yr, pilots and researchers have accessed reduced-gravity and microgravity conditions by flying aircraft in parabolic arc-shaped trajectories. However, only recently (technically since the 1980s but practically since the 2010s) has experimental geology begun to find a home in reduced-gravity flight with application to the solid-bodied worlds of the solar system. The methodology of our recent experimental campaign investigating impact crater ejecta emplacement serves as a case study in reduced-gravity experimental geology. We hope this case study will inspire future utilization of reduced-gravity flight as a laboratory method for better understanding geological processes on worlds throughout the solar system. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-eecb87c80d8f49d58eea867f33a181e8 |
| institution | OA Journals |
| issn | 2632-3338 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-01-01 |
| publisher | IOP Publishing |
| record_format | Article |
| series | The Planetary Science Journal |
| spelling | doaj-art-eecb87c80d8f49d58eea867f33a181e82025-08-20T02:06:16ZengIOP PublishingThe Planetary Science Journal2632-33382025-01-01635810.3847/PSJ/adb74cMethods for Experimental Planetary Geology in Reduced-gravity Parabolic Flight: A Case Study of Researching Impact Crater EjectaKirby D. Runyon0https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6361-6548Daniel D. Durda1Viliam Klein2Constantine C. C. Tsang3Chloe B. Beddingfield4https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5048-6254Carolyn M. Ernst5https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9434-7886Olivier S. Barnouin6https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3578-7750H. Todd Smith7https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3537-3360Planetary Science Institute , USA ; krunyon@psi.eduPlanetary Science Division, Southwest Research Institute , Boulder, CO 80301, USAPlanetary Science Division, Southwest Research Institute , Boulder, CO 80301, USAKhan Enterprises LLC , Boulder, CO 80301, USAJohns Hopkins APL , USAJohns Hopkins APL , USAJohns Hopkins APL , USAJohns Hopkins APL , USAGeologists have long conducted laboratory experiments to offer a controlled environment for understanding processes that occur in nature and linking those processes with natural geologic landforms. And, for over 70 yr, pilots and researchers have accessed reduced-gravity and microgravity conditions by flying aircraft in parabolic arc-shaped trajectories. However, only recently (technically since the 1980s but practically since the 2010s) has experimental geology begun to find a home in reduced-gravity flight with application to the solid-bodied worlds of the solar system. The methodology of our recent experimental campaign investigating impact crater ejecta emplacement serves as a case study in reduced-gravity experimental geology. We hope this case study will inspire future utilization of reduced-gravity flight as a laboratory method for better understanding geological processes on worlds throughout the solar system.https://doi.org/10.3847/PSJ/adb74cEjectaCratersLunar cratersAsteroid surfacesMarsPlanetary geology |
| spellingShingle | Kirby D. Runyon Daniel D. Durda Viliam Klein Constantine C. C. Tsang Chloe B. Beddingfield Carolyn M. Ernst Olivier S. Barnouin H. Todd Smith Methods for Experimental Planetary Geology in Reduced-gravity Parabolic Flight: A Case Study of Researching Impact Crater Ejecta The Planetary Science Journal Ejecta Craters Lunar craters Asteroid surfaces Mars Planetary geology |
| title | Methods for Experimental Planetary Geology in Reduced-gravity Parabolic Flight: A Case Study of Researching Impact Crater Ejecta |
| title_full | Methods for Experimental Planetary Geology in Reduced-gravity Parabolic Flight: A Case Study of Researching Impact Crater Ejecta |
| title_fullStr | Methods for Experimental Planetary Geology in Reduced-gravity Parabolic Flight: A Case Study of Researching Impact Crater Ejecta |
| title_full_unstemmed | Methods for Experimental Planetary Geology in Reduced-gravity Parabolic Flight: A Case Study of Researching Impact Crater Ejecta |
| title_short | Methods for Experimental Planetary Geology in Reduced-gravity Parabolic Flight: A Case Study of Researching Impact Crater Ejecta |
| title_sort | methods for experimental planetary geology in reduced gravity parabolic flight a case study of researching impact crater ejecta |
| topic | Ejecta Craters Lunar craters Asteroid surfaces Mars Planetary geology |
| url | https://doi.org/10.3847/PSJ/adb74c |
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