IDEAS: LA: IDaho Exploration And Science Lunar Analog

Key, central objectives: NASA’s planned return to human exploration of the moon with Artemis III in the next several years and subsequent plans to continue onward to Mars are part of a paradigm shift in space exploration. While engineering applications have dominated Extravehicular Activities (EVAs) since the end of the Apollo missions in the 1970s, the Artemis mission EVAs will be driven by science questions meant to elucidate the geologic history and evolution of the planets in our solar system. The scientific success of the Artemis missions will depend on carefully designed EVA plans grounded in high-fidelity analog systems tested on Earth before they are conducted under the high-risk conditions of space. In support of that effort, we propose to conduct targeted lunar analog field studies in the eastern Snake River Plain, Idaho, that will a) provide testing grounds for high-priority lunar targets as well as b) evaluate and provide recommendations for the astronaut geolocation system currently intended for the early human lunar missions of the Artemis spaceflight era. Methods and techniques: The proposed research has two branches: 1) field analog investigations of high priority lunar targets using the eastern Snake River Plain volcanic field, and 2) evaluation of errors within the intended Artemis III astronaut tracking procedure, including the development of training recommendations based on our findings. In our science branch, we will: investigate the use of field-portable instruments to differentiate between primary and hydromagmatic pyroclasts; conduct 3D lidar scans of lava tubes, studying their morphology and fractal scales as well as evaluating longitudinal and vertical variation in mineralogy and geochemistry; and use high-resolution UAS data to characterize lava surface morphometry as a function of sediment infill, developing a means by which to interpret the original morphology of lunar lava flows partially buried by lunar dust. Throughout all of our field campaigns, we will collect and analyze data on the accuracy of researchers locating themselves in space using the same alphanumerically gridded map system that the Artemis III astronauts will use. Field placements using that system will be evaluated against both interpretations taken from video feeds of chest-mounted cameras on the researchers and drift-corrected GPS logs. Patterns of errors in location will enable us to identify particular vulnerabilities of the self-location method and to create training recommendations to be used to help the Artemis astronauts mitigate such errors. Significance: The proposed work will provide original lunar analog data for high-interest features, as well as result in training recommendations to improve the self-location of astronauts in the absence of a beacon system. This serves the Artemis exploration program as a whole through science, and the Artemis III mission specifically from an operations perspective. The proposed work would also lay important groundwork to establish Idaho as a leader in lunar analogs and provide career training for students in space exploration, including funding summer or semester-long internships with NASA collaborators at Goddard Space Flight Center.

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