Science and technology requirements to explore caves in our Solar System
Bulletin of the AAS
By: Timothy N. Titus, Janna Wynne, P. J. Boston, P. de Leon, C. Demirel-Floyd, H Jones, Francesco Sauro, Kyle Uckert, Ali-akbar Agha-Mohammadi, E. Calvin Alexander Jr., James W. Ashley, Armando Azua-Bustos, Leroy Chiao, Glen E. Cushing, J DeDecker, Alberto G. Fairén, A Frumkin, Jo de Waele, Gary L. Harris, Laura A. Kerber, Richard J. Léveillé, Michael J. Malaska, Kavya Manyapu, Matteo Massironi, Ana Z. Miller, John E. Mylroie, Bogdan P. Onac, Scott Parazynski, Charity Phillips-Lander, Thomas Prettyman, Haley Sapers, Norbert Schorghofer, Dirk Schulze-Makuch, Red Whittaker, Kaj E. Williams, and Uland Wong
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Abstract
We are in the incipient phase of exploring the subterranean realm of our Solar System. Planetary caves research offers interdisciplinary, cross-planetary body investigations spanning geology, climatology, astrobiology, robotics, and human use. Caves are of great importance in advancing our understanding of planetary processes and the search for life beyond Earth.
Given these advances, a diverse and interdisciplinary community of planetary caves researchers has emerged. Their activities have been partially documented by a series of workshops and conferences over the last thirteen years (Titus & Boston, 2012; Wynne et al, 2016; Titus et al., 2020, submitted). These meetings brought together scientists and engineers from around the world to discuss both science needs (i.e., geology, habitability, and astrobiology), as well as engineering challenges (e.g., mobility, navigation, and communications) for cave research on other planetary bodies.
It was determined at the last planetary caves conference that a goals and/or roadmap document, like those of the Assessment and Advisory Groups, was needed. This white paper is our initial conception of such an effort.
| Publication type | Report |
|---|---|
| Publication Subtype | Federal Government Series |
| Title | Science and technology requirements to explore caves in our Solar System |
| Series title | Bulletin of the AAS |
| DOI | 10.3847/25c2cfeb.a68ba8cb |
| Volume | 53 |
| Issue | 4 |
| Year Published | 2021 |
| Language | English |
| Publisher | National Academy of Sciences |
| Contributing office(s) | Astrogeology Science Center |
| Description | Whitepaper #167, 8 p. |
| Larger Work Type | Report |
| Larger Work Subtype | Federal Government Series |
| Larger Work Title | Planetary science and astrobiology decadal survey 2023-2032 |
| Google Analytic Metrics | Metrics page |