ESA Away Team Training: Lunar Geology Lessons For Artemis

Editor’s note: when it comes to conducting field trips – sorties – Away Team missions – on another world, astrogeology and astrobiology and astrochemistry overlap with one another all the time. The processes whereby humans and/or robots plan and then execute an examination of a planet’s surface focus on the peculiar aspects of the planet they are exploring – but they ay also incorporate ample flexibility for the discovery of unexpected things. This includes sampling, photography, cartography, geodesy, and ad hoc – on the spot – decision making by the astronauts – and not necessarily with Mission Control on Earth looking over their shoulders. Using analogs on Earth – locations that replicate or mock one or more aspects expected to be encountered offworld – is a proven way to develop planned and unplanned exploration by astronauts. Sometimes astronauts do the exploring in person. When distance or inhospitable conditions prevent onsite astronaut sorties then robots can fill in the gap. Either way, humans are in the loop and practicing on Earth helps prepare them for the unknown.

Geology nerds Cindy Evans and Juliane Gross left their offices at NASA’s Johnson Space Center to join the latest PANGAEA training in the Lofoten islands, Norway.

From microscopic cosmic dust particles to Apollo-era Moon rocks, both take extra care in how samples are handled, documented and stored. They lead geology training and sample curation for Artemis III, the next mission to return humans to the Moon.

Cindy and Juliane shared the thrill of getting closer to lunar geology alongside a team of astronauts and European planetary scientists. Here is what they told us after exploring with the PANGAEA crew one of the few locations in the world that shares geological features with the lunar highlands.

Voices from the field

Why train astronauts in geology and field exploration?

Cindy Evans: Artemis astronauts on the Moon’s surface will be the scientists on the ground. They will be executing the science plan for the Earth-bound scientists. Exploration traverses will be hard – both physically and mentally.

Astronauts must be confident in their geology and field skills and have well-developed geology “muscle memory”. They will be making observations about the landscape, providing context, making decisions about sampling locations, accurately describing what they see and collect in clear language. All of this requires knowledge and practice.

In contrast to the Apollo missions, Artemis is aiming for a more complex geological terrain on ridges and large crater rims. How do you think the PANGAEA training equips them for this?

Juliane Gross: The anorthosite complex in the Lofoten islands chosen by ESA is a crucial analogue to the Moon and very relevant for the Artemis polar landing regions.

Science is one of the three pillars of Artemis and training the astronauts in geology and field exploration is crucial for a successful mission.

Training the crew in the field on Earth with relevant and complex geological terrain will help them build confidence in all aspects of their observation and sample skills, so they can make informed sample choices on the lunar surface even when communications and video feed fails and they can’t talk to us.

What has surprised you the most about the PANGAEA training in Lofoten?

Both: The geology is spectacular. How cool is it to be able to walk through ancient magma chambers and explore the complexities of crystal mushes, magma mixing, local interactions of melts and crystals with different compositions, and see all of these lunar-relevant rock types in their own environment?

We were also incredibly impressed by organisation of the programme, the excellent trainers, the field gear, the fantastic teamwork, and the openness and collaborative nature of the team who welcomed us with open arms. Getting excited together about the stunning geology and being a family was one of our highlights of the trip.

What parts of the PANGAEA training are already factored in for future Artemis expeditions? Is there anything new you would like to add after this experience?

Both: PANGAEA already serves to provide training in geology for astronauts who are assigned to the programme. It is important for building the skills we (NASA) introduce to new astronaut classes, and maintain those skills through supervised field practice and exposure to new geology.

PANGAEA’s approach to training geology parallels that of NASA’s. Having lunar relevant field sites like the anorthosite complex in the Lofoten, and astronauts from different agencies, including NASA, is crucial for reinforcing each other’s training. Future collaborations between the teams will ensure that we keep cross training and reinforce content for all future humans to walk in the Moon and conduct scientific research.

What are the preparatory activities that are laying the groundwork for the scientific success of modern Moon missions?

Both: There is a lot of preparation that is laying the groundwork to ensure the scientific mission success of the Artemis campaign. Crew field training in a variety of settings is really important to prepare the astronauts to be the geologists and sample curators on the lunar surface for us. Classroom and hands-on time with lunar samples in the Apollo lab is also a huge part of that.

What better way to understand and get a feel for Moon rocks than when you can see and hold them, describe them, and practise observation skills with them in the Apollo Lunar Lab.

Another aspect that is important are the close ties we build to the flight operations community to ensure that ops can support science. We also train flight directors and CapComs to ensure we all speak the same language – the geology language! – and they have a better understanding what crew needs to do on the lunar surface when it comes to sampling.

The last but not least important part is having a large team of scientists that are participating in the mission – scientists from around the world who ensures that most aspects of science is represented, and we are not missing anything.

After all, space is hard and to ensure that we succeed we will all need to work together.

How would a partnership with ESA help to explore the Moon more efficiently?

Both: Artemis is a campaign of many missions to explore the Moon and it will take all of us to carry out these missions and be successful! Partnerships and collaborations with other agencies are important to help with reinforcement of training skills, content, providing support, building confidence, and successfully explore our closet neighbouring planetary body in the Solar System for all of humanity.

How could the exploration instinct of astronauts foster scientific discoveries on the Moon?

Both: Exploration enables science and science enables exploration. The astronauts will be able to explore new landscapes on the Moon. Their exploration instincts will help them during every step on the lunar surface because every step and every observation will be a first.

The samples they collect will lead to new science results that will enable future exploration, as well as enable generations of scientists to come to study them and unravel the secrets of our Solar System.

What are you taking with you from this experience?

Both: We are very grateful to ESA and PANGAEA for the opportunity to observe firsthand this incredible geology training programme. We’ve learnt a lot! And there is no better way to build relationships than in the field. We look forward to future collaborations with the PANGAEA team.

We want to especially highlight the openness, warmth, kindness, generosity, and hilariousness of all the individual team members who all made this experience so very special and wonderful and that will make us cherish this trip forever.

And we will forever remember Riccardo Pozzobon, his beautiful smile, his cheeky admission about liking pineapples on pizza (don’t tell anyone), his excitement about his son’s word “rock” during a phone call, his masterful mapping skills, his skillful guidance of the crew as “ground”, and the moments of joy when we found new geologic features to be mapped. His kindness, his talent for geology, his masterful skills in training, and his wonderful nature as a human being will never be forgotten, and we are carrying him in our hearts forever.

Astrobiology, Astrogeology,