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| Titel |
The Role of the Photogeologic Mapping in the Morocco 2013 Mars Analog Field Simulation (Austrian Space Forum) |
| VerfasserIn |
Anna Losiak, Csilla Orgel, Linda Moser, Jane MacArthur, Izabela Gołębiowska, Steffen Wittek, Andrea Boyd, Isabella Achorner, Mike Rampey, Thomas Bartenstein, Natalie Jones, Ulrich Luger, Alejandra Sans, Sebastian Hettrich |
| Konferenz |
EGU General Assembly 2013
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| Medientyp |
Artikel
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| Sprache |
Englisch
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| Digitales Dokument |
PDF |
| Erschienen |
In: GRA - Volume 15 (2013) |
| Datensatznummer |
250082535
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| Zusammenfassung |
| The MARS2013 mission: The Austrian Space Forum together with multiple scientific
partners will conduct a Mars analog field simulation. The project takes place between 1st and
28th of February 2013 in the northern Sahara near Erfoud. During the simulation a field crew
(consisting of suited analog astronauts and a support team) will conduct several
experiments while being managed by the Mission Support Center (MSC) located in
Innsbruck, Austria. The aim of the project is to advance preparation of the future human
Mars missions by testing: 1) the mission design with regard to operational and
engineering challenges (e.g., how to work efficiently with introduced time delay in
communication between field team and MSC), 2) scientific instruments (e.g., rovers) and 3)
human performance in conditions analogous to those that will be encountered on
Mars.
The Role of Geological Mapping: Remote Science Support team (RSS) is responsible
for processing science data obtained in the field. The RSS is also in charge of preparing a set
of maps to enable planning activities of the mission (including the development of traverses)
[1, 2]. The usage of those maps will increase the time-cost efficiency of the entire
mission.
The RSS team members do not have any prior knowledge about the area where the
simulation is taking place and the analysis is fully based on remote sensing satellite data
(Landsat, GoogleEarth) and a digital elevation model (ASTER GDEM)from the orbital
data.
The maps design: The set of maps (covering area 5 km X 5 km centered on the Mission
Base Camp) was designed to simplify the process of site selection for the daily traverse
planning. Additionally, the maps will help to accommodate the need of the field crew for the
increased autonomy in the decision making process, forced by the induced time delay
between MSC and “Mars”. The set of provided maps should allow the field team to
orientate and navigate in the explored areas as well as make informed decisions
about choosing the best alternative traverses if the ones suggested by the flight
planning team based on satellite data turn out to be impossible. The set of maps
includes:
A “geological map” prepared following suggestions of [3].
A set of experiment “suitability maps”, one for every experiment, assessing the
suitability of the area for an experiment. E.g., if a rover cannot move on surfaces
that have an inclination larger than 5Ë and/or are covered with rocks larger than
15 cm in diameter, than the areas likely to have such conditions will be marked
as not suitable for this experiment.
“Danger” map – showing locations of all potentially dangerous places e.g., cliffs.
“Mobility” map – with information important for estimating astronauts’
mobility.
During the mission maps will be updated on a daily basis, based on the observations made in the
field. In this way quality of the maps (and predictions based on them) will be gradually
improved.
Acknowledges: We thank all people involved in the MARS2013 mission, especially Dr.
Gernot Grömer, the President of Austrian Space Forum, MARS2013 program officer &
expedition lead.
References: [1] Sans Fuentes S.A. 2012. Human-Robotic Mars Science Operations:
Target Selection Optimization via Traverse and Science Planning. (M.S. thesis). U. of
Innsbruck. [2] Hettich S. 2012. Human-Robotic Mars Science Operations: Itinerary
Optimisation for Surface Activities (M.S. thesis). U. of Innsbruck. [3] Skinner J.A.Jr.,
Fortezzo C.M. 2011. Acta Astronautica. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.actaastro.2011.11.011. |
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