science objectives & investigation methodology life in the atacama 2005 science & technology...

Science Objectives & Investigation Methodology

Life in the Atacama 2005Science & Technology WorkshopJanuary 6-7, 2005

Nathalie A. CabrolNASA Ames

Life in the Atacama 2005 Science/Technology Workshop

2 NASA Ames Research Center / Carnegie Mellon

Introduction

Topic: Science Objectives & Methods

Outline:• 2004

•The plan and what was accomplished•Pre-mission exploration strategies and post-field test adjustment for 2005

• 2005 Issues•Difference between targeted sampling and regional mapping?

•Ground-Truthing and Sampling• Info archival



Summary of Mission Goal: The Plan



Summary of Achievements (1)

• 41 locales listed; 24 unique locales investigated• Total science traverses:

• Site B: ~ 6 km -- to be confirmed by E.T (all manual)• Site C: ~ 23.5 km -- to be confirmed by E.T (13.9/12.5)

• Outstanding and first time demos for future missions (e.g., MSL and Sample Return):• During the same sol (014):

• Successful return to a locale (040) of high-science value;

• Return ~150 m to LS after one week of investigation. The original plan was to allow 2 sols to get back accurately to a site.




• ~ Longest science traverse during ops: ~1.2 km;

• 3.3 km autonomous traverse (post-science ops);

• 0% autonomy at Site B;

• 83% autonomy at Site C after the camera were working;

• Mean autonomy at Site C: 59%

• Overall autonomy (Site B + Site C): 47%




Site BScienceTraverse

(km)

AutonomousNavigation

(%)

LongestAutonomous

Segment(m)

Long-RangeMapping

Stops

TargetedSampling

Stops

RemoteSensingMeasur.

In situMeasur.

DataVolumeReceived

(MB)

Sol 01 0 0 80?Sol 02 0 0 454?Sol 03 0 0 151Sol 04 0 0 170Sol 05 0 0 46Sol 06 0 0 122Sol 07 0 0 49Total 0 0 1,072

Site CTotal

ScienceTraverse

(km)

RoverAutonomousNavigation

(%)

LongestAutonomous

Segment(m)

Long-RangeMapping

Stops

TargetedSampling

Stops

RemoteSensingMeasur.

In situMeasur.

DataVolumeReceived

(MB)

Sol 08 0 0 0 1 0 96Sol 09 1.6? 0 0 2 3 34Sol 10 1.6? 0 0 4 3 46Sol 11 3.5 0 0 3 2 56Sol 12 1.5 99 (1.5 km) 543 5 3 66Sol 13 6.2 66

(4.1 km)742 8 1 49

Sol 14 9.1 91 (13.9 km) 1,209 4 2 154Total 23.5 59

(13.9 km)2,494 27 14 501

N.A. Cabrol and D. Jonak



Summary of Achievements (4-1)




N. A. Cabrol and D. Jonak




Category Mission SuccessCriteria

Year 01 CampaignResults

Number of Samples 10 27Total Science Traverse N/A 2.3 km (60% aut.)

Category Mission SuccessCriteria

Year 02 CampaignResults20 Detailed16 Survey4 Plows

Number of Samples 10 Detailed100 Survey

Phase 1:11 Detailed9 Survey1 Plow

Phas e 2 :9 De taile d7 S urvey3 Plow

Total Sc ien c e Travers e N/A ~29.5 km (~ 47% aut)



Searching for Life: Where do we Stand?

Rover Mission Geology /Environment

Habitat Life

Marsokhod 1995Marsokhod 1996Nomad 1997Marsokhod 1999FIDO 2002Hyperion 2003Zoe 2004 ?

Uncertain diagnosis

Increased confidence in diagnosis

Increased level of confidence of RSTs



Pre-Mission Exploration Strategy

• Regional Mapping: Along a traverse from A to B, rover stops every determined n-meters, deploys a set number of instruments and always acquire same type of data

• Targeted Sampling: Thorough investigation of science targets of interest identified in the scene.



Post-Mission Exploration Strategy Adjustments (1)

• The demonstration of the ability to go back accurately to a distant site of science interest with the rover is opening new possibilities in terms of robotic astrobiology investigation strategy. For the 05’ campaign, we suggest a new strategy that will provide the best of the two “worlds” of the current targeted sampling and regional mapping:

Tentative definitions:

• Regional Mapping Reconnaissance Survey

• Targeted Sampling Focused Investigation




A B

RM

A

TS

RS

A B



Pros of the Reconnaissance Strategy:• Maximize the use of rover mobility to cover long-range fast; • Grasp quickly the main characteristics of an area;• Allow time for the S.T to “digest” the information, thus;• Decrease the chances of missing sites of high-science payoff;• Still allows to perform regional mapping;• Improve quality of samples and increase our ability to make educated conclusions

Post-Mission Exploration Strategy Adjustments (3) -- ADDED VALUE

Nathalie Cabrol:

Nathalie Cabrol:



•Requirement:• Robust demonstration of ability to go back to a

specific site:• Using way points, ground and satellite imagery; (this year demo)

• Develop technology that would allow the rover to follow its tracks back;

• Other methods?




Issues to be discussed

• Difference between targeted sampling and regional mapping?

• Ground-Truthing and Sampling• Info archival• Other?



Post-Mission RST Duties and Timeline



04’ RFE LITA Science Publications

• 5 LPSC Abstracts (to be submitted 01/13)

• 11 projects of JGR papers about the 04’ Campaign + 2 papers from Mckay’s group (deadline for 1st drafts : 04/01/05)

• 1 Science report (in progress)

• Already accepted:

• Wettergreen et al., ICRA 2005 - First experiments in the robotic investigation of life in the Atacama desert of Chile.

• Other?

science objectives & investigation methodology life in the atacama 2005 science & technology...

Documents

regionalrequested sol

sol 070049total001

longest science traverse

locale 026c8

locale 025c8

locale 026c10

locale 034c11

pan dyeslocale