Canada and Analogue Sites for Mars Exploration

by Stephen Braham, Peter Anderson, Pascal Lee, Richard Alena, and Brian Glass published in Proceedings of the Second Canadian Space Exploration Workshop

Abstract

Canada contains a unique site for possible analogue studies of Mars, from Mars-related science to studies of technologies that may be used for robotic and human exploration of other planets. This is the Haughton Crater, on Devon Island, Nunavut, in the Canadian High Arctic. This location is presently the site of an exciting NASA-led field research program, the Haughton-Mars Project.

The Authors describe the collaboration between SFU and NASA during the 1999 season of the Haughton-Mars project, in the area of space-based and medium-range packet radio communications. The work demonstrates the ample opportunities for use of Canadian communications expertise and technology in space exploration, as well as having an immediate impact on areas important to Canadians, such as TeleLearning, TeleMedicine, and disaster response.

Finally, the Authors describes the relevance of the Haughton-Mars project to the Canadian space program, and also indicate other potential locations of Canada where Mars and Moon analogue exploration research might take place.