The 2016 #CanMars Robotic Mars Sample Return Analogue Mission
- Paper number
IAC-17,B6,3,4,x41090
- Author
Prof. Gordon Osinski, Centre for Planetary Science and Exploration, University of Western Ontario, Canada
- Coauthor
Dr. Melissa M. Battler, Centre for Planetary Science and Exploration, University of Western Ontario, Canada
- Coauthor
Ms. Christy Caudill, Centre for Planetary Science and Exploration, University of Western Ontario, Canada
- Coauthor
Dr. Eric Pilles, Centre for Planetary Science and Exploration, University of Western Ontario, Canada
- Coauthor
Ms. Alexandra Pontefrac, University of Western Ontario, Canada
- Coauthor
Dr. Raymond Francis, Jet Propulsion Laboratory - California Institute of Technology, United States
- Coauthor
Ms. Mary Kerrigan, Centre for Planetary Science and Exploration, University of Western Ontario, Canada
- Coauthor
Dr. Livio Tornabene, Centre for Planetary Science and Exploration, University of Western Ontario, Canada
- Year
2017
- Abstract
Mars Sample Return (MSR) is among the highest priority goals of the international planetary science community. The 3-week 2016 CanMars MSR mission simulation was a continuation of an 11-day/sol analogue mission conducted in 2015 in Utah, USA, as part of the Canadian Space Agency (CSA)’s 2016 Mars Sample Return Analogue Deployment. The remote mission control team was located at the University of Western Ontario (Western), in London, Canada, and had no direct knowledge of the site; thereby allowing for meaningful simulation of an unexplored planetary surface. The CanMars missions represented a partnership between the CSA and Western's Centre for Planetary Science and Exploration (CPSX) as part of the NSERC CREATE project “Technologies and Techniques for Earth and Space Exploration”. This paper describes the Western-led aspects of CanMars. Mission objectives focused on science, operations, and training. Goals included advancing knowledge regarding MSR sample selection, and advancing sample science and analysis protocols, including the use of science autonomy techniques. The mission was implemented in two parts. During Part 1 (sols 12–21) 10 command-cycles were planned and executed with the CSA Mars Exploration Science Rover (MESR), where 1 day = 1 sol. Two Strategic Traverse Days were pre-planned, including long rover traverses and post-drive imaging. Part 2 was conducted as a Fast Motion Field Test, with 1 day = 3 sols, and using hand-held instruments instead of MESR. A single plan (including various autonomy techniques) was used to execute the 3 sols, such that the same planning cycle was used in both Parts 1 and 2. The ability to validate results is a major advantage of analogue missions. This mission included the following validation measures: 1. A Western team at the Utah site collected measurements unknown to the remote team, and produced a geological field map to validate research results; 2. A one-day exercise compared traditional field geology methods with rover-based remote operations; and 3. As part of the training exercise, students from the remote team visited the field at the end of the campaign for self-validation, to understand how the world they had observed through MESR appeared in reality.
- Abstract document
- Manuscript document
IAC-17,B6,3,4,x41090.pdf (🔒 authorized access only).
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