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).
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Posted inAnalog Studies, Astrogeology, Astronauts and Explorers, Away Teams & Field Reports, Biosignatures & Paleobiology, Caves, Craters, Mountains, Subsurface, Lava Tubes, Exploration Gear & Tech, Microbiology & Virology, Sample Return, Status Report, Tricorders & Sensors
ESA Away Team Tricorder Training
ESA is developing a digital tool to support lunar exploration. The Electronic Field Book (EFB) is an all-in-one information system that exchanges data and integrates science activities in remote environments.
Posted inAway Teams & Field Reports, Biochemistry & Organic Chemistry, Biosignatures & Paleobiology, Exploration Gear & Tech, Genomics, Proteomics, Bioinformatics, Imaging & Spectroscopy, Missions & Hardware, Nanotechnology & SynBio, Press Release, Tricorders & Sensors
Tricorder Tech: Small Chip To Search For Signs Of Extraterrestrial Life
Is life possible – or has it ever been possible – on other planets? The (Origin of) Life Marker Chip (LMCOOL) seeks the answer. This innovative chip is being developed […]
Posted inAstrochemistry, Astrogeology, Biophysics, Biosignatures & Paleobiology, Imaging & Spectroscopy, Missions & Hardware, Planetary Protection & Biosafety, Robotics/Rovers/UAVs, Sample Return, Status Report, Tricorders & Sensors
Tricorder Tech: Stable Nitrogen Isotope Analysis of Amino Acids by Orbitrap Mass Spectrometry: Application for Extraterrestrial Samples
Background Obtaining isotopic data on soluble organic compounds, such as amino acids, in extraterrestrial samples is crucial for understanding their origins, prebiotic chemistry, and potential contamination. Conventional GC‐IRMS requires grams […]
Posted inAtmospheres, Climate, Weather, Away Teams & Field Reports, Exploration Gear & Tech, Imaging & Spectroscopy, Mapping, Geodesy, Cartography, Bathymetry, Missions & Hardware, Status Report
Planetary Assays: Testing A Computed Tomography Imaging Spectrometer for Earth Observations on the HEIMDAL Stratospheric Balloon Mission
Stratospheric High Altitude Balloons (HABs) have great potential as a remote sensing platform for Earth Observations that complements orbiting satellites and low flying drones.
Posted inAnalog Studies, Astrogeology, Astronauts and Explorers, Away Teams & Field Reports, Caves, Craters, Mountains, Subsurface, Lava Tubes, Exploration Gear & Tech, Imaging & Spectroscopy, Mapping, Geodesy, Cartography, Bathymetry, People Of Astrobiology, Status Report, Tricorders & Sensors
Tricorder Tech: ESA Away Team Portable Microscope Training
Astronaut Arnaud Prost is taking closeup pictures of a sample through a portable microscope to evaluate the mineral phases. Astrobiology, Astrogeology,
Posted inPress Release
Tricorder Tech: Multifocus Microscope Pushes The Limits Of Fast Live 3D Biological Imaging
Editor’s note: as we send increasingly sophisticated astrobiology probes – to more places – often at much greater distances – they will need to be able to do more and […]
Posted inAI - Data - Apps - Cybernetics, Analog Studies, Arctic / Antarctic / Alpine, Away Teams & Field Reports, Caves, Craters, Mountains, Subsurface, Lava Tubes, Exploration Gear & Tech, Mapping, Geodesy, Cartography, Bathymetry, Missions & Hardware, Polar / Alpine Expeditions, Robotics/Rovers/UAVs, Sample Return, Status Report, Tricorders & Sensors
Digital Twin for Analog Mars Missions: Investigating Local Positioning Alternatives for GNSS-Denied Environments
Future planetary exploration missions will rely heavily on efficient human–robot interaction to ensure astronaut safety and maximize scientific return.
![(A) Non-local turbulence as a function of Local True Solar Time (LTST) for spring 835 (Sol 200) and autumn (Sol 591) on Mars [reproduced from Figure 2 of Chatain et al. 2021]. (B) 836 Recreated analysis showing non-local turbulence (Pa) as a function of LTST for Sol 200 (blue) 837 and Sol 591 (orange). The turbulence peaks during the daytime, around 12–13 hours LTST, with 838 minimal activity at night. (C) Scatter plots of horizontal wind speed (m/s) as a function of non839 local turbulence (Pa) for Sol 200 (blue) and Sol 591 (orange). Higher wind speeds are associated 840 with increased turbulence, with Sol 591 exhibiting stronger winds overall. [Figure and caption 841 generated by the Mars IDEA.] -- Journal of Geophysical Research: Machine Learning and Computation](https://i0.wp.com/astrobiology.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/Tricorder-Tech-IDEA.png?resize=1200%2C719&ssl=1)
Posted inAI - Data - Apps - Cybernetics, Apps - Games, Exploration Gear & Tech, Missions & Hardware, Press Release, Tricorders & Sensors
Tricorder Tech: IDEA: An AI Assistant To Help Geoscientists Explore Earth And Beyond
A new artificial intelligence tool developed by researchers at the University of Hawai‘i (UH) at Mānoa is making it easier for scientists to explore complex geoscience data—from tracking sea levels […]
Posted inAstronomy & Telescopes, Exoplanets, -moons, -comets, Habitable Zones, Imaging & Spectroscopy, Status Report, Tricorders & Sensors
Development of Space Qualified Signal Processing Readout Electronics for HabWorlds and Origins Space Telescope Detector and Arrays
The Habitable Worlds Observatory (HWO) — a flagship ultraviolet/optical/infrared space telescope recommended by the National Academies’ Pathways to Discovery in Astronomy and Astrophysics — will require detector technologies capable of […]