Science Plan

Just like there is more than one way to get to Mars, there are several ways to do the research necessary to get to Mars. Holistic mission simulations, as done during the past field seasons at FMARS and MDRS, are missions of discovery, rather than missions of investigation. These scenarios have allowed research on human factors issues and habitat systems design, but despite science objectives having been directed towards EVA field work, little planning or coordination of geological and biological investigations has occurred. On Devon Island with the Haughton-Mars Project, the research program has been very good at studying certain kinds of questions, including Mars analog science, science operations, and exploration research, but the HMP does not intend to integrate the tasks involved in each discipline into an entire mission scenario. The goal of this expedition is to try a third way blending the best aspects of the other two methods, and to go beyond them by discovering what benefits a strongly coordinated set of focused missions of investigations might provide for increasing the fidelity of mission simulations. The first step is to define the individual tasks or phases of a mission, and then develop a mission scenario.

During our expedition, we will be experimenting with crew selection and mission support, but more importantly on EVA field operations and field science. The primary focus will be to identify the field science tasks that are needed to be accomplished during a mission, narrow those down to what is practical, and then integrate them into a holistic simulation.

The current thinking is that science EVAs on Mars will be performed every other day at most, with days between for planning, analysis, and reporting, and habitat systems maintenance. For the Expedition we will divide responsibilities between a Field Research Crew and a Mission Systems Crew. That means for every EVA we do during the expedition, we can consider it the equivalent of two days on Mars. With four EVAs per day, in some respects (like science return) one day on the Expedition become equivalent to one week of a holistic mission simulation. Our 30-day Expedition gathers us about the same information in EVA field work as a 30-week simulation, or 240 days on Mars. If a Mars mission is on the order of 500 days, then after our Expedition we will have a good idea about how much can be accomplished during a long surface stay.

One overall, long-term question will be to:
1) Define the nature of a fully realistic holistic simulation in order to:
(a) Learn how to accomplish the selection, training and support of a crew that will actually go to Mars.
(b) Integrate the tasks necessary to accomplish the mission, and to
(c) Design an appropriate and effective working environment.

The goal of the Expedition One is develop at least one Integrated Mission Science Scenario that would be the basis for understanding what work needs to be accomplished during a fully holistic simulation, and by extension, an actual science mission conducted by humans on Mars. Studies will be devoted to: understanding how much time must be spent scouting new terrain and what strategies are best to do so; understanding basic EVA science instruments, tools and technologies that will most effectively aid the mission; understanding of science operations so that research goals in a Martian environment may be met; understanding of the science questions to be pursued on Mars; and understanding of the human factors and logistical issues required to integrate these lessons into a complete science mission scenario. Applicants who make the first cut for the Field Research Crew are expected to define research plans and strategies for answering these questions. Research proposals in these areas will help the applicant pass the first cut.

Another long-term question has the goal of:

2) Evaluating the two competing classes (the 30-day quick-return Earth-Mars orbital opposition class versus the 500-day long-surface-stay Earth-Mars orbital conjunction class) of human missions to Mars in terms of possible scientific return.

By examining how long it takes to do individual tasks, and scaling appropriately, we can get a conception of how much and what kinds of work may be done during each of a 30-day and 500-day missions. Integrating tasks into complete mission scenarios for each of 30-day and 500-day human Mars missions will allow these mission types to be compared, contrasted and understood.

3) How long (in EVA time) will it take to reconnoitre the exploration circle surrounding a base? What observations need to be made; what samples need to be obtained? Field geology begins with mapping. For Mars we will have maps of topographic and mineral data. Studies of reconnaissance strategies should involve the
(a) Confirmation of theories of the local geology,
(b) Investigations of curious or anomalous data, and
(c) Attempts to locate useful resources.

Phase 1 and 2 morning scouting EVAs will focus on answering these questions.

The above questions will be investigated during the Expedition, though not completely answered. Other questions that may be investigated are listed on the Research Proposals page.

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