Simulating Mars on Earth

Abstract

Conducting field research in a representative environment is an excellent tool with which to gain operational experience and understand the advantages and limitations of remote science operations on other planetary bodies. The area near Erfoud, Morocco, is considered to be a relevant proxy for various types of geological features of Mars and possesses a diversity of paleo(micro)biological signatures, terrain topographies similar to martian deserts, and a test site area the size of which requires a diligent exploration mission design.

In February 2013, the Austrian Space Forum, in partnership with the Ibn Battuta Centre in Marrakesh, conducted the integrated Mars analog field simulation MARS2013 in the northern Sahara near Erfoud, Morocco, in the framework of the PolAres research program with research teams and more than 100 volunteers from 23 countries. The mission received substantial logistics support from the Government of Morocco, in particular the Gendarmerie Royal.

Directed by a Mission Support Center in Austria, a small field crew conducted experiments in preparation for future human Mars missions mainly in the fields of engineering, planetary surface operations, astrobiology, geophysics/geology, life sciences, and others.

MARS2013 was designed to be

• an opportunity to study equipment behavior involving the simultaneous usage of instruments with the option of a human in the loop (via the Aouda spacesuits)

• a platform for testing life-detection or geophysical techniques and performing terrain tests

• a proving ground for rovers and test concepts for high situational awareness of remote support teams in the study of the northern Sahara as a model region for martian deserts and extreme life

• an outreach platform to enhance the visibility of planetary sciences

The preparatory activities began in early 2011 and included scouting trips, training rehearsals, the compilation of work flows typical for (simulated) human spaceflight operations, procurement of legal and administrative authorizations, and design of a robust field infrastructure. After the mission, a MARS2013 science workshop was held at the Technical University of Vienna, which offered the researchers the opportunity not only to present their data but also to discuss synergies with regard to other experiments. For the long-term perspective, the Science Data Archive allows for a posteriori analysis of experiment data.

MARS2013 was a major field operation with a focus on exploration that, as such, functions as an efficient tool with which to teach planetary mission studies and convey the fascination of planetary research to the general public.

The MARS2013 Team

Project Lead

• Gernot Groemer, Austrian Space Forum and University of Innsbruck, Austria

Flight Directors

• Christoph Ragonig, Austrian Space Forum

• Norbert Frischauf, Austrian Space Forum

• Michael Taraba, Austrian Space Forum and University of Vienna, Austria

• Willibald Stumptner, Austrian Space Forum

• Alexander Soucek, Austrian Space Forum and European Space Agency

Flight Control Team

• Alexander Karl, Space Applications Services, Zaventem, Belgium

• Sebastian Hettrich, Austrian Space Forum

• Alejandra Sans, Austrian Space Forum

• Reinhard Tlustos, Austrian Space Forum and University of Vienna, Austria

• Eva Hauth, Austrian Space Forum

• Daniel Föger, Austrian Space Forum and University of Innsbruck, Austria

• Tilo Kauerhoff, European Space Agency

• Jan Klauck, Austrian Space Forum, Berlin office, Germany

• Petra Sansone, Austrian Space Forum

• Barbara Ramirez, University of Innsbruck, Austria

• Quentin Scornet, Institut National des Sciences Appliquées, Toulouse, France

• Nina Sejkora, Austrian Space Forum

• Aline Dinkelaker, University of Strathclyde in Glasgow, United Kingdom

• Isabella Pfeil, Austrian Space Forum and University of Vienna, Austria

Biomedical Engineers and Flight Surgeons

• Thomas Luger, Austrian Space Forum and Medical University of Innsbruck, Austria

• Egon Winter, Austrian Space Forum

• Ernst Toferer, Austrian Space Forum and Medical University of Innsbruck, Austria

• Markus Luger, Austrian Space Forum and Medical University of Innsbruck, Austria

• Andrea Stadler, Medical University of Innsbruck, Austria

FIG. 1.

Two field crew members installing a local broadband data relay for the MARS2013 mission.

Remote Science Support

• Mike Rampey, Parhelion Aerospace, Evilard, Switzerland

• Linda Moser, Austrian Space Forum and European Space Agency

• Csilla Orgel, Eötvös Lorand University, Budapest, Hungary

• Anna Losiak, University of Vienna, Austria

• Jane McArthur, University College London, United Kingdom

• Andrea Boyd, Space Generation Advisory Council, Vienna, Austria

• Natalie Jones, Department of National Defence, Montreal, Canada

• Ulrich Luger, Austrian Space Forum

• Izabella Gołębiowska, University of Warsaw, Poland

• Wissam Ramo, EADS Astrium, Friedrichshafen, Germany

Science Data Officers/Information Technology

• Harald Fuchs, Austrian Space Forum

• Roberta Paternesi, European Space Agency

• Stephan Gerard, French Mars Society

• Wolfgang Jais, Austrian Space Forum and University of Innsbruck, Austria

• David Fasching, Austrian Space Forum and University of Innsbruck, Austria

• Markus Dissertori, University of Innsbruck, Austria

• Josef Radinger, Austrian Space Forum

Ground Support and Media Communication, Legal Support and Contracting

• Monika Fischer, Austrian Space Forum

• Olivia Haider, Austrian Space Forum

• Petra Groll, Austrian Space Forum

• Jarno Peschier, Austrian Space Forum

• Andreas Kjeldsen, University of Copenhagen, Denmark

• Oana Sandu, European Southern Observatory, Garching, Germany

• Daniela Scheer, Austrian Space Forum

• Claudia Bothe, University of Siegen, Germany

• Silvia Prock, University of Innsbruck, Austria

• Muhammad Shadab Khan, Space Generation Advisory Council, India

• Florian Stummer, Austrian Space Forum

• Gerhard Groemer, Austrian Space Forum

• Arnold Sams, Austrian Space Forum

• Elisabeth Sams, Austrian Space Forum

• Christian Haider, Austrian Space Forum

• Lukas Fritsch, Austrian Space Forum

• Linda Goetzloff, Austrian Space Forum

Field Crew

• Gernot Groemer, Austrian Space Forum and University of Innsbruck, Austria

• Stefan Hauth, Austrian Space Forum

• Sebastian Sams, Austrian Space Forum

• Katja Zanella-Kux, Austrian Space Forum

• Julia Neuner, Austrian Space Forum

• Luca Foresta, Austrian Space Forum

• Paavan Gorur, Kings College London and UK Space Biomedicine Association, United Kingdom

• Thomas Turetschek, Austrian Space Forum

• Daniel Schildhammer, Austrian Space Forum

• Christoph Gautsch, Austrian Space Forum

National support, Morocco/Ibn Battuta Centre for exploration

• Gian Gabriele Ori, IRSPS, Universita d'Annunzio, Italy

• Kamal Taj-Eddine, Université Cadi Ayyad, Marrakesh, Morocco

Experiment teams are listed in the respective papers and in the MARS2013 introductory article.