Science Objectives & Investigation Methodology

1. Science Objectives & Investigation Methodology Life in the Atacama 2005Science & Technology WorkshopJanuary 6-7, 2005 Nathalie A. CabrolNASA Ames

2. 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 NASA Ames Research Center /Carnegie Mellon

3. Summary of Mission Goal: The Plan NASA Ames Research Center /Carnegie Mellon

4. 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. NASA Ames Research Center /Carnegie Mellon

5. Summary of Achievements (2) • • ~ Longest science traverse during ops: ~1.2km; • • 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% NASA Ames Research Center /Carnegie Mellon

6. Summary of Achievements (3) NASA Ames Research Center /Carnegie Mellon

7. Summary of Achievements (4-1) NASA Ames Research Center /Carnegie Mellon

8. Summary of Achievements (4-2) NASA Ames Research Center /Carnegie Mellon

9. Summary of Achievements (4-3) NASA Ames Research Center /Carnegie Mellon

10. Summary of Achievements (5) NASA Ames Research Center /Carnegie Mellon

11. Searching for Life: Where do we Stand? Uncertain diagnosis Increased confidence in diagnosis Increased level of confidence of RSTs NASA Ames Research Center /Carnegie Mellon

12. 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. NASA Ames Research Center /Carnegie Mellon

13. 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 NASA Ames Research Center /Carnegie Mellon

14. Post-Mission Exploration Strategy Adjustments (2) RM A B TS A RS A B NASA Ames Research Center /Carnegie Mellon

15. Nathalie Cabrol: Post-Mission Exploration Strategy Adjustments (3) -- ADDED VALUE • 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 NASA Ames Research Center /Carnegie Mellon

16. Post-Mission Exploration Strategy Adjustments (4) • 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? NASA Ames Research Center /Carnegie Mellon

17. Issues to be discussed • Difference between targeted sampling and regional mapping? • Ground-Truthing and Sampling • Info archival • Other? NASA Ames Research Center /Carnegie Mellon

18. Post-Mission RST Duties and Timeline NASA Ames Research Center /Carnegie Mellon

19. 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? NASA Ames Research Center /Carnegie Mellon