Space mission analogues are important for providing us with valuable knowledge about places humans have not yet been.
Earlier this month, a project finished a field test in an environment similar to that of Mars – the lava flows of Mauna Ulu in Hawaii.
Here, the BASALT project collected samples of basalt rock that will be used for biological and geological science studies. This will help us understand life and the chemistry related to life in environments that are rich in basalts.
The BASALT project stands for Biologic Analog Science Associated with Lava Terrains. It seeks to understand the habitability conditions of Mars both early in its history and in the present day. This is to learn more about the physical and geochemical conditions of life in addition to figuring out how to find life and chemistry related to life in basaltic environments.
The project also conducted a field test in their other analog environment, in Idaho’s eastern Snake River Plain.
In addition to performing field studies in these analog environments, the project imposed constraints on their operations that astronauts will one day face while on Mars. By simulating delays that astronauts will experience while communicating with mission control on Earth from the red planet, the project is helping us understand how astronauts can manage their activities and get input from science mission control.
A wrist display with a tool for mission-planning was used by the crew during the analog mission. It is called Playbook and is used during times of communication gaps. The science team also tracked the extra-vehicular movement of the “astronauts” using NASA’s Exploration Ground Data Systems.
Real science was conducted in Hawaii within these constraints and involved “astronauts” of this field test gathering samples of basalt rock for both biological and geological science studies.
The “astronauts” used instruments to measure characteristics of the basalt samples they collected. After a traverse to collect samples, experts from many backgrounds analyzed the science investigations and how successful the operations were.
Several NASA centers and universities are involved in the BASALT project. The project is generating valuable information that will be used to create new capabilities for future human-robotic exploration of Mars.
Learn more about the mission at NASA.gov.