Geomatics consists in acquiring, representing, analyzing and integrating geographical data using a tool such as satellite images and drones. The project aims to create a map that will combine ArcGIS tagged images taken by a drone and satellite images.
The objective of this experiment is to detect muons under “Martian condition”, using a portable muon detector provided by the University of Louvain. Discovered in cosmic rays in 1936 by Carl David Anderson and his assistant Seth Neddermeyer at Caltech, muons are elementary particles similar to electronsbut with higher mass (207 times mass of an electron). On Earth, Muons are produced by the breakdown of charged pions created in the upper atmosphere by cosmic rays. As muons have a high energy, time dilation effect described by special relativity makes them observable at the surface of the Earth. Therefore the observation of these muons demonstrate the Einstein equations. The MDRS is located at a high altitude (1400m) and so, observation of muons will be facilitated.
Cosmic rays have played a key role in physics and are still an important research topic at an international level. It would be relevant to analyze how particles as muons behave on the Martian atmosphere, and to compare it with what we observe on Earth. In fact, the Martian atmosphere is very different from Earth: low pressure (about 0.6% of the average Earth pressure), and 96% of CO2. The low density of Martian atmosphere makes that we expect a higher flow of muons.
The aim of this project is to avoid the muscle wasting of the crew members during the stay at the MDRS and evaluate solutions against this problem. Indeed, the stay in a station of 8 m of diameter during several weeks, with few exercies, can generate an important muscular melting, a loss of strength and a physical deconditioning.
In order to avoid this loss of muscular mass, we want to establish a physical training program. This program can be adapted to individual needs and can be done in the station.
For this experiment, a precise analysis of physical activity of everyone will be conducted before and during the stay. This experiment also aims to find a way to make the training exercises in the most cost-effective manner, so they do not take too much time, do not take too much energy, and thus avoid to consume extra food or water. This could be achieved through the method of “cuff”. A cuff is an armband that is inflated to a certain pressure around the end of the working muscle. That regulates the blood supply of the muscle, and so, for the same exercise the cuff will have a greater effect on the muscle. That allows to exercise for a shorter time period with the same result.
Before leaving – we will analyze the physical condition of everyone through setting up of a pedometer on each crew members for one to two weeks and giving daily questionnaire about physical and sports activity and conducting effort and muscle strength tests in laboratory.
3 groups – Group 1 = control group, making any physical exercise, Group 2 = group doing exercises without cuff, Group 3 = group doing exercises with cuff.
On the spot – We will place a pedometer on each subject to track the number of steps completed each day, proceed the exercises of the muscular maintenance program (with or without cuff) and report of the activities and the number of liters drank by each crew members.
A ground penetrating radar (GPR) was used for a characterization of the “martian” subsoil. This is a non-invasive, sub-surface imaging technique for, among others, geological applications. In the GPR scanning process electromagnetic energy (in the form of radio waves) is pulsed into the substrate via an antenna at a certain frequency (100 Mhz in this case). These pulses bounce off structures into the soil (new layers, ect). They are then captured by a receiver antenna. This technique is interesting for Mars because the material is light and easy to use compared to other geophysical techniques. The output of this kind of survey is a radargram where different layers of soil of buried structures can be visible.
During the simulation, the following material (provided by Exploration Instruments) was used:
Three surveys were done:
Although a post-processing is still necessary for the results (the “radargram”), preliminary observations can be done: Two different layers were identified, northern the station and it seems that the layers are quite uniform with no cavities. Thanks to the numerous geophysical profiles that were collected, 3D-mapping will be set.
After these two weeks of survey, it would be interesting to analyse other fields near the station with other type of antenna (especially a bistatic antenna or antenna that pluses electromagnetic energy at a higher frequency [200 Mhz or 400 Mhz]). Morever, other interesting areas were found during the EVA’s.
The experiment consists measuring of the electromagnetic spectrum of some brillant stars, and thereafter determining it composition. To do that, we will couple a CCD spectroscope to the telescope of the MDRS. On Earth, the atmosphere interacts with the signal sent by astronomical object. However, on Mars, the atmosphere is one hundred time less dense and will not interfere as much as on Earth.
We will conduct the first tests on the Moon and Jupiter and then we will look at the brightest stars visible this season. If they are high enough in the sky, we will try to study Mars and Saturn. Some of the stars expected to be observed are Sirius, Rigel, Procyon, Betelgeuse, Aldebaran, Capella, Pollux, Vega, Deneb,…
Furthermore, the MUSK observatory is equipped to make astrophotography.
The objective of this experiment is to study the production and consumption of oxygen in a closed loop. Two sealed chambers, interconnected by a conduit, will house respectively a plant and a rabbit. The plant will produce oxygen through photosynthesis and it will be consumed by the respiration of both organismes. Both rooms are connected by two selective conduits with respect to a given gas (CO2 and O2, respectively) with a flow meter for measuring the exchange of gases between the two chambers. A sensor in each chamber will give the air composition thereof.
The characterization of Martian rocks and more specifically, characterization of their hydration is essential for evaluating of the presence of past present and / or futur life on the Red Planet. The objective of this experiment is to evaluate the hydration of the soil with an X-ray diffractometer.
The X-ray diffraction is a physico-chemical analysis method based on X-ray diffraction on the matter. It only works on the crystallized material and evaluates, among others, the hydration of samples. During the EVA, soil samples will be collected and analyzed in a portable diffractometer. The results will be interpreted on site and a second analysis will be conducted after the mission using a database provided by the University of Louvain.
Moreover, a distillation of magnesium perchlorate hydrate (compound recently discovered on Mars) will be made at the station. This second experiment will explore a practical way to use the data collected by the diffraction.
This project aims at developing a communication system between crew members taking part to an EVA on Mars and the main station. This system does not need satellites, magnetic fields or antenna. It is based on the use of drones which rely the signal to the station and vice versa. The experiment will focus on two subjects: how to localize the drones from the station and how to localize the crew in EVA from the drone.
The drone will carry accelerators which allow to integrate its speed and its position in space. The members in EVA will carry an emitter which sends signal at regular intervals, allowing to the drone to know its position with respect to the emitter. Afterward, the drone will make some operations for knowing its position with this information.
Benefits are double. On the one hand, the drone’s mobility will improve the range and the quality of the telecommunications, since it can adapt itself to the rugged terrain to maintain a sufficient transmission signal. On the other hand, the drone will be able to map surrounding areas and indicate to the base in real-time the EVA members’s position.