Geology (from Ancient Greek (geo) 'earth', and (-logía) 'study of, discourse') is a branch of natural science concerned with Earth and other astronomical objects, the features or rocks of which it is composed, and the processes by which they change over time.
In the aerospace context, geology refers to the study of the Earth's surface and its physical features, including rocks, minerals, and soils. It also includes the study of the processes that shape the Earth's surface, such as erosion, tectonics, and volcanic activity.
Geology is important in the aerospace context because it helps to understand the conditions on other planets and moons, and to plan and execute successful landing and exploration missions. For example, geology plays a critical role in the selection of landing sites for spacecraft, as geologists study the geologic history, surface features, and hazards of a potential landing site to ensure that the spacecraft will be able to land safely and carry out its mission objectives.
Examples of geology in aerospace context are:
- The study of the geology of Mars to select landing sites for the rovers and landers.
- The study of the geology of the Moon to select landing sites for the Artemis program.
- The study of the geology of asteroids and comets, to understand the origins and evolution of the Solar System.
- The study of the geology of icy moons like Europa and Enceladus, to plan and execute missions to explore their subsurface oceans.
Geology is a key multidisciplinary field, that plays an important role in the aerospace context, and helps to answer some of the most fundamental questions about the planets, moons, asteroids and comets of the Solar System.