Planets and Space

Geoscience beyond Earth

Von den staubigen Ebenen des Mars bis zur geheimnisvollen Vergangenheit unseres eigenen Mondes enthüllen planetologische Forschungen faszinierende Einblicke in die Entstehung, Entwicklung und potenzielle Bewohnbarkeit anderer Welten.

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Our research in Planetary Geosciences extends the boundaries of Earth Sciences, addressing fundamental questions about the formation, evolution, and potential habitability of celestial bodies across the solar system and beyond. A key area is the study of Exoplanets, where we investigate how volcanic activity and degassing influence their atmospheres and climate. Volcanic emission of gases from magma, such as CO₂, H₂O, and SO₂, plays a central role in shaping planetary atmospheres and has significantly contributed to the development of Earth's atmosphere and climate, influencing both habitability and geological processes. By experimentally assessing the behavior of volatile gases in magmas at extraordinary conditions experienced in exoplanets, we gain critical insights into their potential for hosting life and their geological evolution. Understanding these processes on Earth enhances our models of exoplanetary atmospheres and guides the search for habitable worlds beyond our solar system. Furthermore, our work contributes to understanding planetary differentiation and the physical properties of planetary interiors through advanced seismological and laboratory methods, including the exploration of how electrical phenomena, such as volcanic lightning, might manifest in dusty planetary environments.

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Establishing a sustainable human presence beyond Earth requires overcoming significant engineering and material challenges, which we address through our Space Habitat research. This involves focusing on the development of habitats and novel engineering practices for space environments, such as the Moon. Among the solutions investigated is the process of sintering, which involves heating and fusing lunar soil particles (regolith) to form strong, durable solid materials for structures on the Moon. Developing such solutions is key to overcoming logistical challenges of space exploration; it enables the creation of self-sufficient habitats that can withstand extreme temperatures, micrometeorite impacts, and solar radiation. Sintering methods must be tailored to the local regolith properties, and we experimentally test the properties of different lunar materials to precisely engineer these future materials. These practical applications are underpinned by fundamental research into Impact Cratering, which we recognize as a fundamental geological process shaping the surface of planetary bodies. The analysis of shock effects—microstructures that form upon the impact of asteroids in target rocks—provides unique information on the highly dynamic processes and conditions during cratering.

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The department's commitment to space exploration is also realized through the detailed analysis of extraterrestrial materials and the development of sophisticated sensing and monitoring techniques. Our scientists investigate Martian and lunar meteorites, using them to unravel the geochemical history of other planetary bodies. Advanced analytical techniques, such as Raman spectroscopy, are not only applied to these planetary materials but are also developed into spectral databases essential for advancing geomaterials research and future Remote Sensing missions to identify minerals and rocks on planetary surfaces. Our expertise also extends to space hazards, as we focus on the prediction of space weather (the space plasma environment) using machine learning and high-performance simulations. This research is crucial for protecting satellites, navigation systems, and manned space exploration efforts, ensuring that our insights are practical and contribute to the safety and success of missions to Mars and beyond.

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Exploring near-surface structures on planets, especially the Moon and Mars, will play an extremely important role in the next steps of space travel. For example, the aim is to locate ice-bearing rocks on the Moon from which water and thus oxygen and hydrogen can be extracted. In order to establish safe, manned space stations on the Moon, scientists are searching for underground cavities (former lava tubes) in which they can protect themselves from unchecked meteorite impacts. To study the structure near the surface, scientists in our department are working with the German Aerospace Center (DLR) to develop strategies for conducting seismic experiments on planetary objects using autonomous robots. These concepts have already been tested in the LUNA Hall in Cologne, where a piece of the moon's surface with extremely fine regolith has been replicated.