Crew 55 Science Goals Commander Melissa Battler, Glen Guzik, Carole Gilbert, Vassilis Drakonakis, Sonja Graves, Rohan Sahari

Goals & Principal Investigators: 1. Environmental: Evaporation rate experiments (Sonja Graves) 2. Geology: Paleocurrent measurements (Carole Gilbert) 3. Geology: Gypsum/evaporites study (Carole Gilbert)

Goals & Principal Investigators: 1. Field Operations: Psychophysical experiments (Rohan Sahari) 2. Field Operations: Field sampling efficiency with spacesuits (Glen Guzik) 3. Engineering/Geology: ISRU modeling (Vassilis Drakonakis)

Environmental: Evaporation Rates Experiments Project Goal: Set up and successfully run a controlled experiment comparing the evaporaion rates of water and other liquids. Relevance to Mars exploration: Help theorists back home better understand the physics of the Martian climate by helping to determine whether models of water evaporation used on Earth can in fact be applied to other substances – for example carbon dioxide on Mars.

Geology: Paleocurrent Measurements Project Goal: Establish paleocurrent/fluid movement directions in the MDRS region during the Jurassic & Cretaceous period. Relevance to Mars exploration: Approximating the flow direction and resulting distribution of liquids and minor elements/possible nutrients on the surface of the Red Planet.

Geology: Gypsum/Evaporites Study Project Goal: Collect evaporites and thermodynamically model their deposition. Relevance to Mars exploration: By determining reactions between the minerals observed, we can model temperatures and pressures at deposition and determine whether water would have been present.

Field Operations: Psychophysical Experiments Project Goal: Use haptic device to conduct various psychophysical experiments. Relevance to Mars exploration: The complexities of the touch and feel mechanics can be distinguished with or without EVA gear; may lead to suggested improvements for spacesuit design.

Field Operations: Field Sampling Efficiency with Spacesuits Project Goal: Determine how many samples we can collect/sites we can visit in one day with a space suit on, while following Field Documentation Methodology procedures. Relevance to Mars exploration: Our observations may help to improve current exploration methodologies.

Engineering/Geology: ISRU Modeling Project Goal: Study Mars In Situ Resource Utilization (ISRU) theory; determine chemical reactions involved and ideal rock/soil sources; identify best geologic sources around MDRS. Relevance to Mars exploration: Potentially identify future ISRU test sites around MDRS.