Analogue Mars Mission 2015 – Training tomorrow’s planetary space explorers – Illustration

2015-11-16 - Illustration presenting the roles of the three teams participating in the Analogue Mars Mission from three different sites: Western University (London, Ontario), the Canadian Space Agency (Saint-Hubert, Quebec), and the Utah desert (United States). (Credit: Canadian Space Agency)

In partnership with the Canadian Space Agency (CSA), Western University is serving as science mission control for a Mars rover simulation exercise taking place from November 16 to 27, 2015.

The Science Team

Western University   
London, Ontario

Role: Interpreting data, planning daily operations of the simulation

The Rover Control Team

Canadian Space Agency   
Saint-Hubert, Quebec

Role: Validating the science plan, preparing command sequences, executing commands and monitoring systems

The Field Site Team

Utah, United States

Role: Establishing and maintaining communication links with the two other teams, troubleshooting, and ensuring safe operation of the rover

• Operations plan
• Command execution

Working from their science operations centre at Western, the students plan the daily operations of the CSA's Mars Exploration Science Rover (MESR). The rover is located in the Utah desert (which has geological features that resemble certain areas on Mars), but is commanded by robotics specialists at the CSA's headquarters in Saint-Hubert, Quebec.

Follow the mission!

#CSAMars

#CanMars