Mars Astrobiological Cave and Internal habitability Explorer (MACIE): A New Frontiers Mission Concept

Charity M. Phillips-Lander; Ali Agha-Mohammadi; J. J. Wynne; Timothy N. Titus; Nancy Chanover; Cansu Demirel-Floyd; Kyle Uckert; Kaj Williams; Danielle Wyrick; Jen Blank; Penelope Boston; Karl Mitchell; Akos Kereszturi; Javier Martin-Torres; Svetlana Shkolyar; Nicole Bardebelias; Saugata Datta; Kurt Retherford; Lydia Sam; Anshuman Bhardwaj; Alberto Fairen; David Flannery; Roger Weins

arXiv · 2105.05281

Mars Astrobiological Cave and Internal habitability Explorer (MACIE): A New Frontiers Mission Concept

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Abstract

Martian subsurface habitability and astrobiology can be evaluated via a lava tube cave, without drilling. MACIE addresses two key goals of the Decadal Survey (2013-2022) and three MEPAG goals. New advances in robotic architectures, autonomous navigation, target sample selection, and analysis will enable MACIE to explore the Martian subsurface.

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Charity M. Phillips-Lander, Ali Agha-Mohammadi, J. J. Wynne, Timothy N. Titus, Nancy Chanover, Cansu Demirel-Floyd, Kyle Uckert, Kaj Williams, Danielle Wyrick, Jen Blank, Penelope Boston, Karl Mitchell, Akos Kereszturi, Javier Martin-Torres, Svetlana Shkolyar, Nicole Bardebelias, Saugata Datta, Kurt Retherford, Lydia Sam, Anshuman Bhardwaj, Alberto Fairen, David Flannery, Roger Weins. 2021-05-11. Mars Astrobiological Cave and Internal habitability Explorer (MACIE): A New Frontiers Mission Concept. https://arxiv.org/abs/2105.05281

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