September 20, 2006 Source: :
http://www.unb.ca/news/view.cgi?id=1101 UNBF PHD CANDIDATE TREASURES EXPERIENCE WITH NASA September 20, 2006
UNB Fredericton News Release: D711
Brad Janes, Public Relations Officer (506) 458-7969 Working on extraterrestrial materials is not easy. Samples are rare and extremely valuable. Jillian Hudgins, a University of New Brunswick in Fredericton student and PhD candidate knows all about this. On Earth, it’s relatively easy to sample rocks from roadcuts, quarries, shorelines and cliffs, but from other planets we rely on meteorite falls and samples returned by astronauts and robotic missions. In order to access the National Aeronautics and Space Administration’s (NASA) Apollo samples, all requests have to be supported by compelling science, demonstrating secure sample storage and access to the appropriate analytical equipment. Not only is security tight at the NASA Johnson Space Centre (JSC) in Houston, visiting scientists also must don special clothing to avoid sample contamination. A Fredericton native, Ms. Hudgins visited JSC recently to select lunar samples obtained by the Apollo astronauts back in the 1970s. "We are trying to determine how the moon’s crust formed during the first billion years of its evolution," said Ms. Hudgins, studying for her PhD at UNBF’s Planetary and Space Science Centre in the department of geology. "That is a period of time not represented by rocks here on Earth. By investigating the moon we can use it as a window into Earth’s earliest history, as well as understanding the first billion years of our solar system’s evolution." Along with her UNBF supervisor, John Spray, Ms. Hudgins will use electron microscopy and laser techniques to determine the conditions of formation and ages of the four rock samples they have on loan from NASA. "These are some of the oldest lunar rocks known, so it will be exciting to find out exactly how old they are and then try to reconstruct what the lunar crust, and perhaps Earth’s crust, was like some four billion years ago," she said. Her lunar studies are part of a broader program aimed at understanding the evolution of the moon, Mars and asteroids being carried out by members of the Planetary and Space Science Centre. "So far, we have purchased two safes in which we store the valuable materials," said Dr Spray. "Critical to our research program is having access to state-of-the-art electron microscopes that allow us to explore these exotic materials at high magnification. We can then work out how these rocks were formed and how they have evolved over billions of years. Here at UNB we have one of the best microscope facilities in North America, run by a team of experts who maintain and manage the equipment. Without this, students like Jillian could not think of attempting the type of research we are doing. There is also an excellent rock sample preparation staff at UNBF’s department of geology. They are able to prepare the precious materials so work can be conducted using microscopes and lasers. A combination of expertise in planetary materials and the technology to analyze rocks from the Moon has allowed this UNBF research group to carry out world-class research and train young graduates, like Ms. Hudgins, for upcoming careers in space and planetary exploration. With numerous future missions being planned for the moon and Mars in the coming years by NASA, the European Space Agency and international partners, there is considerable potential for Canada to participate in innovative science and technology development for space applications – and Ms. Hudgins will likely be contributing to these future endeavours beyond Earth. - 30 -
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