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Mission Mars: Adventures on Earth
Join us at this special event to uncover the secrets to exploring other planets,
hidden in the least hospitable parts of our own.
For centuries, the red planet has fired our imaginations; composers, authors, poets and more have all offered their tributes to the bringer of war.
Now, science has brought us to the very cusp of visiting Mars. Getting there, however, is only half of the battle. When humans set foot on Mars, what will they do? How will they explore? How will they survive?
Over the past decade, NASA teams have been working at analogs, destinations on Earth that simulate Mars mission conditions, to build capabilities for human and human-robotic missions to the Moon, into deep space, and on Mars.
In this talk, Dr Darlene Lim shares her experiences working under simulated mission conditions in the Arctic, the Antarctic, and underwater where she has piloted submersibles as a scientist and explorer.
Two on-going NASA analog programs on which Dr Lim will focus are BASALT (Biologic Analog Science Associated with Lava Terrains), and SUBSEA (Systematic Underwater Biogeochemical Science and Exploration Analog). These missions aim to solve a number of unique challenges that are not encountered during typical scientific field expeditions, such as extreme environmental conditions and communication delays. Only once we have mastered these challenges can we walk among the red dunes of Mars.
NASA is looking for international partners to provide the next generation of lunar delivery services by carrying science and technology to the Moon. Future payloads could include rovers, power sources, science experiments, and technology to be infused into the Artemis program.
“The Artemis program integrates our science and human exploration goals, and we are using our commercial partners to help meet those goals with an innovative and cost-effective approach,” said Steven Clarke, NASA deputy associate administrator for exploration in science. “The capability to land heavier payloads on the lunar surface is a service that NASA has a keen interest in. We’re looking forward to innovative proposals and possibly more partners to advance what we’ve already started with CLPS.”
The CLPS contracts are indefinite delivery, indefinite quantity contracts with a combined maximum contract value of $2.6 billion with performance through 2028.
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