NAI
2010 Annual Science Report
University of Hawaii, Manoa
Reporting | SEP 2009 – AUG 2010
Analogue Environment Deployments on the Big Island
Project Summary
The Big Island of Hawaii has several sites that are excellent analogs for areas on the Moon and/or Mars. We are currently planning two analog deployments for 2012: one to test technology related to in-situ resource utilization, and one to investigate human factors in long-term space exploration. The focus this year is on site selection and research planning.
Project Progress
In January/February 2010, we participated in an analog deployment on the slopes of Mauna Kea. The focus of this deployment was on testing technology related to in-situ resource utilization on the Moon. My group explored the use of augmented shared reality technology for planning and executing astronaut sorties, in particular for the site characterization and mineral mapping.
We also began planning for future deployments: in particular, a four-month exploration simulation scheduled for late 2012. Although the focus of the deployment will be human factors research, the participants will carry out astrobiologically-relevant field research (e.g. geobiology in lava caves) as part of a high-fidelity mission simulation.
In January/February 2010, we explored the use of augmented-shared reality technology for sortie planning and execution. Astronaut Chris Hadfield used the equipment to communicate with a team of geologists back 'on Earth’ (i.e. at the ExDOC facility at the Canadian Space Agency in Montreal).
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PROJECT INVESTIGATORS:
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RELATED OBJECTIVES:
Objective 2.1
Mars exploration.
