15 Jul
2012

Dachstein Mars Simulation 2012 Mission Report

Posted by in Aouda Spacesuit Simulator, OeWF News, Research/Projects.
Dachstein Mars Simulation 2012 Mission Report
The Austrian Space Forum performed a Mars Analogue-Field-test between the 27th of April and the 1st of May, together with international partners. The test took place in the Mammoth and Giant ice caves in the Dachstein Area in Austria. Aside from testing the newest version of the Forum’s Spacesuit simulator Aouda.X, teams from 10 different nations (from the US, Europe and New Zealand) tried geophysical techniques, instruments and ideas for future manned missions to cave systems on Mars.

Taking ice samples in Tristan dome. (c) OEWF (Katja Zanella-Kux)

For the JPL experiment ice sample had to be taken in the Tristan dome. (c) OEWF (Katja Zanella-Kux)

 

Why in the Dachstein Ice caves?

For a few years it is now known that cave systems exist on Mars. These systems offer stable environmental conditions and are one of the more interesting sites in the search for live in our solar system.

“Hardly any temperature changes, protection from radiation and even the prospect of stable water ice resources make those caves to one of the most logical places to find hints of life on Mars – if it has ever developed.”

, summarises project leader Dr. Gernot Grömer. The Austrian Space Forum is developing concepts and technologies which can be utilised during a manned space mission to the red planet.

The field test focussed on:

  • Testing the space suit prototype Aouda.X in its newest configuration under realistic circumstances: for example for data transfer, mobility and remote science (where experiments are conducted under the supervision of a far away science team).
  • Opportunity for the team to test the instruments under circumstances which are due to the area and the involved logistics very challenging. This also includes the usage of the georadar for the European Exomars-Mission, which will launch towards Mars in 2018.

All together 12 experiments mwere conducted by scientists from 10 countries and 3 continents durchgeführt (AT, G, I, F, USA, P, NL, H, NZ, PT). The Forum also organised the first ever Austrian Space-Tweetup (#marstweetup) on the media day. During this Tweetup 20 social media enthusiasts reported live from the fieldtests. Partners from NASA/JPL and New Zealand also participated.

Final report:

In a compact report the scientific – technical highlights will be discussed as well as the logistical information and spectacular photo material which has been provided by the photographers Andreas Koehler and Katja Zanella-Kux.

Dachstein Mission Report public

Read also:

This article is available in: German

Related posts:

  1. MarsTweetup – first Austrian spacetweetup held during the Dachstein Mars Simulation
  2. Dachstein Mars Simulation 2012
  3. A first review of the Rio Tinto 2011 Mars Simulation (+ mission report)
  4. Dachstein Mars Simulation – a review in 25 pictures
  5. A personal view of Dachstein Mars simulation