Course Description:

Field testing in the Rio Tinto is underway, and National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) and Spain's Centro de Astrobiología (CAB) have partnered to develop a robotic drill for use in the Mars Analog, Rio Tinto, Spain. Learn about real-time science and technology applied to one of the most exciting exploration projects of today! Presentations will be given by 8 experts in the field of astrobiology, engineering and robotics.

NASA scientists team up with Spanish Centro de Astrobiologia, to complete the third year of the Mars Astrobiolgy Research and Technology Experiment (MARTE). Where a river runs red and a uniquely extreme metallic geological content exists, they continue to search for sulfur-based extremophilic bacteria. The 2005 MARTE team goal is to develop technology for drilling for life on Mars using this Mars analog. They will develop these protocols by testing a robotic coring drill this September and share their data and engineering expertise with students taking this course. Lectures wil be given by 8 scientists and engineers working on the MARTE project. Topics will include robotic drilling for planetary exploration, sample handling, remote operations, surface-lander design, and field testing at the Rio Tinto Mars analog. Available for viewing in Spanish and English. Students will have the opportunity to ask the engineers and scientists questions via chatroom.