Technical Lecture Abstract - Explore Mars Lecture Tour 2004 | Public Outreach | Mars Institute - To further the scientific study, exploration, and public understanding of Mars

The NASA Haughton-Mars Project (HMP) is an international multidisciplinary field research project centered on the scientific study of the Haughton impact structure and surrounding terrain, Devon Island, High Arctic, viewed as a Mars analog site. The HMP explores possible parallels and differences between the Earth and Mars, particularly in geology and astrobiology, and supports field studies of new technologies, strategies, and human factors in preparation for the future exploration of both the Moon and Mars by robots and humans.

Science results from the NASA HMP include new insights into the possible role of impacts in the development of life, and the possible dominance of cold climate processes in the history of water on Mars. Exploration findings from the NASA HMP include new insights into the nature and requirements of human surface operations in planetary exploration, including communications and computing requirements, mobility systems needs, robotic assistants requirements, and habitat facility functions.

This lecture will present an overview of the NASA HMP and its research results to date, with a discussion of future directions in the context of current plans for future Moon and Mars exploration.