To Mars on Svalbard - AMASE 2008

I have translated this norwegian article for those of you who are interested in the exploration of Mars. The article can be found in the popular science journal "forskning.no":



This is the majestic landscape surrounding Bockfjorden on Svalbard. It is AMASE's base during the short arctic summer.

Svalbard is one of the places on earth which is the most like Mars. That is why the scientists travel there to test equipment that will be going to Mars. The environment on Svalbard is cold and dry, with rocks, sand, dust and a lot of wind. It is also possible that there are areas with ice, permafrost or geological activity on the planet of the warrior god. Those are the conditions on Svalbard.

Before the scientists can be sure that instruments and prosedures will work well in the rough nature on Mars, many tests must be done.
That is why Arctic Mars Analog Svalbard Expedition, AMASE, use Svalbard a an outdoor laboratory.The expedition tests equipment, scientific experiments and methods, and this year the trip to Svalbard is scheduled from 4th to 17th August.
- We have two destinations, says Hans E. F. Amundsen, the leader of the AMASE expedition. - We are going to Bockfjorden, and also a glacier, where we are going to study ice.
Bockfjorden at around 80 degrees north is the AMASE expedition's base. This is the only place in the world where there has been found carbonates, sediments which may have organic origin, of the same type that was discovered in the Mars meteorite ALH84001.

This years expedition is about the same size as last year's, with around 30 scientists and engineers. AMASE will be testing equipment which are to be carried by the space sond ExoMars, the sond belonging to the european space agency ESA. A norwegian group from the defence research institute (Forsvarets Forskningsinstitutt, FFI) are going to test an advanced and brand new geo radar.
- It can "see" 10 - 15 meters under the surface, map geolocial structures and also distinguish between rocks and ice, says Amundsen. The scientists are hoping to find water in the form of ice under the surface of the red planet.

AMASE is also going to test a laser which will be attached to the mast of ExoMars. The laser can detect minerals at a distance, which it does by making molecules fluorescent and light up. The instrument can do this at a distance of 20 meters, and has a telescope so that it can see the light which are reflected back.
Another instrument which also will be attached to the mast of ExoMars and analyze minerals, is an infra red spectrometer. The spectrometer can see infrared light be absorbed in rocks at a distance of 20 meters, so that the rover doesn't have to drive all the way up to the mineral to inspect it.

This year's AMASE also brings with them equipment that are going to Mars with NASA's future rover, Mars Science Laboratory.
- We are going to test an X-ray instrument we have had with us earlier, and a mass spectrometer that can analyze organic material, says Amundsen.

AMASE 2008 also carries with them equipment and experiments which has not yet been assigned to specific Mars missions. Among other things they have an ultraviolet laser and a robot which can climb mountains.
The equipment is tested by remote control, so that the scientists only get the information about the enviroment that the instruments give them. This way, the operators have to control and use the equipment like it was already on Mars.

The vulcano on Sverresfjell is one of the places which has been frequently visited by the AMASE expeditions.

Link to article: www.forskning.no...

It's an interesting article, thanks for the translation.

Norwegian is one of the languages of which I know absolutely nothing.

There must be more places like this that are used as a Mars-like environment by the scientist and we never ear about them and the experiments they do there.