Course Contents For planetary science the research question has a profound impact on the measurement strategy and instrument to be used.
Studying planetary objects and materials in the Solar System thus hinges on observing and obtaining measurements from either
nearby (in contact) and from afar (remote sensing). In this course you will follow lectures, learn more about planetary analogues
and gain hands-on experience as you explore different measurement techniques in the lab. By applying measurement techniques
to a specific rocky or ice planetary analogue material you will try to find out how the data products and the scale at which it is
applied, influences the research questions that a science mission can address.
Study Goals After completion of the course, the student will have obtained practical experience and gained a deeper understanding of how
measurement techniques contribute to characterizing a physical-chemical property of a planetary object.
After this course the student will be able to:
LO1: Explain key scientific questions that space exploration seeks to answer for rocky (Mars) and icy (icy moons) planetary
bodies.
LO2: Understand the underlying physical principles of a measurement technique.
LO3: Demonstrate to have working knowledge of measurement techniques by participating in a structured laboratory exercise.
LO4: Evaluate how measurement techniques result in an improved understanding of materials and processes in planetary
sciences
