More from Mars: UH Hilo students continue their work on simulated Mars mission
The Mars simulation will define the future field instruments and sampling for an efficient exploration of the Martian surface and detection of extra-terrestrial life.
By Staff/UH Hilo Stories.
Students from the University of Hawaiʻi at Hilo are continuing their work this week with the international team currently on Hawaiʻi Island to study the way future Mars astronauts might collect geology and biology samples when exploring the Red Planet.
The students are part of a global team of scientists, engineers, mission operators, and astronauts studying human-robotic exploration of Mars. The team is conducting real science under simulated Mars missions to help enable a future NASA Journey to Mars.
The research project is called BASALT (short for “Biologic Analog Science Associated with Lava Terrains: Con-ops Development for Future Human Exploration of Mars”). The current field work is being done Nov. 1-18 on Mauna Ulu on Hawaiʻi Island. Mauna Ulu is located on the east rift zone of Kīlauea.
“This Mars simulation will define the future field instruments and sampling for an efficient exploration of the Martian surface and detection of extra-terrestrial life,” says John Hamilton, instructor of physics and astronomy at UH Hilo. He serves as logistics manager at the Pacific International Space Center for Exploration Systems (PISCES) in Hilo. Hamilton is the UH Hilo principle investigator on this NASA grant and is working four roles on the project: the Science Backroom Team on image and video commentary, deputy for logistics and safety, press contact and outreach, and managing students and local volunteers.
Read more about the project
- UH Hilo students investigate “Mars” on the east rift zone of Kīlauea.
- Learn more about prior work in Idaho over the summer and the prelim work here on Hawaiʻi Island last month.
More photos from this week
