We have designed and developed an in-vacuum dust deposition system specifically conceived to simulate and study the effect of accumulation of Martian dust on the electronic instruments of scientific planetary exploration missions. We have used this d...
Achieving atmospheric flight on Mars is challenging due to the low density of the Martian atmosphere. Aerodynamic forces are proportional to the atmospheric density, which limits the use of conventional aircraft designs on Mars. Here, we show using n...
A prototype rover carrying an astrobiology payload was developed and deployed at analog field sites to mature generalized system architectures capable of searching for biosignatures in extreme terrain across the Solar System. Specifically, the four-l...
Tens of thousands of planetary small bodies (asteroids, comets, and small moons) are flying beside our Earth with little understanding. Explorers on the surfaces of these bodies, unlike the Lunar or Mars rovers, have only few attempts and no sophisti...
Scientists and astronomers have attached great importance to the task of discovering new exoplanets, even more so if they are in the habitable zone. To date, more than 4300 exoplanets have been confirmed by NASA, using various discovery techniques, i...
The goals of Mars exploration are evolving beyond describing environmental habitability at global and regional scales to targeting specific locations for biosignature detection, sample return, and eventual human exploration. An increase in the specif...
Robots can traverse sparse obstacles by sensing environmental geometry and avoiding contact with obstacles. However, for search and rescue in rubble, environmental monitoring through dense vegetation, and planetary exploration over Martian and lunar ...
In 2019, the Atacama Rover Astrobiology Drilling Studies (ARADS) project field-tested an autonomous rover-mounted robotic drill prototype for a 6-Sol life detection mission to Mars (Icebreaker). ARADS drilled Mars-like materials in the Atacama Desert...
The exploration of the planet Mars still is a top priority in planetary science. The Mars surface is extensively covered with soil-like material. Current wheeled rovers on Mars have been occasionally experiencing immobilization instances in unexpecte...
We propose a novel approach to identify the origin of pyrite grains and distinguish biologically influenced sedimentary pyrite using combined sulfur isotope (δS) and trace element (TE) analyses. To classify and predict the origin of individual pyrit...