CanMars mission Science Team operational results: Implications for operations and the sample selection process for Mars Sample Return (MSR). (August 2019)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Caudill, Christy M.; Pontefract, Alexandra J.; Osinski, Gordon R.; Tornabene, Livio L.; Pilles, Eric A.; Battler, Melissa; Francis, Raymond; Godin, Etienne; Grau Galofre, Anna; Haltigin, Timothy; Hipkin, Victoria J.; Mittelholz, Anna; Poitras, Jordan; Simpson, Sarah L.; Svensson, Matthew; Xie, Tianqi; Morse, Zachary R.
• Is Part Of: Planetary and space science. Volume 172(2019)
• Page Start: 43
• Page End: 56
• Publication Date: 2019-08
• Subjects: Mars -- Rover -- Analogue mission -- Sample return -- Mission operations; Space sciences -- Periodicals; Atmosphere, Upper -- Periodicals; Sciences spatiales -- Périodiques; Haute atmosphère -- Périodiques; 523
• DOI: 10.1016/j.pss.2019.04.004
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0032-0633

Abstract

Abstract: The CanMars Mars sample return (MSR) analogue mission was conducted as a field and operational test for the Mars 2020 sample cache rover mission and was the most realistic known MSR rover analogue mission to-date. A rover — similar in scale to that of rover planned for NASA's Mars 2020 mission — was deployed to a scientifically relevant Mars-analogue sedimentary field site with remote mission operations conducted at the University of Western Ontario, Canada; the mission aim was to inform on best practices and optimal approaches for sample acquisition modeled on the Mars 2020 rover mission. The daily operational procedures of the CanMars Science Team were modeled on those of current missions (i.e., Mars Science Laboratory tactical operations), serving as a study of known operational workflows and as a testbed for new approaches. This paper reports on the operational results of CanMars with best-practice recommendations. CanMars was designed as a Mars 2020 mock mission and thus carried similar science objectives; these included (1) advancing the understanding of the habitability potential of a subaqueous sedimentary environment through identifying, characterizing, and caching drilled samples containing high organic carbon (as a proxy for preserved ancient biosignatures) and (2) advancing the understanding of the history of water at the site. The in situ science investigations needed to address these science objectives were guided by the Mars Exploration Program Analysis Group goals. Effective and efficient Science Team operational procedures were developed – and many lessons were documented – through daily tactical planning and science investigations employed to meet the sample acquisition goals. In addition to the documentation of the CanMars operational procedures, this paper provides a brief summary of the science results from CanMars with a focus on recommendations for future analogue missions and planetary sample return flight missions, providing specific value to operational procedures for the Mars 2020 rover mission. Highlights: Rover mission operations management, procedures, and workflows were vetted. We document the complex Science Team interactions relevant to operational workflows. An intentional operational structure must be employed for optimal use of very limited mission time.