The following Master Thesis Projects are carried out at the Freie Universität in the Planetary Sciences working group (AG Postberg).
Please email to the individual contact person named below each project.
Geologic mapping of Meridiani Planum with focus on hematite concentrations (blueberries) Meridiani Planum, the landing site of the Opportunity Mars Exploration Rover hosts large amounts of embedded and loosly distributed hematite-rich concretions also known as 'blueberries'. The task is to create a geologic map of the region with focus on the hematite distribution and to attempt a quantification of the mapped hematite deposits using remote sensing data and rover information. GIS-skills are necessary and mandatory.
Contact: Dr. Christoph Gross (christoph.gross@fu-berlin.de)
Geologic mapping of Meridiani Planum with focus on aqueous deposits (sulfates)
Meridiani Planum hosts the largest water-bearing sulfate deposit known to date on Mars. The task is to create a geologic map of the region with focus on the sulfate deposits using remote sensing data and to attempt a quantification of the stored water in the mapped rock formations. GIS-skills are necessary and mandatory.
Contact: Dr. Christoph Gross (christoph.gross@fu-berlin.de)
Deconvolution of the MERTIS radiometer signal
The DLR Institute of Planetary Research is participating with the MERTIS instrument in the ESA mission BepiColombo, which will study the planet Mercury. MERTIS consists of a spectrometer and a radiometer. The radiometer's field of view will scan the surface and measure the infrared flux to derive the surface temperature. This work will investigate how to compensate the movement of the radiometer during the measurement as well as the sensitivity distribution within a pixel to best correlate the measurement with a location on the surface and improve the spatial resolution of the instrument. This work will be carried out at DLR Institute of Planetary Research (Berlin). For non-German nationals an export control procedure has to be passed before starting the project.
Contact: Dr. Max Hamm (maximilian.hamm@fu-berlin.de)
Thermal modelling of the near-Earth asteroid Apophis
The near-Earth asteroid (99942) Apophis will pass Earth in 2029 getting as close as geostationary satellites. It is currently under investigation of several space missions that will take advantage of this situation. Among the studied concepts is a CubeSat-sized lander that could carry a radiometer similar to DLR/CNES MASCOT lander that landed on asteroid Ryugu 2018. For mission and instrument concept planning as well as understanding of the thermal and mechanical properties, a thermal model of the asteroid during the Earth encounter needs to be developed. This Masters project will revise existing thermophysical models and adapt them to the close-encounter, including occultation by the Moon and Earth as well as thermal radiation to predict temperatures for a potential lander mission.
Contact: Dr. Max Hamm (maximilian.hamm@fu-berlin.de)
Investigating the Thermal Conductivity of the EnviHab Lunar Regolith Analogue
Analogue materials are used to prepare robotic and astronautic missions to the Moon. This analogue materials are usually prepared to mimic certain but not all properties of the regolith, e.g., mechanical strength, color, grain size. Here we will use the thermal conductivity measurement set-up at DLR to investigate the thermal conductivity of the Lunar regolith analogue used at the DLR EnviHab under construction at DLR Cologne. In particular, different realizations of compactions and their relations to thermal conduction in vacuum will be studied. This work will be carried out at DLR Institute of Planetary Research (Berlin). For non-German nationals an export control procedure has to be passed before starting the project.
Contact: Dr. Max Hamm (maximilian.hamm@fu-berlin.de)
Extraction and characterisation of kerogen from Hungarian alginite as an analogue of IDP IOM.
Type 1 kerogens are believed to be good analogues for the refractory carbonaceous material found in interplanetary dust. This project will involve the analysis and separation of kerogens (e.g. alginite) from hungarian oil shale, and the production and characterisation of kerogen-rich micron and sub-micron cosmic dust analogues, for use in hypervelocity impact experiments. The project will suit independent candidates with strong chemistry, laboratory and mineralogy expertise.
Contact: Dr. Jon Hillier (j.hillier@fu-berlin.de)
Optimisation of the metallation of silicates for producing accelerable cosmic dust analogues.
To simulate the impacts of cosmic dust in the laboratory, the analogue grains have to be accelerated to hypervelocities (>2-3 km/s). Typically this occurs in an electrostatic accelerator, using grains which are conductive. To produce conductive mineral grains, the grains are coated with a thin (10s of nm) metal layer. This project will investigate the optimal conditions for chemically metallating analogue mineral grains. The project will suit independent candidates with a strong background in chemistry, laboratory experimentation and microscopy/imaging.
Contact: Dr. Jon Hillier (j.hillier@fu-berlin.de)
Preparation of Hypervelocity Cosmic Dust Analogues
To simulate the impacts of cosmic dust in the laboratory, the analogue grains have to be accelerated to hypervelocities (>2-3 km/s). Typically this occurs in an electrostatic accelerator, using grains which are conductive. For some materials, metal coating is unsuitable, and conductive polymers, such as polypyrrole, are used to provide the required conductivity instead. This project will investigate techniques for polypyrrole coating of materials in a range of solvents, with an aim to produce accelerable salt grains. The project will suit independent candidates with a very strong background in organic chemistry.
