Mission Goals and Objectives Report
26/02/2013
Melissa Battler
Crew 125 is the second of two 2013 EuroMoonMars missions. The EuroMoonMars campaign is directed by Bernard Foing of the International Lunar Exploration Working Group (ILEWG), with the support of Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, NASA Ames, George Washington University, NASA Astrobiology Program, ESTEC SBIC, Norsk Romsenter, German Aerospace Center (DLR), BlackShore, CPSX and the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering at Western University of Canada, Canadian Lunar Research Network (CLRN), ESRI Hungary Kft., Eotvos Lorand University, Urvilag, and other research partners. MDRS Crew 125 is also known as EuroMoonMars-B. Crew 125 is an international crew, with crew members from Canada, Germany, the Netherlands, Hungary, and Japan. We have many science goals led both by remote investigators around the world, and Crew 125 researchers. A brief summary of each study will be given here.
Geology:
1. GAL: MDRS analogues of MSL Gale crater site. Based on remote sensing data (Google Earth or other satellite data), the crew will select specific areas which look similar to Gale crater. The crew will visit those areas and take pancam, context and closer view images. (Crew: Melissa, Csilla, Hans; Remote: Carol Stoker, Bernard Foing, Jon Clarke, ÅseSvendsen)
2. GSE: Gale Crater Curiosity data comparison to MDRS. Using ground data from Curiosity and images from GAL experiment, the crew will plan traverses and collect data for the projects listed below, along this pathway. (Crew: Melissa, Csilla, Hans; Remote: Carol Stoker, Jon Clarke, Bernard Foing)
3. SOS: Sulfates from Orbit/Surface. Sulfate-bearing mineral samples will be collected from the Summerville formation and Coal Mine Wash, plus two other sites which will be selected from orbital data. Mineralogy data collected via XRD will be compared to simulated orbital data (Vis-Nir spectra) of sulfate-rich targets, to direct the selection of sites of interest at Gale Crater. Gypsum samples may also be analyzed for fluid inclusions, and also for organic content by other collaborators. (Crew: Melissa, Csilla; Remote: Jon Clarke, Livio Tornabene, Gordon Osinski, Michael Craig, Cassandra Marion)
4. SCE: SediChem Experiment. The aim of the investigation is to study the Morrison Fm Brushy Basin Member’s concretions. Comparison those results with the Moroccan concretions collected during the Field Reconnaissance Expedition of MARS2013 by the Austrian Space Forum. Find a good terrestrial analog for the Yellowknife concretions in Gale-crater. (Crew: Csilla, Melissa)
5. CCE: Cryptobiotic Crust Experiment, endoliths. The basic questions are the following: 1. What is the typical sedimentological setting of the cryptobiotic crust contained rocks? 2. What is the visual difference between the cryptobiotic crust contained rock and without the cryptoendolithic communities from further distance to closer view? 3. What is the typical exposure direction? 4. What is the typical composition of the host rock and the cryptobiotic crust? (Crew: Csilla; Remote: Luisa R, Esther V, Bernard Foing)
6. VS: Vertical survey of hills/mesas. Survey small (10-40 m high) hills in close proximity to MDRS region, focusing on the observable differences on the surface with imaging with resolution of 1-5 mm. The survey will produce series of images from the bottom of the hill toward its top, with context and high resolution nearby images. On the images the aim is to analyze what type of differences can be observed at this resolution scale regarding the accumulation and erosional processes, dust coverage, differences in characteristic particle size and shape, signature of cementing, wind or fluvial runoff and mass wasting erosional style etc. (Crew: Csilla)
Human Factors:
1. MMH: Habitability/Sound. The goal of this experiment is to gather psychophysiological data to evaluate the effects of Nature Sound in a stressful confined environment. Previous Crew 100A and 100B performed the same experiment, but 100B failed to gather enough proper data for its data analysis. Therefore, this time is to add numbers of the sufficient data for scientific analysis. (Crew: Ayako; Remote: Irene Schlacht & Jeffrey)
2. HUM: Human factors/ergonomy debriefing. The goal of this debriefing is to collect the experiences of crew members during their stay at MDRS. Participants will share problems and possible solutions that they found. The results will be compared with previous research, and will be presented at the 44th LPSC. (Crew: Ayako; Remote: Irene Schlacht)
Technology testing:
1. MCE: The Mars Crowdsourcing Experiment to the Next Level. Approximately 1000 people will be helping us, the astronauts, with mapping features like inverted rivers etc., in our serious Facebook game Cerberus. We will record the to-be-visited locations with photographs and if possible communicate back to the crowd (science communication). 1 EVA planned by Melissa, Csilla and Hans just using the ultra high res remote sensing data (50 cm res) to verify a geological feature. 1 EVA planned by Melissa, Csilla, and Hans using the ultra high res remote sensing data (50cm res) and a downloaded GIS map overlay generated by crowdsourcing to verify a geological feature found by the public. (Crew: Hans, Melissa, Csilla; Remote: Ramy Wassef)
2. ARI: Interactions Astronaut Explorers & Mobile Robotic Assistants. The first test will use visual cues to direct the astronaut to follow the rover using two Android OS tablets. The second test would be to passively video record 1 or 2 geologists on EVA for post-mission motion analysis to determine the range of motion / resolution of motion that could be identified using computer vision analysis. A further extension of this test would be to video record a set range of motion with a crew member in EVA suit and out of EVA suit. This would again be post-processed after MDRS. (Crew: Matt; Remote: Ken McIsaac)
3. LUN: Lunar Simcomm. Testing low bandwidth communication technology, ranging from text to audio to video, near real time to Earth. (Crew: Hans; Remote: John F. Kroon, Bernard Foing)
Astrobiology:
1. SAM: Sample analysis for astrobiology (post-MDRS). The goal of the experiment is to collect astrobiologically useful samples (sterile samples) for further analysis at the University of Leiden. No lab measurements at MDRS are necessary. Samples from ash-bearing layers in Factory Butte will be analysed for organic content, following the same procedures used during past EuroMoonMars campaigns, to test an instrument which will fly on ExoMars. (Crew: Csilla, Melissa; Remote & lab analysis: P. Ehrenfreund, A. Elsaesser, Luisa R, Ester V).
Other:
1. OBS: Astronomical observations at the Musk Observatory. Only observation; no data collection.
2. OUT: Outreach Crew activities with National PR, VU Amsterdam, SBIC, Delft, CPSX, etc. Writing articles, taking pictures, sending up to 1 picture per day for outreach activities (blog, FB, twitter).