Abstract

Mars Analog Field Work and Astrobiology

Kereszturi A

Mars analog field work fuses the essentials of outreach in astrobiology: interesting science question together with exploration at exotic terrain under unusual conditions (like work in space suit or with tools planned for astronauts). Basic characteristics of such projects at desert, arctic and salty environments are listed, indicating those issues that could be used to implement such projects to the education and use in public outreach. As next Mars missions’ detectors will be regularly tested at, and astrobiologists will also collect samples at exotic terrains in the future too, it is strongly encouraged to use such activities in the public outreach of astrobiology.