Mission Overview

Mission Duration: 8 days
Landing Site: Mars Desert Research Station near Henry Mountains.
Landing Coordinates: N38°24, W110°47

EVA Schedule:

• EVA 1: Map and Document the region of Comet Tail Rock.
• EVA 2: Locate concretion-bearing regions at/near MDRS.
• EVA 3: Documentation of Comet Tail Site/Martian Squeeze
• EVA 4: Assist Angelina Zabala with soil sampling project to meaure water content in soil for comparative analysis between martian seasons (educational outreach project. PI: Angelina Zabala).
• EVA 5: Measure frequency and size distribution of spherules within the host rock at/near MDRS (basis of thesis project. PI: Veronica Ann Zabala-Aliberto).
• EVA 6: Document fuvial regimes which would be geologically and astrobiologically important for possible future analogue sites similiar to the Mars Exploration Rovers (MER).
• EVA 7: Scouting Lith Canyon for the possibility of concretion-bearing formations

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MDRS Flame Rotation Geological Research Project
Comparative Study of Terrestrial Concretions with Implications for the Origin of Martian Blueberries
CDR Zabala-Aliberto; PI

F.L.A.M.E.'s specific Mars analogue research focuses on: geologic, astrobiologic, engineering, remote sensing, and human factors studies. Geologic studies will encompass that of sampling, geologic mapping, photogeology, and determining analogue investigation sites at or near MDRS that resemble what we have observed from orbiter and lander missions to the Red Planet. Sampling of concretions near MDRS will help provide answers to observations made from the Mars Exploration Rovers at both the Opportunity and Spirit landing sites to finally determine what planetary scientists are observing are either that of concretions, impact spherules, accretionary lapilli or a combination of the above said. Remote sensing will help aid in studies and define what is currently being bserved by crew at MDRS.

Terrestrial analogues like the Mars Desert Research Station (MDRS) can be studied in order to learn more about the geological processes on Mars when dealing with the origin, composition, size distribution and frequencies of the martian spherules. The MDRS region contains different size distributions and frequencies of concretions which contain various amount of iron. In March 2005, sample collecting of the concretions within the MDRS region were carried out. Those within the host rock and those that had been weathered out of the concretions-bearing layers were photographed and then collected for further laboratory analysis. During this mission, new concretion-bearing sites will hoepfully be located, sampled, and mapped.

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MDRS Flame Rotation Geological Research Project Angelina Amanda Zabala, Science Officer

EVA Schedule:

• EVA 1: Collect soil samples at different depths at various fluvial regimes at MDRS location.
• EVA 2: Collect soil samples at different depths at various locations at Comet Tail Rock

Searching for subsurface water is important because it will help NASA in its goals to "Follow the Water." Locating fluvial (liquid-related) regions at or near the Mars Desert Research Station (MDRS) will help determine how much water is in the soil at different times of the year. We can use this information and compare it to what is observed from the Mars Exploration Rovers (MER). Soil samples will be collected at 0, 6, and 12 inches. Soil moisture will be determined by using a bake-oven technique which will help me determine the amount of mass that was lost in the sample. This field experiment will be very important because we can also determine how much water there can be in the subsurface at different depths as well as determine what types of soils are best to store the water.

I will also be using a pH meter, moisture meter and a light meter to see how much water and radiation there is in different fluvial regimes. This can be very important for the science of Astrobiology. Astrobiology is the study of life outside our own planet.

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MDRS Flame Rotation Paleontology Research Project
Stacy Sklar

EVA Schedule:

• EVA 1: Map and Document the Gryphaea contact
• EVA 2: Finish Mapping and Documenting Gryphaea contact. Start field analysis of oyster beds
• EVA 3: Documentation of Comet Tail Site/Martian Squeeze
• EVA 4: Continuation of field analysis of oyster beds
• EVA 5: Continuation of field analysis of oyster beds
• EVA 6: Scout sites north of hab for possible fossils/concretions
• EVA 7: Scouting Lith Canyon for fossils

Taphonomic Study of the Gryphaea beds
within the Cretaceous Dakota Sandstone

Initial field studies in south central Utah have yielded a Gryphaea bed overlying the Dakota Sandstone. Further field analysis will be conducted in mid-March of 2006 in order to determine the extant of the oyster bed, life or death assemblage, biostratinomy of Gryphaea fossils, field examination of the sandstone and shale units found in close association to the Gryphaea fossils. Other field observations (depending on resources) will include species identification, shell thickness, and possible associated microfossils.

