Analog Studies
	(i.e. Research supported by SSERVI’s FINESSE project, Jen Heldmann, PI)
In order to better understand processes that occur on other planetary bodies in the solar system, it is sometimes helpful to study analogous processes on Earth. At the same time these studies, which always involve field work, can be used to learn methods to optimize the process of scientific exploration. The mission of the SSERV Institute is to integrate science and exploration of near-Earth asteroids, the Moon and the moons of Mars and one of the nodes of the institute is FINESSE which uses the Craters of the Moon National Monument and Preserve as an analog site for planetary processes. This site of volcanism in the east Snake River Plain in central Utah has often been considered an analog site for planetary volcanism and was used by NASA as a location to train the astronauts who explored the Moon. The FINESSE team works closely with another analog project, namely BASALT, which uses the big island of Hawaii as an analog site for NASA’s planetary science and exploration program.
	I work with the FINESSE and BASALT teams in two respects:
	To use what is learned about these analog sites to better understand the nature of the surface of near-Earth asteroids (Click here for publications on this topic)
	To follow-up on suggestions made in the early 1970s that the induced thermoluminescence signal of basalts can be used to estimate their age (Click here for publications on this topic)
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