Trevor Jahn, engineering specialist at The Aerospace Corporation, has completed a two-week Mars analog mission at the Mars Arctic Research Station on Devon Island in Nunavut, Canada, to test telepresence technology for future planetary missions.
The mission, operated by The Mars Society, simulated Martian conditions including airlock protocols, mandatory spacesuit usage for exterior activities and 20-minute communication delays to replicate the challenges of deep-space exploration. Devon Island’s barren polar desert terrain and geological similarity to Mars make it suitable for simulated planetary missions.
Jahn tested Aerospace’s Project Phantom technology during the mission, a telepresence and digital twin system that uses handheld Light Detection and Ranging (LiDAR) scanners and drone imagery to produce high-resolution three-dimensional models of terrain. The technology enables remote scientists and mission planners to communicate with astronauts using holograms and augmented reality.
“This is really exciting for us, because for human spaceflight, this is a way for scientists to communicate and guide astronauts when they’re not on location, and they can talk back and forth,” Jahn said. “If we can talk to people with holograms and 3D scans of things, we create a whole new opportunity for exploration and collaboration.”
During the mission, Jahn examined a rocky outcrop containing vegetation on otherwise barren terrain, generating a 3D rendering that remote geologists subsequently analyzed. The crew conducted simulated extravehicular activities (EVAs), collected environmental samples and monitored physical and psychological health throughout the mission.
The mission generated data on crew adaptation to confinement, limited resources and operational uncertainty. Daily schedules, resource usage and task planning reflected the logistical realities of deep-space exploration.
The analog mission supports preparation for National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) Artemis lunar missions and future Mars exploration programs. The technology aims to enable remote scientific guidance during planetary surface operations.
“I have a new appreciation for analog missions like this, and I can really see the value and perspective it brought,” Jahn said. “Perspective isn’t something that you can necessarily get by thinking as hard as you can about it. You have to go live it.”
