KiwiMars 2012 Resources Repository
The folllowing is a list of the resources that we are working on. They are currently in the conceptual phase and we would like to hear from you if you wish to help finalising them.
Special thanks go to Jon Clarke - Mars Society Australia for his help and sharing his experiences as geologist extraordinaire and member of previous MDRS and Spaceward Bound expeditions.
Area |
Link |
Link |
---|---|---|
Geology |
Under development: Collecting a suite of gravels to characterise geology outside the immediate areaThis activity will also be available via our upcoming E-learning portal which is a project lead by our Mission Specialist in Planetary Sciences - Ali Harley. We estimate that the portal will go live during the World Space Week in October 2012. |
[^KiwiMars Crew 118_Resource1 Geology.pdf] |
Biology |
Under development LichensLichens are common at MDRS. In New Zealand any type of rocky ground – a cliff, coastal rocks, a hill top, a quarry, should have them. Photo documentation with scale, classifying by shape and form, and, for older students, maybe looking at relationship to aspect and basic statistical analysis. A lichen expert is needed to help at both ends. |
|
|
Under development: Fossils
There are millions of fossils on the top of hab ridge at MDRS. It might be a bit more difficult doing a fossil specific exercise as not all the students may live in areas with fossils in them. As, at MDRS, the fossils are all of one thing, an oyster (apart from the odd bone and piece fossil wood). Looking for fossils in the pebbles might be more profitable. Fine sponges, molluscs, algae, brachiopods, and bryozoa could be found in limestone and chert pebbles in the gravels. It will be more pot luck in NZ (too many igneous rocks and deep water sediments, but there are some), but this could be used to teach the importance of negative results in science. |
|
Communication |
Mission Patch design
According to NASA, for every space flight, the astronaut crew designs their own mission patch. Included in the patch design are various elements describing the different phases of that particular mission. Usually, in the design includes the names of the crew, the name of the space vehicle and its mission number. Crew 118 prepared a resource sheet about Mission Patches, in the hope that you will be designing your own mission patch whilst you will be interacting with us on Mars. |
[^KiwiMars Crew 118_Resource2_Mission Patch.pdf] |
Biosecurity |
Under development: The impact of human activity on ecosystemsThere have been attempts to quantify the human impact at MDRS using basic measures of soil compaction, E. coli levels and soil pH, with equivocal results. The smectite soils seem to active to preserve compaction, pH has not changed much, and the environment is too harsh (dry, saline, hot, cold, UV) for E. coli to survive for any period of time. What other impact do people have on their ecosystem? Make a wish list for what organisms you want to take on MarsHave you ever wondered what type of organisms would you take with you on a trip to Mars? Would you take a weed? What if the weed would have resistance genes that would help make better adapted plants for terraforming? What would you choose if you had been given the chance? |
|
History and culture |
Under development:
|
|
Survey |
Under development LiDAR based mapping exercice |
|
Astronomy |
Under development: Construction of a human solar dial in our backyard
For centuries humans measured time by looking at the stars and the Sun is one of them. Crew 98 RoMars built a Solar Human Dial at MDRS in 2011 that unfortunately was mistaken for rocks by other people. Now the brave Crew 118 is on a mission of reconstruction. They will create the first official solar garden that will guard the Astronomical Observatory on its new location. The commander of Crew 118 who is also the Astronomy Outreach Coordinator for MDRS considers this an honour that she was entrusted with by the MDRS Chief Astronomer Peter Detterline. |
|
Explore this site
Commander's Log
The commander of the expedition will keep you posted with the latest progress in the preparation of the project.