Science Methods & Approach Life in the Atacama 2004 Science & Technology Workshop Nathalie A. Cabrol NASA Ames

Life in the Atacama 2004 Workshop1Carnegie Mellon Presentation Outline Science Methods and Approach  Pre-Mission  “Landing” Ellipses Assessment Study  Datasets  Sample Database Task Group  Mission  Rover Science Payload  Rover Exploration Strategies  Science Investigations  Mars Exploration Mission  Earth Extreme Environment Mission  Sampling Approach  Post-Mission  RST reports

Life in the Atacama 2004 Workshop2Carnegie Mellon Summary of Mission Goal

Life in the Atacama 2004 Workshop3Carnegie Mellon Summary of Mission Goal Uncertain diagnosis Increased confidence in diagnosis Increased level of confidence of RSTs

Life in the Atacama 2004 Workshop4Carnegie Mellon Pre-Mission Activities “Landing” Ellipses Assessment Study Initiating the transition toward the interior desert: 2 sites: 1 coastal + 1 in hyper arid region Pre-Mission Assessment Activities include: RST Studies the mission datasets for both sites; Assessment of the geological and morphological context; Listing of hypotheses about habitats and life to be tested with the rover’s payload; Hand assessment study report to the Project Science Lead before the start of the mission;

Life in the Atacama 2004 Workshop5Carnegie Mellon Pre-Mission Activities Datasets ASTER DEM (Altimetry) ASTER Visible (15-30 m/pxl): MO equivalent Hyperion (Multispectral) Ikonos (High-Resolution): MGS/MOC Equivalent Location of the “landing” area will be provided within ~15 km (MSL)

Life in the Atacama 2004 Workshop6Carnegie Mellon Pre-Mission Activities Sample Database Task Group What information is critical to record in the field and to keep track of samples for further study? What information is critical to generate a clear and useful database Group’s Task: Agree on the contents of the data spreadsheet for each discipline and generate one document to be used in the field by the instrument PIs. Geo Group Discussion Bio Group Discussion Geo LeadBio Lead Final Document Inst. PIs Group Discussion Inst. PIs Lead

Life in the Atacama 2004 Workshop7Carnegie Mellon Mission: Rover Science Payload

Life in the Atacama 2004 Workshop8Carnegie Mellon Mission:SPI Camera

Life in the Atacama 2004 Workshop9Carnegie Mellon Mission: Rover Exploration Strategies How to obtain a comprehensive understanding of life and habitat? (1) Regional Mapping (large-scale) Acquisition of consistent datasets Increase efficiency through the use of exploration templates (2) Targeted Sampling (local) Specific targets (features or small area) of high-interest

Life in the Atacama 2004 Workshop10Carnegie Mellon Mission: (1) Regional Mapping (large-scale) Along a traverse from A to B, the rover: stops every determined n-meters; deploys a set number of instruments; always acquire the same type of data (TBD by RST); always acquire a rear looking panorama while arriving at B. Efficient way of mapping fast Good statistical chance of discovery. Science on the Fly will provide in time ways of “calling home” when random discovery suspected. Not this year... Directly applicable to astrobiology telepresence exploration. Bandwidth constraint and timing issues for Mars.

Life in the Atacama 2004 Workshop11Carnegie Mellon Mission: (1) Regional Mapping (large-scale) May be too large scale to grasp the fine-scale changes of extreme habitats as observed in the Atacama, even more so Mars (if any); May lead to missed opportunities, or Will allow to find life (good statistical coverage) but will not allow to understand the subtle changes in habitats. This could trigger a new strategy which would be to send subsequent mission to perform and in-depth survey.In the framework of this project, the RST might want to stop such area and spend some time doing “targeted sampling”. It is a tactical vs. strategical choice.

Life in the Atacama 2004 Workshop12Carnegie Mellon Mission: (2) Targeted Sampling Thorough investigation of features or small surface areas found by the RST to have a mission science high-payoff potential; Similar to what is currently used (MPF/MER), however Zoe’s payload is tuned toward finding life; Allows a reasoned search; Time consuming (approach, positioning). Possible downside: the time spent there is not used to cover ground and learn more about the environment. Tactical vs. strategical choice. These targets must be selected with lots of thoughts by the RST; Excellent method to gain “high-resolution” information on critical targets compared to the Regional Mapping method;

Life in the Atacama 2004 Workshop13Carnegie Mellon Mars Mission Simulation Earth Extreme Environment Mission LITA is also an Earth mission What would be the difference in knowledge learned by the RST in a telepresence mode? If possible, more data will be acquired by Zoe than the RST will see during the Mars mode; “Earth mission” data released to RST after the report on Mars mission. The RST will study the additional information and produce a new report with conclusions based on both “Mars and Earth” datasets. More knowledge? Modified conclusions? **Year 03: Human mission? -- or maybe another project altogether Mission:Exploration Modes

Life in the Atacama 2004 Workshop14Carnegie Mellon Mission:Sampling Approach Limited data volume: 50 MB/cycle (sol); Focus on data quality rather than quantity: last year, almost triple samples but difficult to work with them and to reach conclusions; Expect low precision in sample designation. The rover will not sample features smaller: than its gross mobility precision (10 cm) or error (5% distance traveled) Achieve known correlation between data products. Effort needed in sample designation and IDs for tracking. Database spreadsheet part of the answer but not all. Data documentarian? Sample are not useful if all associated data cannot be correlated (context image, high-res images, spectra, etc.)

Life in the Atacama 2004 Workshop15Carnegie Mellon Post-Mission RST Duties and Timeline