Earth-based Venus Analogue: NASA’s VERITAS Research Team Investigates Iceland’s Volcanic Topography

Earth-based Venus Analogue: NASA’s VERITAS Research Team Investigates Iceland’s Volcanic Topography

In early August, the VERITAS research group explored freshly formed rock resulting from a recent lava outpouring as part of their Icelandic expedition. The scientists utilized Iceland’s volcanic geography as a terrestrial analogue for Venus to evaluate radar systems and methods. Image Courtesy: NASA/JPL-Caltech

The international team, led by JPL, utilized Iceland to simulate Venusian conditions, aiming to validate radar technologies that will reveal the underlying physical features of Venus.

Venus presents a hostile environment, characterized by extreme atmospheric pressure, corrosive clouds of sulfuric acid, and extremely high surface temperatures. Nonetheless, scrutinizing its surface may offer valuable data concerning the habitability and evolutionary path of terrestrial planets like Earth. To this end, NASA’s VERITAS (Venus Emissivity, Radio science, InSAR, Topography, And Spectroscopy) mission is slated to be launched within the next ten years to orbitally map the Venusian surface and unearth information about its internal composition.

To set the stage for this mission, the international VERITAS research team embarked on a fortnight-long expedition in Iceland in August. Earthly locations often serve as analogues for extraterrestrial environments to trial forthcoming technologies and methodologies.

The research group conducted lidar (Light Detection and Ranging) scans on Icelandic rocks to gather surface information. This data would be subsequently juxtaposed with radar imagery from similar geographical locations. Image Courtesy: NASA/JPL-Caltech

“Iceland, with its geothermal features, is akin to Venus, which has a volcanic nature with abundant signs of geothermal activity,” said Suzanne Smrekar, the chief researcher at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory and the main investigator for VERITAS. “The geological resemblances make Iceland an optimal terrestrial venue for Venusian studies, thereby aiding our preparatory work for the VERITAS mission.”

Technological Capabilities of VERITAS

The mission will employ advanced synthetic aperture radar to construct three-dimensional global maps and a near-infrared spectrometer to differentiate the principal rock formations on Venus’ crust. However, ground-based observations from Iceland are needed to better comprehend what the orbital radar will capture on Venus.

Ground and Aerial Survey in Iceland

The first segment of the expedition focused on investigating the Askja volcanic sediment deposits and the Holuhraun lava fields in the Icelandic Highlands. The latter half involved surveying the geologically active Fagradalsfjall area in southwest Iceland. These barren, rocky landscapes mirror Venus’ terrain, which is believed to be revitalized by ongoing volcanic activities.

A team comprising scientists from the United States, Germany, Italy, and Iceland conducted exhaustive fieldwork to scrutinize the surface characteristics of these regions and took laboratory samples. Concurrently, aerial radar data was collected by the German Aerospace Center (DLR).

Triangulated lidar scans highlighted the complex textures of recently formed rock due to a lava outpouring near Iceland’s Litli-Hrútur volcano. These will be compared with aerial radar images acquired during the expedition. Image Courtesy: NASA/JPL-Caltech

Daniel Nunes, VERITAS deputy project scientist at JPL, stated, “While our team worked on the ground, DLR conducted aerial radar scans, collecting data that will allow us to correlate the radar brightness with attributes like texture, roughness, and moisture content, thereby validating our radar observations for Venusian research.”

Technological Insights

Flying at an altitude of approximately 20,000 feet, DLR’s aircraft used synthetic aperture radar to gather S-band and X-band data. The X-band frequency, which VERITAS will utilize, enables the use of a more compact antenna compared to the S-band used in NASA’s earlier Magellan mission to Venus.

By studying both bands in Iceland, the team aims to refine algorithms that will assist VERITAS in identifying any geologic changes on Venus since the Magellan mission. This will help pinpoint key areas of geologic activities, such as live volcanoes, on Venus.

The expedition served multiple purposes. It not only yielded crucial scientific data but also fostered team cohesion, said Nunes. “The team dynamics were outstanding. Everyone collaborated extensively, from sharing equipment to logistical coordination, to ensure the mission’s success.”

Additional Mission Information

Chosen in 2021 under NASA’s Discovery Program, VERITAS and NASA’s DAVINCI mission are the forthcoming ventures aimed at Venusian exploration. Partners in VERITAS include Lockheed Martin Space, the Italian Space Agency, DLR, and France’s Centre National d’Études Spatiales. The Discovery Program is administered by NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, Alabama, on behalf of NASA’s Science Mission Directorate in Washington.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about NASA’s VERITAS Mission in Iceland

More about NASA’s VERITAS Mission in Iceland

• NASA’s VERITAS Mission Overview
• Iceland’s Geological Features
• Venus Exploration
• German Aerospace Center (DLR)
• NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory
• Planetary Spectroscopy Laboratory in Berlin
• NASA’s Discovery Program
• Synthetic Aperture Radar Explained
• Lidar Technology
• The Planetary Science Division of NASA’s Science Mission Directorate