Title

Neon and Helium in the Surfact of Stardust Cell C2028

Authors

Russel L. Palma, Minnesota State University - MankatoFollow
Robert O. Pepin, University of Minnesota - Twin CitiesFollow
D. J. Schlutter, University of Minnesota - Twin CitiesFollow
D. R. Frank, ESCG, NASA Johnson Space Center
R. Bastien, ESCG, NASA Johnson Space Center
M. Rodriguez, ESCG, NASA Johnson Space Center

Document Type

Conference Abstract

Publication Date

3-17-2015

Abstract

Previous studies of light noble gases in Stardust aer ogel samples detected a variety of isotopically non-terrestrial He and Ne compositions. However, with one exception, in none of these samples was there visible evidence for the presence of particles that could have hosted the gases. The exception is materials keystoned from track 41, cell C2044, which contained observable fragments of the impacting Wild 2 comet coma grain. Here we report noble gas data from a second aerogel sample in which grains are observed, cut from the surface of a cell (C2028) riddled with tiny tracks and particles that are thought to be secondary in origin, ejected toward the cell when a parent grain collided with the spacecraft structure and fragmented. Interestingly, measured 20Ne/22Ne ratios in the track 41 and C2028 samples are similar, and within error of the meteoritic “Q-phase” Ne composition.

Department

Physics and Astronomy

Recommended Citation

R.L. Palma, R.O. Pepin, D.J. Schlutter, D.R. Frank, R. Bastien, and M. Rodriguez, 2015. Neon and Helium in the Surface of Stardust Cell C2028. 46th Lunar and Planetary Science Conference, Abstract #2378, Lunar and Planetary Institute, Houston.