spelunking
Posted inAnalog Studies, Arctic / Antarctic / Alpine, Astronauts and Explorers, Away Teams & Field Reports, Caves, Craters, Mountains, Subsurface, Lava Tubes, Desert Worlds, Exploration Gear & Tech, Habitable Zones, Icy Worlds, Mapping, Geodesy, Cartography, Bathymetry, Mars, Microbiology & Virology, Planetary Protection & Biosafety, Polar / Alpine Expeditions, Press Release, Sample Return

Caves On Earth As Proxies For Martian Subsurface Environments

by Keith Cowing

On planet Earth, the inner part of cave systems represents an extreme and isolated environment, characterized by relatively stable microclimatic conditions, nutrient limitation and protection from external stressors such as […]

Posted inAnalog Studies, Astronauts and Explorers, Away Teams & Field Reports, Biosignatures & Paleobiology, Caves, Craters, Mountains, Subsurface, Lava Tubes, Exploration Gear & Tech, Extremeophiles and Extreme Environments, Imaging & Spectroscopy, Microbiology & Virology, People Of Astrobiology, Status Report, Tricorders & Sensors

Away Team Training: Tricorder Use During Cave Microbiology Assay

by Keith Cowing

MBRSC astronaut Mohammad AlMulla took pictures of NASA astronaut Jasmin Moghbeli while she was conducting a microbiological investigation close to the underground base camp in Abel Cave.

Posted inAstrogeology, Atmospheres, Climate, Weather, Biogeochemical Cycles & Geobiology, Biosignatures & Paleobiology, Caves, Craters, Mountains, Subsurface, Lava Tubes, Habitable Zones, Icy Worlds, Imaging & Spectroscopy, Mars, Status Report

Water-driven Accessible Potential Karstic Caves in Hebrus Valles, Mars: Implications for Subsurface Habitability

by Keith Cowing

The Hebrus Valles region on Mars exhibits geomorphological indicators of past aqueous activity, such as fluvial channels and aligned sinkholes.

Posted inAnalog Studies, Astrogeology, Astronauts and Explorers, Away Teams & Field Reports, Caves, Craters, Mountains, Subsurface, Lava Tubes, Exploration Gear & Tech, People Of Astrobiology, Polar / Alpine Expeditions, Status Report, Tricorders & Sensors

ESA Offworld Astronaut Cave Exploration Training

by Keith Cowing

NASA astronaut Jasmin Moghbeli took pictures of MBRSC astronaut Mohammad AlMulla while he was conducting a microbiological investigation close to the underground base camp in Abel Cave.

Posted inAnalog Studies, Astronauts and Explorers, Away Teams & Field Reports, Caves, Craters, Mountains, Subsurface, Lava Tubes, Exploration Gear & Tech, Mapping, Geodesy, Cartography, Bathymetry, Press Release, Tricorders & Sensors

ESA Away Team Training: Underground Microbiology

by Keith Cowing

Ettore Lopo and Marco Vattano, the science team of ESA CAVES 2025 course, explain the latest details of microbiological analyses to astronauts Mohammad AlMulla (MBRSC) and Makoto Suwa (JAXA).

Posted inAway Teams & Field Reports, Biogeochemical Cycles & Geobiology, Biosignatures & Paleobiology, Caves, Craters, Mountains, Subsurface, Lava Tubes, Exploration Gear & Tech, Extremeophiles and Extreme Environments, Mapping, Geodesy, Cartography, Bathymetry, Nomenclature, Systematics, Natural History, Press Release, Sample Return

Away Team Visits Bhutan’s Unexplored Caves

by Keith Cowing

Famous for its breathtaking mountain landscapes and cliffside Buddhist monasteries, the small South Asian kingdom of Bhutan is also home to miles upon miles of caves that have been shrouded […]

Posted inAway Teams & Field Reports, Biosignatures & Paleobiology, Caves, Craters, Mountains, Subsurface, Lava Tubes, Exploration Gear & Tech, Extremeophiles and Extreme Environments, Habitable Zones, Imaging & Spectroscopy, Mapping, Geodesy, Cartography, Bathymetry, Microbiology & Virology, Missions & Hardware, Press Release, Sample Return, Tricorders & Sensors

Fluorescent Caves Could Explain How Life Persists In Extraterrestrial Environments

by Keith Cowing

Deep below Earth’s surface, rock and mineral formations lay hidden with a secret brilliance. Under a black light, the chemicals fossilized within shine in brilliant hues of pink, blue and […]

Posted inAnalog Studies, Arctic / Antarctic / Alpine, Astrogeology, Away Teams & Field Reports, Biosignatures & Paleobiology, Caves, Craters, Mountains, Subsurface, Lava Tubes, Courses, Exploration Gear & Tech, Status Report, Tricorders & Sensors

ESA CAVES OffWorld Away Team Training: Astronauts Exploring Underground

by Keith Cowing

Astronauts from five space agencies around the world take part in ESA’s CAVES training course– Cooperative Adventure for Valuing and Exercising human behaviour and performance Skills.

Posted inAstrogeology, Away Teams & Field Reports, Caves, Craters, Mountains, Subsurface, Lava Tubes, Exploration Gear & Tech, Mapping, Geodesy, Cartography, Bathymetry, People Of Astrobiology, Status Report, Tricorders & Sensors

ESA Away Team Training In Sardinian Caves

by Keith Cowing

ESA’s cave training prepares astronauts to work as an international team in real exploration conditions. Sending astronauts underground to survive and explore Sardinian caves in Italy for almost a week […]

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