Life and death assemblages each have their own significant tools in understand these environments. For example, life assemblages examine how the fauna once lived within that environment. Death assemblages can indicate mode of transportation.

Long term changes of Gryphaea morphology have been extensively studied and have yielded invaluable evolutionary data; however, Gryphaea has not been extensively studied for its ability to survive short term environmental changes or as an indicator of paleoecological environments (Nori and Lathuiliere, 2003).

References:

Nori, L. and Lathuiliere, B., 2003, Form and Environment of Gryphaea arcuata. Lethaia, v. 36, p. 83-96.
Prothero, D. R., 2004, Bringing Fossils to Life: An Introduction to Paleobiology, 2nd Edition: New York, NY, McGraw-Hill

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Human Factors Studies
CDR Zabala-Aliberto; PI

The goal during F.L.A.M.E. mission is to determine the sleep patterns of the crew and mission control while living a Mars Sol. The exact length of a Sol changes slightly based on the season, therefore, we will estimate the Sol to be approximately 24 hours and 39 minutes long (the same assumption made during the MER mission). The Mars Desert Research Station (MDRS) crew bed times and wake up times will be scheduled to occur 39 minutes later each day, thus day one bedtime will be 10pm and day two at 10:39 pm (see Table 1 for example bedtimes and wake times). In reality, emergencies will always take precedence over scheduled sleep times.

Example of a sleep schedule while living on Mars

Wakes Up - In Bed
0600 - 2226
0639 - 2305
0718 - 2344
0757 - 0023
0836 - 0102
0915 - 0141

At MDRS, the crew will attempt to mimic the Mars lighting conditions. To view current times on Mars please visit the following URL:

    http://marsrovers.jpl.nasa.gov/home/

This study will provide insight into the ability of humans to sleep on a Mars Sol sleep/wake schedule with minimum exposure to the Earth lighting conditions and social obligations. This crew is also unique in that the crew will consist of children (ages between 8 to 14 years old) and adults. Therefore, the sleep patterns between them will be investigated. Additionally, this study may provide insight into the sleep disruptions occurring for mission control in supporting a Mars Sol operation. It is important to remember that although the MDRS crew will live a Mars Sol, they will always need to interface with mission control, who will be Earth bound.

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Evaluation of the Need and Requirements for Human Assistant Rovers
Menkes van den Briel; PI

Spirit and Opportunity are excellent examples of science rovers capable of operating on the surface of Mars. Not only have these rovers explored the surface of Mars, they have undoubtedly exceeded their most optimistic expectations by sending back far more images and scientific data then initially expected. Spirit and Opportunity are very successful robotic explorers of Mars, but their designs do not provide us with sufficient research for the development of rovers that could be useful for the human exploration of Mars. The only human assistant rover that has ever been used in space is the Moon Buggy. The Moon Buggy is a lightweight lunar rover that allowed astronauts to explore the surface of the Moon farther more effectively. A human mission to Mars, however, is likely going to be several weeks long (i.e. longer than all human missions to the Moon combined), so it is unclear whether an unpressurized Moon Buggy rover will be useful for a long-term human mission to Mars. Therefore, the aim of this study is to investigate the need and requirements for human assistant rovers in a Mars analog environment.

Objectives:

• Evaluate the need and requirements for human assistant rovers by interviewing the MDRS crew at the end of a 7 day long Mars simulation.
• Contribute to a better understanding of how rovers can help contribute to the human exploration of Mars (i.e. by transporting astronauts, by performing certain tasks to eliminate human errors, or by performing certain tasks that are too dangerous for humans).

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MDRS Paleontology Research Project
Tom Romberger, HSO / Assistant Engineer

As part of Crew 46, I will be assisting Menkes van den Briel with engineering objectives around the HAB. With an undergraduate level background in Aerospace Engineering, I will be able to provide support to the currently planned research objectives as well as assist with any general upkeep, maintenance, and improvements to the HAB and equipment as needed. While at the MDRS I will also be conducting an outreach program to promote Mars exploration to a wide range of students from across the country. I will post my experiences and pictures on in a daily log on the SEDS (Students for the Exploration and Development of Space) homepage, www.seds.org. The site is regularly visited by many students from across the country (and sometimes across the world) who are interested in space. I hope that my experiences as a fellow SEDS member at MDRS will generate some excitement about Mars in the SEDS community and and spur interest in Mars exploration and current research efforts. I will also be acting as Chief Health and Safety Officer (HSO) providing medical support when needed.