ANGSA. A New Mission to the Taurus Littrow Valley.
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| Title: | ANGSA. A New Mission to the Taurus Littrow Valley. |
|---|---|
| Authors: | Shearer, Charles K.1,2 (AUTHOR) cshearer@unm.edu, McCubbin, Francis M.3 (AUTHOR), Hendrix, Amanda4 (AUTHOR) |
| Source: | Journal of Geophysical Research. Planets. Mar2026, Vol. 131 Issue 3, p1-7. 7p. |
| Subject Terms: | Drill core analysis, Cold storage, Moon, Space flight to the moon, Lunar exploration, Observations of the Moon, Analytical geochemistry |
| Company/Entity: | United States. National Aeronautics & Space Administration , Apollo program (U.S.) |
| Abstract: | The Artemis Program will return a variety of lunar samples from regions of the Moon that are thus far unexplored by human surface activities. Are we ready? As a first step in preparing for Artemis, NASA initiated the Apollo Next Generation Sample Analysis (ANGSA) program that involved the study of a unique suite of samples returned by the Apollo 17 mission to the Taurus Littrow Valley but never opened. These samples included a core sample sealed on the surface of the Moon and samples stored, curated, and studied under cold conditions. Analyses of these samples were conducted by an international team of scientists and engineers within the framework of a new human sample return mission to the TLV. This mission integrated boots‐on‐the‐ground observations by Apollo 17 astronaut Harrison Schmitt, orbital data from recent missions, preliminary examination utilizing both established and innovative approaches, and sample analyses using a variety of proven and advanced technologies. ANGSA accomplished many firsts in lunar exploration, science, and curation. For example, the ANGSA initiative opened the first sealed Core Sample Vacuum Container; conducted the first examination of a core penetrating a landslide deposit; completed the first experiment to sample endogenous gases released from the Moon's interior (via the Lee‐Lincoln scarp); examined the water content of terrestrial uncontaminated lunar regolith; and cold‐curated and cold‐processed Apollo samples for almost 50 years. The manuscripts in this special issue highlight these and other observations and resulting discoveries. Plain Language Summary: As a first step in preparing for the Artemis Program to return humans to the Moon, NASA initiated the Apollo Next Generation Sample Analysis (ANGSA) program that involved the study of a unique suite of samples returned by the Apollo 17 mission to the Taurus Littrow Valley (TLV). These samples were never opened and included a core sample sealed on the surface of the Moon by Apollo 17 astronauts and samples stored, curated, and studied under cold conditions. Analyses of these samples were conducted by an international team of scientists and engineers within the framework of a new human sample return mission to the TLV. These samples exhibited low degrees of terrestrial contamination and therefore provided a new perspective on the Moon. Further, this initiative prepared the international community for the return of samples from unexplored regions of the Moon by Artemis astronauts. Key Points: The first core sample through a lunar landslide deposit illustrates the stratigraphy, timing, triggers, and dynamics of these depositsThe core sample that was sealed on the lunar surface retained some of its lunar gas component 50 years after it was collectedThe sealed and cold samples preserved the pristine lunar volatile and organic components. New crustal lithologies were discovered in the core [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] |
| Copyright of Journal of Geophysical Research. Planets is the property of Wiley-Blackwell and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites without the copyright holder's express written permission. Additionally, content may not be used with any artificial intelligence tools or machine learning technologies. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.) | |
| Database: | GreenFILE |
| FullText | Text: Availability: 0 |
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| Header | DbId: 8gh DbLabel: GreenFILE An: 192597145 AccessLevel: 6 PubType: Academic Journal PubTypeId: academicJournal PreciseRelevancyScore: 0 |
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| Items | – Name: Title Label: Title Group: Ti Data: ANGSA. A New Mission to the Taurus Littrow Valley. – Name: Author Label: Authors Group: Au Data: <searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Shearer%2C+Charles+K%2E%22">Shearer, Charles K.</searchLink><relatesTo>1,2</relatesTo> (AUTHOR)<i> cshearer@unm.edu</i><br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22McCubbin%2C+Francis+M%2E%22">McCubbin, Francis M.</searchLink><relatesTo>3</relatesTo> (AUTHOR)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Hendrix%2C+Amanda%22">Hendrix, Amanda</searchLink><relatesTo>4</relatesTo> (AUTHOR) – Name: TitleSource Label: Source Group: Src Data: <searchLink fieldCode="JN" term="%22Journal+of+Geophysical+Research%2E+Planets%22">Journal of Geophysical Research. Planets</searchLink>. Mar2026, Vol. 131 Issue 3, p1-7. 