The goal of Project Moonwalk is to develop and test technologies and training procedures for future human missions to Moon and Mars. Moonwalk will focus on astronaut-robot cooperation applied to Extra-Vehicular Activities - EVAs - on planetary surfaces. The resurgence of human missions to Moon and Mars on future planetary exploration plans of leading space-faring nations has put the spotlight back on the need for earth-analogue simulations of planetary exploration missions. Earth-analogue simulations are typically simplified and abstracted representations of a more intricate real-world system. The complexity and degree of reality being represented varies depending on the goal and nature of the simulation as well as budgetary and time constraints.
The role of earth-analogue simulations is to create facsimiles that are consistent with the proposed planetary mission. These simulations must offer enough of the proposed mission to achieve the necessary level of reality, and must also be presented in a form that is acceptable to the various actors involved.
Earth-analogue simulations serve as tools to, among others things, as
Test new hardware and software,
Study human behavior,
Conduct habitability and human factors research,
Develop procedures and protocols,
Devise experiments for mission science - e.g. astrobiology, geology, and
Develop physiological and psychological countermeasures in preparation for real missions in the future.
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Managed & Built by I2M Consulting, LLC | © 2010-
Managed & Built by I2M Consulting, LLC | © 2010-