Astronaut Away Team Field Training In Iceland

Editor’s note: when it comes to conducting field trips – sorties – Away Team missions – on another world, astrogeology and astrobiology and astrochemistry overlap with one another all the time.

The processes whereby humans and/or robots plan and then execute an examination of a planet’s surface focus on the peculiar aspects of the planet they are exploring – but they ay also incorporate ample flexibility for the discovery of unexpected things.

This includes sampling, photography, cartography, geodesy, and ad hoc – on the spot – decision making by the astronauts – and not necessarily with Mission Control on Earth looking over their shoulders.

Using analogs on Earth – locations that replicate or mock one or more aspects expected to be encountered offworld – is a proven way to develop planned and unplanned exploration by astronauts.

Sometimes astronauts do the exploring in person. When distance or inhospitable conditions prevent onsite astronaut sorties then robots can fill in the gap. Either way, humans are in the loop and practicing on Earth helps prepare them for the unknown.

Astrobiology, Astrogeology, Away Teams,