7p. – Name: Subject Label: Subject Terms Group: Su Data: <searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Drill+core+analysis%22">Drill core analysis</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Cold+storage%22">Cold storage</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Moon%22">Moon</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Space+flight+to+the+moon%22">Space flight to the moon</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Lunar+exploration%22">Lunar exploration</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Observations+of+the+Moon%22">Observations of the Moon</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Analytical+geochemistry%22">Analytical geochemistry</searchLink> – Name: SubjectCompany Label: Company/Entity Group: Su Data: <searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22United+States%2E+National+Aeronautics+%26+Space+Administration%22">United States. National Aeronautics & Space Administration</searchLink> <br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Apollo+program+%28U%2ES%2E%29%22">Apollo program (U.S.)</searchLink> – Name: Abstract Label: Abstract Group: Ab Data: The Artemis Program will return a variety of lunar samples from regions of the Moon that are thus far unexplored by human surface activities. Are we ready? As a first step in preparing for Artemis, NASA initiated the Apollo Next Generation Sample Analysis (ANGSA) program that involved the study of a unique suite of samples returned by the Apollo 17 mission to the Taurus Littrow Valley but never opened. These samples included a core sample sealed on the surface of the Moon and samples stored, curated, and studied under cold conditions. Analyses of these samples were conducted by an international team of scientists and engineers within the framework of a new human sample return mission to the TLV. This mission integrated boots‐on‐the‐ground observations by Apollo 17 astronaut Harrison Schmitt, orbital data from recent missions, preliminary examination utilizing both established and innovative approaches, and sample analyses using a variety of proven and advanced technologies. ANGSA accomplished many firsts in lunar exploration, science, and curation. For example, the ANGSA initiative opened the first sealed Core Sample Vacuum Container; conducted the first examination of a core penetrating a landslide deposit; completed the first experiment to sample endogenous gases released from the Moon's interior (via the Lee‐Lincoln scarp); examined the water content of terrestrial uncontaminated lunar regolith; and cold‐curated and cold‐processed Apollo samples for almost 50 years. The manuscripts in this special issue highlight these and other observations and resulting discoveries. Plain Language Summary: As a first step in preparing for the Artemis Program to return humans to the Moon, NASA initiated the Apollo Next Generation Sample Analysis (ANGSA) program that involved the study of a unique suite of samples returned by the Apollo 17 mission to the Taurus Littrow Valley (TLV). These samples were never opened and included a core sample sealed on the surface of the Moon by Apollo 17 astronauts and samples stored, curated, and studied under cold conditions. Analyses of these samples were conducted by an international team of scientists and engineers within the framework of a new human sample return mission to the TLV. These samples exhibited low degrees of terrestrial contamination and therefore provided a new perspective on the Moon. Further, this initiative prepared the international community for the return of samples from unexplored regions of the Moon by Artemis astronauts. Key Points: The first core sample through a lunar landslide deposit illustrates the stratigraphy, timing, triggers, and dynamics of these depositsThe core sample that was sealed on the lunar surface retained some of its lunar gas component 50 years after it was collectedThe sealed and cold samples preserved the pristine lunar volatile and organic components. New crustal lithologies were discovered in the core [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] – Name: AbstractSuppliedCopyright Label: Group: Ab Data: <i>Copyright of Journal of Geophysical Research. Planets is the property of Wiley-Blackwell and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites without the copyright holder's express written permission. Additionally, content may not be used with any artificial intelligence tools or machine learning technologies. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract.</i> (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.) |
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| RecordInfo | BibRecord: BibEntity: Identifiers: – Type: doi Value: 10.1029/2025JE008958 Languages: – Code: eng Text: English PhysicalDescription: Pagination: PageCount: 7 StartPage: 1 Subjects: – SubjectFull: Drill core analysis Type: general – SubjectFull: Cold storage Type: general – SubjectFull: Moon Type: general – SubjectFull: Space flight to the moon Type: general – SubjectFull: Lunar exploration Type: general – SubjectFull: Observations of the Moon Type: general – SubjectFull: Analytical geochemistry Type: general – SubjectFull: United States. National Aeronautics & Space Administration Type: general – SubjectFull: Apollo program (U.S.) Type: general Titles: – TitleFull: ANGSA. A New Mission to the Taurus Littrow Valley. Type: main BibRelationships: HasContributorRelationships: – PersonEntity: Name: NameFull: Shearer, Charles K. – PersonEntity: Name: NameFull: McCubbin, Francis M. – PersonEntity: Name: NameFull: Hendrix, Amanda IsPartOfRelationships: – BibEntity: Dates: – D: 01 M: 03 Text: Mar2026 Type: published Y: 2026 Identifiers: – Type: issn-print Value: 21699097 Numbering: – Type: volume Value: 131 – Type: issue Value: 3 Titles: – TitleFull: Journal of Geophysical Research. Planets Type: main |
| ResultId | 1 |
