New Visions on Classic Challenges in Solar System Exploration
A Special Issue of Geosciences (ISSN 2076-3263) belonging to the section "Planetary Science and Astrobiology".
Deadline for manuscript submissions: 31 May 2027 | Viewed by 2
Editor
2. Department of Astronomy, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, USA
Interests: Mars evolution; Mars robotic exploration; hydrogeology; geochemistry; mineralogy; astrobiology
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Special Issue Information
Dear Colleagues,
Many fundamental questions have driven the exploration of the Solar System for decades. Recent advances in instrumentation, spacecraft missions, laboratory techniques, numerical modelling, and data analysis are opening new perspectives on longstanding scientific problems. Observations once considered inconclusive can now be revisited using higher resolution datasets, improved analytical methods, and interdisciplinary approaches. At the same time, established questions concerning planetary formation, surface evolution, planetary atmospheres, habitability and biosignature preservation, continue to acquire new relevance in the context of current and future exploration efforts. This Special Issue aims to bring together innovative contributions that reassess traditional problems in planetary science and astrobiology from new perspectives. We welcome studies that introduce new observations, reinterpret existing datasets, propose novel theoretical or experimental approaches, or connect apparently distinct research areas to address enduring challenges in the exploration of the Solar System.
Contributions may focus on, but are not limited:
- Planetary formation, differentiation and long term geological evolution.
- Geological and geochemical evolution of the terrestrial planets.
- Comparative planetology of terrestrial planets.
- Geological and geochemical evolution of icy satellites.
- Origin, evolution and distribution of water and other volatiles.
- Surface-atmosphere interactions and planetary atmospheres.
- Small bodies, impact processes and the delivery of prebiotic materials.
- Planetary habitability and the environmental limits of life.
- Biosignatures, their preservation, detection and interpretation.
- Planetary protection and contamination assessment.
- Advances in remote sensing, in situ analysis, sample return.
- New approaches to mission planning, data analysis, modelling and exploration strategies.
We particularly encourage multi- and inter-disciplinary studies that combine planetary geology, geochemistry, atmospheric science, astrobiology, physics, engineering, and terrestrial analogue research. Both mission-driven investigations and broader conceptual contributions are welcome, provided that they offer a clear and original perspective on a significant challenge in Solar System exploration. We welcome a diverse range of manuscript types, including Original Research Articles, Reviews, Communications, Perspective and Viewpoint.
Prof. Dr. Alberto G. Fairén
Guest Editor
Manuscript Submission Information
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Keywords
- geological and geochemical evolution of the terrestrial planets
- comparative planetology of terrestrial planets
- geological and geochemical evolution of icy satellites
- origin, evolution and distribution of water and other volatiles
- surface-atmosphere interactions and planetary atmospheres
- small bodies, impact processes and the delivery of prebiotic materials
- planetary habitability and the environmental limits of life
- biosignatures, their preservation, detection and interpretation
- planetary protection and contamination assessment
- advances in remote sensing, in situ analysis, sample return
- new approaches to mission planning, data analysis, modelling and exploration strategies
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