The European Space Agency (ESA) has once again chosen Lanzarote to recreate expeditions to the Moon and Mars and test technological advances in situations that mimic human and robotic operations outside our planet.
All this is part of Pangaea-X, the continuation of the ESA's geological training course Pangaea, within which "an intense week of testing" is being carried out until Friday with eight experiments to simulate different situations and anomalies in the "almost Martian" landscapes of Lanzarote.
"The technologies to explore other planets begin by being tested on Earth. While robots venture into unknown terrain, astronauts analyze rocks and send detailed geological descriptions to mission control," says the European Space Agency, which points out that "artificial intelligence is improving more and more thanks to human interaction and the Moon is on everyone's mind."
And "the craters, grottoes and lava seas of this volcanic island constitute the perfect environment to recreate expeditions to the Moon and Mars," they add from the European Space Agency, from where they point out that, in Lanzarote, "the rocks and minerals of the Earth's mantle have remained practically intact, so space walkers can practice new or already tested sample collection methods."
"Our objective is to test tools and procedures in a real environment, with the instruments and communication limitations that we would have in a mission. The integration of science and operations is crucial. We are here to improve the efficiency of future expeditions to the Moon," explains Loredana Bessone, project director on behalf of the ESA.
Humans and robots
Trained astronauts will share exploration tasks with robots and analytical tools. And, "communication is key to the success of missions, especially when links are of low quality and delays occur in space," according to the ESA
From Lanzarote, Matthias will operate a rover located in the ESA's technology center in the Netherlands. This is a precursor to the Analog-1 experiment, which ESA astronaut Luca Parmitano will carry out next year from the International Space Station.
A team of scientists will advise Matthias on the most scientifically interesting samples. To do this, they will use an innovative tool that integrates real-time positioning, data transmission, voice chat and much more. This electronic field notebook is an integral, simple and plug-and-play device manufactured by the ESA.
Upcoming lunar missions
Pangaea-X is strongly oriented towards upcoming lunar missions. "From 3D models to geological analysis in the field and robotic teleoperations, this is the most realistic way to prepare to return to the Moon," says Francesco Sauro, scientific director of the test campaign.
Training to walk on the Moon includes new sampling tools and updated replicas of the NASA systems used during the Apollo missions. ESA experts will work individually or in pairs, taking into account the mobility limitations of spacesuits and communication breakdowns.
The results will be added to the ESA's contribution to the space portal, a testing ground for the challenges of long-duration manned missions. As in the Pangaea-X trials, astronauts near the Moon will conduct experiments remotely, collect samples and test new technologies on the lunar surface.
