In Situ Geophysical In Situ Geophysical Exploration by Humans Exploration by Humans

in Mars Analog in Mars Analog EnvironmentsEnvironments

Brian ShiroBrian ShiroMay 13, 2010 May 13, 2010

UND 997 SymposiumUND 997 Symposium

Outline

FMARSMission OverviewSeismic ProjectElectromagnetic Project

MDRSMission OverviewActive Seismic + GPR Project

Lessons Learned

FMARS and MDRSFMARS = Flashline Mars Arctic Research Station

MDRS = Mars Desert Research Station

Based on the Mars Direct architecture

The Mars Society

Getting There

FMARS

Devon Island Founded 2000 Polar desert Located on rim of 39Ma Haughton Crater

12th crew: 6 people Crew Geophysicist Jun 27 - Aug 1, 2009 (26 days on Devon Island)

Mars on Earth

Haughton Crater

Which one is Mars?

Seismic Station

Study interior structure, origin, & evolution of Mars

Questions: crustal thickness, mantle properties, core radius, seismicity

Earthquake!

FMARS Seismic EVAs Summary

Electromagnetic SurveyTime domain electromagnetic method (TDEM)

Purpose: look for groundwater, characterize subsurface resistivity

Survey Design

EVA Tracking

FMARS TDEM EVAs Summary

TDEM Results

Dolomite too resistive for our 40 m loop with 3.5 A power.

Can constrain subsurface resistivity to 1,000-10,000 -m.

Depth to Groundwater

Can consrain upper bound of depth to conductor.

Assuming a 100 -m body, it would be at least 300 m deep.

MDRS

Hanksville, UtahFounded 2002Desert with Jurassic/Craceous sedimentary features

89th crew, 6 peopleCrew CommanderJan 23 - Feb 6, 2010

NDX-1 Kneepads

Ground Penetrating Radar

CRUX instrument = miniaturized GPR developed by NASA

Data collected by Stoker et al. on Crew 85 in Nov 2009.

Found a strong reflector, a possible buried paleochannel

Study Area

Miyamoto Crater, Mars

Similar to the feature at MDRS

Inverted river channel intersects with crate rim

Former MSL landing site candidate

Active Seismic SurveySeismic refraction, reflection, surface wave methods

Purpose: Determine shallow subsurface structure, Look for water

Land streamer with 12 geophones

MDRS Seismic EVAs Summary

Survey the Profile

Collect Data

Hammer strike as source

Cover to see computer screen

Fix Broken Geophone

Seismic Data

Seismic Results

GPR Redux

GPR data collected again using CRUX by Crew 92 in March 2010.

Same profile as seismic experiment. General agreement with seismic results.

GPR - Seismic Comparison

GPR data collected again using CRUX by Crew 92 in March 2010.

Same profile as seismic experiment.

Lessons Learned

Simplify User interfaces: large buttons, easy-to-read screens, configurable prior to EVA, automation

Passive Seismic: Installation of Trillium Compact system (including burial) is feasible in spacesuits.

Electromagnetic: Laying loop manually, operating the PROTEM are not very practical in spacesuits.

Active Seismic: Land streamers are good for seismic profiling, but they are heavy. For long surveys, the source needs to be mobile on a rover, and data collection/processing should be automated.

Related Presentations

Shiro, B. and C. Stoker (2010), “Iterative Science Strategy on Analog Geophysical EVAs,” NASA Lunar Science Forum 2010.

Ferrone, K., S. Cusack, C. Garvin, V.W. Kramer, J. Palaia, and B. Shiro (2010), “Flashline Mars Arctic Research Station 2009 Crew Perspectives,” AIAA SpaceOps 2010 Conf., 65-ME-18.

Shiro, B. and K. Ferrone (2010), “In Situ Geophysical Exploration by Humans in Mars Analog Environments,” Lunar Planet. Sci. Conf., 2052.

Shiro, B., J. Palaia, and K. Ferrone (2009), “Use of Web 2.0 Technologies for Public Outreach on a Simulated Mars Mission,” Eos Trans. AGU, 90(52), Fall Meet. Suppl., ED11A-0565.

Banerdt, B. and B. Shiro (2007), “The Seismic Exploration of Mars: History, Prospects and Barriers,” Seismological Research Letters, 78(2), 276.

AGU 2009

LPSC 2010

Acknowledgements

FMARS-12 and MDRS-89 crewsRobert Zubrin, Artemis Westenberg, Chris Carberry, Aziz Kheraj, Mission Support Team

Pascal Lee, Stephen Braham, Brian GlassGene Traverse, Rob Harris, Dennis Mills, Paul Bedrosian, Carol Stoker, David Stillman, Bob Grimm, Rob Stewart, Jim Hasbrouck, Deborah Underwood, Chris Gifford, Andrew Feustel

Mike Gaffey, Santhosh Seelan, Pablo DeLeon, and entire UND SpSt Dept.

Any Questions?