Stony Brook Researcher Granted Access to Rare Lunar Samples

Timothy Glotch, a planetary scientist at Stony Brook University, leads one of only two United States research teams granted access to rare lunar materials collected by China's Chang'e-5 mission, marking a significant moment of international scientific collaboration in space exploration.

The Chang'e-5 mission marks the first return of lunar samples to Earth in decades, and Glotch's selection underscores his leading role in the field of planetary science. His team's access to these unique materials, originating from a geologically younger and previously unsampled region of the Moon, presents an invaluable opportunity to advance our understanding of lunar history and evolution.

Stony Brook University officials have celebrated Glotch's selection, highlighting it as a testament to the institution's strength in geosciences and its continued contributions to space exploration research. This accomplishment reflects Stony Brook's dedication to cultivating a vibrant research environment where, as Vice President for Research and Innovation Kevin Gardner affirms, "Professor Glotch's expertise and groundbreaking access to these materials are powerful testaments to his work and the strength of Stony Brook's research enterprise. The supportive framework we have cultivated is designed to empower our talented researchers to reach the highest levels of success, make meaningful contributions to global scientific understanding, and drive innovation in fields like remote sensing and materials science."

Contributions to Planetary Science

Beyond his groundbreaking access to the Chang'e-5 lunar samples, Glotch has established himself as a prominent figure in planetary science through his extensive research and involvement in numerous NASA missions. His primary research interest lies in understanding the mineralogy and composition of the surfaces of the Moon, Mars, and asteroids.

As Glotch explained, "I'm really interested in their surfaces, and what the mineralogy and composition of the surfaces of those planets are, or planetary bodies are primarily as a tool to understand how they formed and evolved over time." Unraveling the surface composition of planets and other space objects is crucial for understanding Earth's own formation and evolution, potentially identifying valuable resources for future space endeavors, and inspiring the next generation of scientists and engineers.

His approach involves a dual strategy, utilizing both remote sensing data collected by satellites orbiting these celestial bodies and conducting laboratory analyses of returned samples, including lunar and asteroid samples, as well as meteorites. A cornerstone of his analytical work, both in remote sensing and laboratory settings, is infrared spectroscopy. This technique allows him to identify the unique "infrared fingerprints" of different rocks, minerals, and even organic molecules, providing crucial insights into their composition.

"You can think of every rock, every mineral, every organic molecule having essentially an infrared fingerprint that we can use to identify what we see on the surface," Glotch noted. His lab at Stony Brook is equipped to analyze samples at scales ranging from millimeters down to tens of nanometers, allowing for both bulk and detailed investigations.

Glotch is also deeply engaged with NASA's space exploration endeavors. He serves as a co-investigator on the Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter (LRO) mission, contributing to our understanding of the Moon's surface. Furthermore, he and his colleague Deanne Rogers were previously participating scientists on the OSIRIS-REx mission, which successfully returned a sample from the asteroid Bennu.

Reflecting on this mission involvement, Glotch stated, "We have tons of mission work which is really exciting, because we get to look at some of that data before anybody else does. And we get to make exciting discoveries and be part of those science teams."

In addition to his mission work, Glotch leads the RISE2 node of NASA's Solar System Exploration Research Virtual Institute (SSERVI). This significant role involves fostering collaboration among scientists at Stony Brook, NASA, and other institutions to advance research critical for upcoming human lunar exploration. The work within the RISE2 node encompasses a wide range of studies, including fieldwork, laboratory analysis of lunar samples, and the interpretation of remote sensing data.

The planetary science group at Stony Brook, which includes Glotch, is a highly collaborative and intellectually vibrant environment. Several colleagues have also made significant contributions to Mars exploration, with involvement in the Mars rovers Curiosity and Perseverance, as well as the Mars Odyssey orbiter. This collective expertise and shared resources create a rich setting for cutting-edge research in the field.

Through his diverse research portfolio, mission involvement, and leadership roles, Glotch's work extends far beyond the current study of the Chang'e-5 samples, solidifying his impact on our understanding of the solar system.

Chang'e-5 Sample Selection

In 2023, the China National Space Administration (CNSA) initiated a highly competitive global call for research proposals to study the Chang'e-5 lunar samples, the first returned to Earth since the Apollo missions decades ago. This announcement sparked significant interest within the international scientific community, as these samples originate from a geologically younger and previously unexamined region of the Moon.

Glotch, recognizing the immense scientific value of this opportunity, collaborated with colleagues from the University of Hong Kong and San Francisco State University to submit a detailed proposal. The selection process was rigorous, with numerous applicants submitting proposals to investigate the rare lunar material. Ultimately, only a select few international teams, including Glotch's, were chosen, highlighting the strong merit and potential of their proposed research to contribute meaningfully to our understanding of the Moon.

Their proposal specifically requested both a soil sample and a thin section of rock, enabling a comprehensive analysis from a macroscopic to a microscopic level. The granting of access to these unique samples underscores the international recognition of Glotch's expertise in planetary surface analysis and the potential for groundbreaking discoveries to emerge from his team's investigation.

Funding and Collaboration Challenges

Initially, NASA was involved in negotiating a loan agreement with the CNSA to facilitate the transfer of the samples to U.S. researchers. Despite securing a Congressional exemption to the Wolf Amendment for U.S. investigators to study the lunar samples, negotiations for a loan agreement with the CNSA ultimately failed due to unresolved issues, leading to the reinstatement of the NASA funding restrictions for this collaboration. Glotch and his team were granted permission to proceed with the research using non-NASA funding. Stony Brook University has stepped in to provide the necessary financial support.

"I really appreciate the support of the Vice President for Research and Innovation, the Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences, and my department chair. The departments have come up with internal funds for me to be able to travel to China, travel to the other institutions with the samples, do the work, and ultimately bring the samples back to Stony Brook," Glotch explained.

The analysis of the Chang'e-5 samples by Glotch's team promises to be a significant contribution to lunar science, further solidifying Stony Brook's position as a leading research university in the planetary sciences. The timeline for the sample transfer and the commencement of research is expected to be announced by CNSA in the near future.

Research Focus and Significance

Glotch's research will focus on collecting infrared spectra of the Chang'e-5 soil samples under simulated lunar conditions to enable a more quantitative interpretation of lunar remote sensing data and collaborating with colleagues to make magnetic measurements of the samples to study space weathering. This research will also provide the CNSA with an absolute calibration of soil maturity measurements, enhancing the value of their sample analyses.

Glotch emphasizes that planetary science research contributes to our understanding of Earth and inspires the next generation of planetary scientists. "The more we learn about other planets and how they form and how they evolve, the more we learn about the Earth," Glotch stated. "Beyond expanding our understanding of space, planetary science inspires and trains the next generation of scientists and engineers. At Stony Brook, this is a key part of our research enterprise, providing valuable lab experience to students at all levels and cultivating future science leaders."

The Chang'e-5 mission, which landed on the Moon in late 2020, brought back approximately 1,731 grams (around 3.8 pounds) of lunar regolith from a previously unsampled region of the Moon, a younger volcanic area known as Oceanus Procellarum. These samples are significant for planetary scientists, offering a new perspective on lunar history and evolution compared to the older samples collected by the Apollo missions. Glotch's work underscores Stony Brook University's vital role in driving cutting-edge research in the planetary sciences and our understanding of where we came from.