Announcement of Opportunity: NASA Mars 2020 Returned Sample Science
This is an ESA call for participating scientists to work on NASA’s Mars 2020 Perseverance mission, with UK Space Agency funding.
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The preparation of a cache of martian rock and regolith samples for possible return to Earth via a future mission is a central objective of the NASA Mars 2020 mission.
This Returned Sample Science Participating Scientist Announcement of Opportunity of ESA seeks individuals whose addition to the mission’s science team will enhance the value of the samples to be selected, characterised, and cached by the NASA Mars 2020 Rover.
Successful applicants will be able to apply for UK Space Agency funding.
Specifically, Returned Sample Science Participating Scientist are sought to contribute to the following NASA Mars 2020 science team tasks:
- Identify, articulate and prioritise the scientific questions that may potentially be addressed through analysis of returned samples cached by the Mars 2020 Rover at its selected landing site.
- Using the rover’s instruments, characterise the geology of the landing site and its past habitability and potential for preservation of bio-signatures.
- Informed by the observations in 2., identify individual samples and suites of samples that can best meet the priorities identified in 1.
- Prepare detailed “field notes” that document both the geologic context and the rationale used for sample selection to a level that justifies return of samples to Earth.
- Participate in Science Team meetings and training events.
- Regularly contribute to daily rover operations during the surface mission, including serving in at least one operational role.
- Deadline for mandatory Letters of Intent submission: 15 April 2020
- Deadline for proposal submission, including letter of endorsement of financial support: 30 April 2020