Using analogue missions to develop Using analogue missions to develop Lunar exploration strategiesLunar exploration strategies

Marianne MaderCarleton University, Ottawa, Canada

Space fairing Nations are developing their plans for space exploration:• US Vision for Space Exploration (2004)• ESA Aurora Program• New JAXA’s Vision “JAXA 2025”(2005)• China manned space program as well as planned robotic

missions to the Moon (Chang’e-1, -2, -3)• Russia revamped space program include the development

of a new crew transportation as well as robotic missions to Moon and Mars’moon;

• India’s Chandrayan mission to Moon (launched October 22, 2008).

Global Exploration Strategy (2007) adopted by 14 Space Agencies ensures that this will be a global effort and encourages international collaboration

Target Destinations• Moon as the next immediate target

Focus is astronaut landing• Mars remain important long-term destination with strong

scientific caseFocus is science

• Several robotic missions planned for Moon and Mars in next 10-15 years

• Human landing mission to Moon starting 2020Drivers• Advance scientific knowledge• Further economic interest• Inspire

Serve as stepping-stone for future exploration

Analogue Site“An environment on Earth, in nature or by simulation, for which there are, or could be, analogous characteristics on the planetary

body in question, either at the present-day or sometime in the past”. (Osinski et al., 2006).

Analogue Site“An environment on Earth, in nature or by simulation, for which there are, or could be,

analogous characteristics on the body in question, either at the

present-day or sometime in the past”. (Osinski et al., 2006).

Moon

• Main geological processes: volcanism, impact cratering

• Daily mean temperature 107°C to -153°C • Negligible atmosphere • Only weak gravity (1/6th of Earth's gravity)• Lack of volatile elements (except presence of

hydrogen at the lunar poles)• Electrostatically charged dust!

Cinder Lake, Flagstaff, Arizona

Cinder Lake, Flagstaff, Arizona

Cinder Lake Crater Field, Flagstaff, Arizona

Devon Island, Canadian High Arctic(39 Ma impactStructure)

Mauna Kea, Hawaii(volcanic cinder cone)

(An environment on Earth, with analogous characteristics of the Moon).

Simulated Lunar yard/chamber

Antarctic/desert Underwater

Parabolic flights

Laboratory

An analog is an activity performed in a representative environment that is similar to a feature of the target mission

Astronauts investigating man-manned craterCinder Lake Crater Field, Flagstaff, Arizona

Apollo 15 Astronaut James B. Irwin

Hawaii Moon

Lunar Landing Research VehicleDryden Flight Centre

Lunar Roving VehicleFlagstaff, Arizona

Moses Lake, Washington

Devon Island Hawaii

Exploration Science Studies• Train personnel• Test operational parameters and instrumentation

Encompasses:Psychology and Group DynamicsInstrument and Technology TestingCommunications and Computing for Planetary ExplorationTelemedicine and Operational Space Medicine Robot–Human Interactions Mission Control Operations Science OperationsField Operations, including Training Astronauts …

Comparative planetology• Difficult to visit and directly analyse

lunar surfaces • Learn from similar environments on

EarthProcess studiesCharacterization of analogue material

E.g., properties of lunar dust

Lunar rille: over 120 km long, up to 1500 m  across, and is over 300 m deep in places. (3.3 Ga). 

Mauna Loa braided lava channel . Lava channels on Hawaii are usually less than 10 km long and are only 50‐100 m wide.

Haughton Impact StructureDevon Island, Canada

Barringer (Meteor Crater)Arizona, USA

Outreach and EducationEngage the public in lunar exploration• NASA Spaceward Bound

Students and Educators participate in exploration science in analog environments

• CSA Educator’s in the North Project (2008)Educators collaborated in the field with a team of scientists, to carry out scientific experiments, and learned more about Geology and Astrobiology on site

Axel Heiberg IslandCanadian High Arctic2008

An Analogue Mission is an integrated set of space exploration activities, conducted by a team, at a site which offers multiple environmental conditions of a planetary target and results in system level interaction

Analogue Missions:IntegrationMechanism

Team work

What planetary mission does the analogue apply to?Which activities are you focused on?How will you record data systematically• Quantitative (i.e. using metrics)

Example: recording time, distance, mass, etc.• Qualitative

Example: Human factors survey• Combination

Example: How do you calculate work efficiency index?

Preliminary human lunar missions: ~4 astronauts, short period of timeComparative planetology: Use analogue sites with lunar surface characteristics (e.g., remoteness, landscape, geology)Focus on geological mapping:adapting terrestrial mapping techniques to lunar environmentMake use of portable geophysical instruments

How can students can get How can students can get involved?involved?

Arctic field experienceInterdisciplinary backgroundPlanetary geology interestGroup work!

Government agencies• Co-op terms, internships• In Canada, several programs for student employment:

FSWEP, Co-op, RAPUniversities: Engineer design projects, co-op terms, honors projectsSpace Societies: Mars Society (MDRS)Outreach Programs: Spaceward Bound (for US students)Be creative…..

Claire Samson, PhD supervisor, Carleton UniversityMarie-Claude Williamson, PhD Supervisor, CSAMartin Lebeuf, CSAMatthew Bamsey, Guelph Universitiy

Battler, M. , et al. (2008) Surface exploration metrics of a long duration polar analogue study: implications for future Moon and Mars missions, IAC-08-B3.5.7.

Kobrick, R., et al. (2007) Operational monitoring and analysis of space, time, and schedule as part of a space analogue mission on Devon Island, IAC-07-A1.I.02.

Lebeuf, M. and Williamson, M-C. (2008) Analogue Missions on Earth, A New Approach to Prepare Future Missions on the Moon, COSPAR abstract and presentation.

Osinski, G.O. et al. (2006) Terrestrial analogues to Mars and the Moon: Canada's role, Geoscience Canada 33 (4), 175-188.