Bibcode
Ángel de Pablo, Miguel; Blanco, Juan Jose; Moya, M. E.; Garcia, M.; Acaso, E.; Rubial, M. J.; Blanco, J. J.
Referencia bibliográfica
37th COSPAR Scientific Assembly. Held 13-20 July 2008, in Montréal, Canada., p.666
Fecha de publicación:
0
2008
Número de citas
0
Número de citas referidas
0
Descripción
In the future, new robotic missions will be launch toward Mars with the
objective of studying this planet from its surface. Phoenix (2007), Mars
Science Laboratory (2009), Mars Sample Return, ExoMars, Astrobiological
Field Laboratory or the Deep-drill lander (beyond 2009) are the missions
already launched, approved or under planning by NASA for the future
exploration of Mars by rovers. These missions involve an important
number of different sensors that should be firstly tested on Earth in
order to check their correct function and improve their efficiency.
Furthermore, the scientific teams can be acquainted with the operations
involved previously to receive data from the mission on Mars. On Earth,
there are very few sites where the Martian climatic conditions and
landscape similarities could be found, as the dry valleys on Antarctica
or the volcanic plains forming the inner deserts of Iceland. However,
there are other sites on the Earth where the landscape and
geomorphological features are similar to the landscapes observed on
Viking Lander, Mars Pathfinder, Sojourner and Mars Exploration Rovers
images. One of these sites is the Chebbi region (31o 10'N, 4o 4'W), in
Central-south of Morocco. This area is located at the south of the Atlas
range, forming the northern edge of the Sahara desert. The main
characteristic is the plain landscape with smooth hills and an important
dune field composed of different types of dunes. Wind-streaks are also
frequent with sizes ranging between centimetres to tens of meters.
Aeolian processes like dust storms and dust devils are very often in
spring and summer. The region is also characterized by the desertical
pavement formed by different size particles from sand to blocks.
Decimetres to meters in diameter blocks are also found in the dry
channels formed on sporadic floods. Water from floods and rains are
quickly evaporated but mud and water-marks are more perdurable. Salts
deposits and crusts are visible in different areas related to
evaporation processes. Aeolian and fluvial deposits cover the surface,
allowing the observation of bedrock outcrops and sedimentary layers in
the same way as observed on Mars. These are some of the main
characteristic and terrestrial analogues that could be found in the
Chebbi region. All those characteristics and the communications and
accommodations facilities convert this area in an interesting site for
future exploration rover missions testing and training of future
astronauts that will work on the surface of Mars.