Meridiani Base: The 2nd Mars Expedition Planning Workshop (MEP2005)

Outputs

Presentation Session 1 (PS1)- Field Science for Meridiani Planum and Surrounds – Extended abstracts are due March 31st. This session will cover the background on Meridiani Planum in specific detail, with invited speakers from the MER team. Its surrounding terrains will be discussed in more general detail. For this session the chair will seek out speakers on the subject of science goals and specific investigations to do on site, including geophysical, geochemical / petrological, and astrobiological experiments, sampling, and mapping. A synthesis paper would be produced by the session chair by May 31st. First output should be a list of regions to visit during the 500-day science campaign (accompanied by images, maps, etc.). The second output should be the entire list of goals to pursue and experiments to conduct in each region over the course of the science campaign.

Discussion Session 1 (DS1) - Field Science Instruments and Operations – Pre-workshop discussion session extended abstracts are due May 31st. This session takes the list of experiments from PS1 and sketches a list of hand-held field instruments for each, and plan the logistics for how each experiment is conducted or instrument is used. The focus is on the field operations for single EVAs. The output for this should be an expansion of the presentation session list to include information necessary for expedition planning: number of measurements or samples, areal configuration of sites (single site, linear array of sites, 2D or 3D sampling sites for each experiment), density of measurements or samples, number of EVAs, data sampling rate (frequency of measurements or sampling), dwell time per site, etc. for each experiment and instrument on the field science list. Next this session will discuss work processes to optimize the conduct of field operations during an EVA. Example EVAs may be produced for use as a reference scenario. The session chair will produce a preliminary synthesis paper from the submitted abstracts by July 30th, and during the discussion session revise it based on discussions of the day. The final synthesis paper will be submitted to the program chair by August 31st.

Presentation Session 2 (PS2) - Expedition Mobility: Exploration Technology and Tactics – Extended abstracts are due March 31st. This session will consider the short and long-distance strategies for traverses that may be done from Meridiani Base, and the exploration technology for mobile exploration used to aid investigations (excluding hand-held field instruments from DS1, but allowing consideration of hand-held devices not used for science data acquisition). A synthesis paper would be produced by the session chair by May 31st. First output should be a map that specifies the potential traffic paths, topographic barriers, and geographic extent of exploration. Next output should be a list of a suite of exploration technologies that might be used to conduct the investigations.

Discussion Session 2 (DS2) - Expedition Scheduling – Pre-workshop discussion session extended abstracts are due May 31st. Discussion will take the regions from the PS1 and determine which field investigations may be pursued in each, which traverse strategies from PS2 to use in each, and then determine the number of EVAs required to fully explore each region with the instruments and procedures from DS1 and PS2. If the total duration required exceeds 500 days, then the investigations will have to be pared down to what is possible for the given time. Output will be an outline for a 500-day expedition science campaign schedule. The session chair will produce a preliminary synthesis paper from the submitted abstracts by July 30th, and during the discussion session revise it based on discussions of the day. The final synthesis paper will be submitted to the program chair by August 31st.

Presentation Session 3 (PS3) - Human Factors and Mobile Communications – Extended abstracts are due March 31st. This session will consider human factors and mobile communications issues. Given the set of investigations to be conducted over the science campaign, this symposium will address the various human social, psychological, cognitive, and performance issues associated with the campaign, and various methods of mobile communications to aid the efficient production of scientific and human value from the experiences of the crew. Output will be a set of recommended operations, strategies and technologies for aiding common expedition tasks. A synthesis paper would be produced by the session chair by May 31st.

Discussion Session 3 (DS3) - Crew-Centered Operations and Performance – Pre-workshop discussion session extended abstracts are due May 31st. This session will synthesize the concept of crew-centered operations, including crew size & roles, activity cycles with earth teams, and tools that facilitate collaborative planning, scheduling, science analysis, and documentation. The session chair will produce a preliminary synthesis paper from the submitted abstracts by July 30th, and during the discussion session revise it based on discussions of the day. Output will be a list of requirements for crew size, performance and skills for the expedition plan’s set of EVAs determine during DS2. The final synthesis paper will be submitted to the program chair by August 31st.

Presentation Session 4 (PS4) - Mars Analog Studies on Earth and the Moon – Extended abstracts are due March 31st. This session will consider ideas for conducting Mars analog studies on the Earth and the Moon. Output would be a list of analog studies addressing the range of issues regarding science campaigning in the Meridiani region. A synthesis paper would be produced by the session chair by May 31st.

Discussion Session 4 (DS4) - Meridiani Analogs and Simulations -- Pre-workshop discussion session extended abstracts are due May 31st. This session will consider what analog studies and simulations of the Meridiani Expedition can be done, where and how. The session chair will produce a preliminary synthesis paper from the submitted abstracts by July 30th, and during the discussion session revise it based on discussions of the day. The final synthesis paper will be submitted to the program chair by August 31st.

Presentation Session 5 (PS5) - Exploration Ethics and Planetary Protection – Extended abstracts are due March 31st. This session will consider the planetary protection issues and the ethics of exploration. Output will be strategies for preventing the contamination. A synthesis paper would be produced by the session chair by May 31st.

Discussion Session 5 (DS5) - Risk Mitigation for Planetary Protection and Crew Safety – Pre-workshop discussion session extended abstracts are due May 31st. This session will consider risk mitigation tactics for planetary protection and crew safety. Output will be an analysis of the expedition plan highlighting the risk areas, and strategies and tactics to reduce them. The session chair will produce a preliminary synthesis paper from the submitted abstracts by July 30th, and during the discussion session revise it based on discussions of the day. The final synthesis paper will be submitted to the program chair by August 31st.

Outputs

MEP2005 is a production of the Association of Mars Explorers.
Website is hosted by Mars Society Canada.

Hosts & Sponsors

Outputs

MEP2005 is a production of the Association of Mars Explorers.Website is hosted by Mars Society Canada.

Hosts & Sponsors

MEP2005 is a production of the Association of Mars Explorers.
Website is hosted by Mars Society Canada.