Contact: Dr. Jon Hillier (j.hillier@fu-berlin.de)
Metal coating of bacteria for impact ionisation mass spectrometry
The ability of impact ionisation mass spectrometers to recognise bacteria biosignatures in grains encountered in space is currently an exciting research topic. To simulate such processes in the laboratory requires the ability to accelerate bacteria to hypervelocities in an electrostatic accelerator, which in turn requires metal coating the bacteria. The aim of this project is to produce silver coated bacteria for such experiments. The project will suit an independent candidate with laboratory experience.
Contact: Dr. Jon Hillier (j.hillier@fu-berlin.de)
The following Master Thesis Projects are partly carried out at the DLR Institute of Planetary Research in Berlin Adlershof
Jets in focus
Help us design a camera system for a mission to Enceladus.We aim to design a camera that can image active Enceladus jets in sufficient details to inform a new perspective on physics behind jet eruptions, Enceladus inner workings and its habitability. To be able to select optical design and sensor, we need a model of ~100 active jets that is realistic in material distribution and light scattering properties. You will develop and work with a computer model of jets to render different observational geometries that will be potentially imaged by the camera. Potential extensions: spectral imaging, filter selection, observational planning strategies.
Contact: Anya Portyankina (ganna.portyankina@dlr.de)
Polar climates on MarsFor many years Planet Four (P4) project investigates activity in the Martian polar regions with the help of citizen scientists. Citizen scientist are volunteers on https://www.zooniverse.org/projects/mschwamb/planet-four who help us mark seasonal fans and blotches in images taken by HiRISE camera over most recent 10 Martian years. We are looking for an enthusiastic student to analyze Planet Four data to estimate year-to-year changes in seasonal activity using P4 data. Potential extensions: HiRISE image co-registration, correlation to dust storms, atmospheric modeling.
Contact: Anya Portyankina (ganna.portyankina@dlr.de)
Are there visible changes on icy satellites?
Surfaces of icy satellites in Jupiter and Saturn systems are some of the youngest in the Solar System. For example, given the existence of active jets, hinting to active internal processes, it is realistic to expect recent surface changes on Enceladus. Cassini had imaged Enceladus multiple times between 2005 and 2017 and provides possible change detection opportunity. Even if no changes detected, this information serves as input to models estimating resurfacing rates from endogenic processes and global heat fluxes on Enceladus. Potential extensions: Machine learning, similar considerations can be applied to Europa, Ganymede, and – while not icy - Io.
Contact: Anya Portyankina (ganna.portyankina@dlr.de)
ML based Outlier Detection of Altimeter measurements
Implementation of algorithms for outlier detection in laser altimetry. These algorithms shall be based on ML techniques using MESSENGER MLA datasets. The projects supports the BELA data acquisition for the BepiColombo mission.
Contact: Hauke Hussmann (hauke.hussmann@dlr.de)
Mercury's Surface Roughness
Based on data-sets from the MESSENGER mission, the surface roughness of Mercury on various spatial scales shall be determined and correlated with geophysical and surface processes. Both laser altimetry and DTM data shall be used for the analysis. The projects supports the preparation of the BELA experiment on BepiColombo.
Contact: Hauke Hussmann (hauke.hussmann@dlr.de)
Tidal deformation of Mercury
Based on simulations the tidal deformation of Mercury's surface shall be investigated. Prospects for the detection with BELA using altimetry crossovers in simulated mission scenarios of BepiColombo shall be evaluated.
Contact: Hauke Hussmann (hauke.hussmann@dlr.de)
Mercury's Albedo
The albedo of Mercury in the near infrared shall be analysed based on MESSENGER data. Correlations with geological features and/or topography shall be searched for. The projects supports the preparation of the BELA experiment on BepiColombo.
Contact: Hauke Hussmann (hauke.hussmann@dlr.de)
Stereo-imaging on Enceladus
For a future mission to Saturn's moon Enceladus, the prospects for stereo-derived topography shall be evaluated. Based on the planned trajectory, stereo conditions and opportunities shall be investigated and optimzed for DTM generation. Prospects for determining the libration of Enceladus shall be assessed.
Contact: Hauke Hussmann (hauke.hussmann@dlr.de)
Enceladus Orbits
Generally, orbits around Saturn's moon Enceladus are unstable due to Saturn's strong gravitational perturbations. Specific orbits remain stable at least on the order of days to weeks. Mission scenarios for future Enceladus missions shall be optimized with respect to trajectory stability and usage of additional propellant (delta-v).
Contact: Hauke Hussmann (hauke.hussmann@dlr.de)
Europa's Tidal Distortion
Tidal deformation and tidal dissipation for Jupiter's moon Europa shall be calculated. Computational tools are available and shall be applied to different interior structure models. The tidal distortion shall be calculated for different excitation frequencies.
Contact: Hauke Hussmann (hauke.hussmann@dlr.de)
