Requirements for Portable Instrument Suites during Human Scientific Exploration of Mars

Abstract

Human explorers on the surface of Mars will have access to a far wider array of scientific tools than previous crewed planetary exploration missions, but not every tool will be compatible with the restrictions of this exploration. Spectrometers on flyby, orbital, and landed missions are currently used to determine the composition and mineralogy of geological materials of various types and sizes, from small fragments to celestial bodies in the solar system. Handheld spectrometers that are capable of in situ analyses are already used for geological exploration on Earth; however, their usefulness for human exploration missions and how data from multiple handheld instruments could be combined to enhance scientific return must be further evaluated. As part of the Biologic Analog Science Associated with Lava Terrains (BASALT) research project, we incorporated two handheld instruments, a visible-near infrared spectrometer and an X-Ray Fluorescence spectrometer, into simulated Mars exploration missions conducted on basaltic terrains in Idaho and Hawai'i. To understand the data quality provided by these handheld spectrometers, we evaluated their performance under varying conditions of measurement time, distance, angle, atmosphere, and sample matrix, and we compared data quality between handheld instruments and laboratory techniques. Here, we summarize these findings, provide guidelines and requirements on how to effectively incorporate these instruments into human exploration missions to Mars, and posit that future iterations of these instruments will be beneficial for enhancing science returned from human exploration missions.

Laboratory Analysis of Returned Samples from the AMADEE-18 Mars Analog Mission

“…The approach described in this section provides a geochemical instrumentation and methodological suite for the comprehensive analysis of a sample, yielding a mineralogical, elemental, organic, petrological, and geomorphological investigation. The results obtained from the different techniques illustrate the applicability of portable systems based on the real flight instruments for future analog missions (Lalla et al, 2016;Sehlke et al, 2019;Warren-Rhodes et al, 2019). Further, the combined measurements of this…”

“…comprehensive geochemical suite in analog space missions will yield insight into how our present methods can be improved upon for future missions to Mars and beyond. Particularly, given the large degree of instrument overlap and complementation, continuous use of the geochemical suite in space exploration will facilitate a unique combination in which the instruments ought to be used (Foing et al, 2011;Sehlke et al, 2019;Warren-Rhodes et al, 2019). Among the possible proposed objectives, the suite of used laboratory techniques demonstrated that these analyses provided us useful information when the ''Selection of Instrumentation'' comes.…”

Developing Intra-EVA Science Support Team Practices for a Human Mission to Mars

“…During the EVAs, the main task of the SST was to interpret and discuss observational and instrumental results being sent by the EV crew in order to identify sampling targets that would meet the predetermined strategic scientific objectives (Brady et al, 2019). The SST had to achieve this under tight time constraints with sometimes only a few minutes to debate a sample location, given only limited scientific data such as still images, handheld field spectrometer readouts, voice communications, and video access that changed given bandwidth conditions (see Beaton et al, 2017; Sehlke et al, 2019; Stevens et al, 2019). To manage these requirements, a range of SST roles were established to provide crucial personnel with appropriate information, facilitate scientific discussion, enable collaborative decision-making, and preserve a command structure.…”

“…These images and descriptions were used by the SST to prioritize sampling locations for instrument deployment. The EV team then deployed field instrumentation (see Sehlke et al, 2019) in the presampling survey at a subset of the proposed sample locations, guided by priority recommendations generated by the SST. Instrument data was then assessed by the SST together with the images and descriptions and a final recommended priority list returned to EV, who could begin sampling the top priorities (depending on the objectives).…”

A Flexible Telecommunication Architecture for Human Planetary Exploration Based on the BASALT Science-Driven Mars Analog

“…The X-ray fluorescence unit provided an elemental analysis on contact, while the VNIR spectrometer provided mineralogical information. For further details on instrument specifications, see Sehlke et al (2019). All data was transmitted over the network to the MSC.…”