Two UH Hilo students investigate “Mars”
The students—one a geologist and one an astrobiologist—are studying the habitability of volcanic terrains as analog environments for Mars.
Two students from the University of Hawai‘i at Hilo are part of an international team of scientists working on a project to study the way future Mars astronauts might collect geology and biology samples when exploring the Red Planet.
Colin Milovsoroff (geology) and Nicolette “Niki” Thomas (astronomy/astrophysics and biology, double major) are working on a pre-mission survey on Mauna Ulu on Hawai‘i Island this week in preparation for the arrival of a team of international scientists in November. Mauna Ulu is located on the east rift zone of Kīlauea.
The research project is called BASALT (short for “Biologic Analog Science Associated with Lava Terrains: Con-ops Development for Future Human Exploration of Mars”) and includes a global team of scientists, engineers, mission operators, and astronauts studying human-robotic exploration of Mars.
Craters of the Moon National Monument, Idaho
In June, the BASALT team began their fieldwork in Idaho to understand the habitability of volcanic terrains as analog environments for early and present-day Mars.
UH Hilo students Milovsoroff and Thomas were deployed for two weeks to the Craters of the Moon National Monument near Arco, Idaho. The BASALT team gathered there to sample altered basalts for the purposes of conducting both geochemical and microbial studies related to defining the habitability potential of Mars.
Geologist Molovsoroff was with the team for the full two weeks and astrobiologist Thomas joined him for several days.
- To learn more about Niki Thomas’s research: Is there life on Mars? UH Hilo astrobiologist student researches island lava as an analog for the Red Planet (UH Hilo Stories, May 2, 2016).
“Colin made himself quite useful with the Science Team and was soon deemed indispensable,” says John Hamilton, instructor of physics and astronomy and logistics manager at the Pacific International Space Center for Exploration Systems (PISCES) in Hilo.
Hamilton is the UH Hilo principal investigator of the NASA grant that funds the BASALT project. It is one of only a few PSTAR grants awarded by NASA. PSTAR stands for Planetary Science and Technology Through Analog Research.
The Idaho work focused on collecting foundational data for the project. These data included hyperspectral imaging and a variety of in situ measurements to characterize the diversity of alteration products in the Craters of the Moon National Monument region.
Rock samples were collected by and for the BASALT biology team to begin microbial and organic geochemistry studies.
The field work also included coordinating and communicating with a Mars Base (in real time) and a Science Backroom Team on Earth (with a five to 20 minute time delay).
The next trip to “Mars”
As Milovsoroff and Thomas finish up their pre-mission survey on Mauna Ulu this week, the international BASALT team is readying for their next field deployment to Hawai’i Island. The team of scientists and students arrives in November for their next trip to “Mars.”
About the writer of this story: Susan Enright is a public information specialist for the Office of the Chancellor and editor of UH Hilo Stories. She received her bachelor of arts in English and certificate in women’s studies from UH Hilo.
