Dr. Harold Clenet gave a presentation on the environmental conditions and resources for human exploration of Mars. He discussed Mars' history of exploration, key geophysical parameters like temperature and atmospheric pressure, and evidence that Mars once had liquid water. Clenet also examined current water reservoirs like the polar ice caps and hydrated minerals, constraints like weather and available building materials, and considerations for selecting a base site like terrain and resources. The presentation provided scientific context for understanding Mars' environment and constraints for future human missions.

1. PLANET MARS
Environmental conditions and human exploration
DR. HAROLD CLENET
Wednesday, February 19, 2014
Earth and Planetary Science Laboratory
harold.clenet@epfl.ch
Dr Harold Clenet, EPSL, EPFL

2. OUTLINE
•
•
Wednesday, February 19, 2014
Mars exploration
• Why Mars?
• History of exploration
• Few geophysical parameters
Resources and constraints for human exploration
• Water
• Climate / radiation
• Building blocks
• Constraints for the base site
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Dr Harold Clenet, EPSL, EPFL

3. WHY MARS?
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Dr Harold Clenet, EPSL, EPFL

4. MARS EXPLORATION
Giovanni Domenico Cassini
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Dr Harold Clenet, EPSL, EPFL

5. MARS EXPLORATION
Percival Lowell
(≈1900)
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Dr Harold Clenet, EPSL, EPFL

6. MARS EXPLORATION
H.G. Wells, 1898
France Soir, 8/7/1947
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Dr Harold Clenet, EPSL, EPFL

7. MARS EXPLORATION
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Dr Harold Clenet, EPSL, EPFL

8. MARS EXPLORATION
Viking
(1975)
Mariner
(1965-1971)
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Dr Harold Clenet, EPSL, EPFL

9. MARS EXPLORATION
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Dr Harold Clenet, EPSL, EPFL

10. MARS EXPLORATION
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Dr Harold Clenet, EPSL, EPFL

11. MARS EXPLORATION
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Dr Harold Clenet, EPSL, EPFL

12. FEW GEOPHYSICAL PARAMETERS
Propriété
Valeur martienne
Distance au soleil AU
1.524
Valeur terrestre (Mars % Terre)
1
Rayon moyen
3 389,5 km
6 371,0 km (53,2 %)
Masse
6,4185×1023 kg
3,711 m/s2
5 027 m/s
1 sol ≈ 1,027 day ≈ 24.6 h
25,19°
6681 sols ≈ 686,971 d
5,9736×1024 kg (10,7 %)
9,780327 m/s2 (37,9 %)
11 186 m/s (44,9 %)
1 d = 24 h (102,75 %)
23,439281°
365d 6h 14m (188,1 %)
492 à 715 W/m2
1 321 à 1 413 W/m2
-63 °C ≈ 210 K
14 °C ≈ 287 K
-3 °C ≈ 270 K
58 °C ≈ 331 K
-133 °C ≈ 140 K
-89 °C ≈ 184 K
Gravité de surface à l'équateur
Vitesse de libération
Durée du jour solaire
Inclinaison de l'axe
Période orbitale
Rayonnement solaire
Température moyenne au sol
Température la plus élevée
Température la plus basse
Wednesday, February 19, 2014
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Dr Harold Clenet, EPSL, EPFL

13. FEW GEOPHYSICAL PARAMETERS
Atmospheric pressure
560 Pa (T=105 Pa)
Temperatures
-133°C / 27°C
No liquid water at surface conditions
Wednesday, February 19, 2014
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Dr Harold Clenet, EPSL, EPFL

14. OUTLINE
•
•
Wednesday, February 19, 2014
Mars exploration
• Why Mars?
• History of exploration
• Few geophysical parameters
Resources and constraints for human exploration
• Water
• Climate / radiation
• Building blocks
• Constraints for the base site
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Dr Harold Clenet, EPSL, EPFL

15. RESOURCES AND CONSTRAINTS FOR HUMAN EXPLORATION
Wednesday, February 19, 2014
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Dr Harold Clenet, EPSL, EPFL

16. EVIDENCE FOR PAST WATER
THEMIS IR Mosaic in the Warrego Valles area
Valley networks
HIRISE image Small Valley Networks in the Ancient
Southern Highlands (ESP_012519_1320)
Wednesday, February 19, 2014
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Dr Harold Clenet, EPSL, EPFL

17. EVIDENCE FOR PAST WATER
Lake deltas and fans
High rate of erosion for the
craters in the southern
hemisphere
Wednesday, February 19, 2014
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Dr Harold Clenet, EPSL, EPFL

18. EVIDENCE FOR PAST WATER
MOLA in the Kasei Valles area
Outflow channels
Wednesday, February 19, 2014
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Dr Harold Clenet, EPSL, EPFL

19. EVIDENCE FOR PAST WATER
Resurfacing of North planes
and rampart craters
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Dr Harold Clenet, EPSL, EPFL

20. ACTUAL WATER RESERVOIRS
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Dr Harold Clenet, EPSL, EPFL

21. ACTUAL WATER RESERVOIRS
Layered deposits on the North polar cap
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Dr Harold Clenet, EPSL, EPFL

22. ACTUAL WATER RESERVOIRS
South Polar Ice Cap: 1.6 x 106 km3, which is equivalent to a global
water layer of approximately 11 meters thick
Wednesday, February 19, 2014
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Dr Harold Clenet, EPSL, EPFL

23. ACTUAL WATER RESERVOIRS
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Dr Harold Clenet, EPSL, EPFL

24. ACTUAL WATER RESERVOIRS
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Dr Harold Clenet, EPSL, EPFL

25. ACTUAL WATER RESERVOIRS
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Dr Harold Clenet, EPSL, EPFL

26. ACTUAL WATER RESERVOIRS
Minerals that need water
to be produced
Local detections: Clays in Nili Fossae region
Large scale detections: Clays in Mawrth Vallis
Wednesday, February 19, 2014
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Dr Harold Clenet, EPSL, EPFL

27. ACTUAL WATER RESERVOIRS
Terra Meridiani (Opportunity)
Wednesday, February 19, 2014
Interior Layered Deposits (ILD) in Valles Marineris (HRSC)
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Dr Harold Clenet, EPSL, EPFL

28. ACTUAL WATER RESERVOIRS
Sulfates in ILD
Wednesday, February 19, 2014
Sulfate over clays in Colombus crater
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Dr Harold Clenet, EPSL, EPFL

29. ACTUAL WATER RESERVOIRS
COMMON HYDRATED MG-SULPHATE MINERALS
• Epsomite (MgSO4.7H2O) = 51% H2O
• Kieserite (MgSO4.H2O) = 14% H2O
• Hexahydrite (Mg(SO4) · 6H2O) = 47% H2O
• Bloedite (Na2Mg(SO4)2 · 4H2O) = 37% H2O
OTHER COMMON HYDRATED MINERALS
• Gypsum (CaSO4.2H2O) = 14% H2O
• Montmorillonite clay
(Al,Mg,Fe)8(Si4O10)3(OH)10.12H2O) = 26% H2O
Sulfates in ILD
Wednesday, February 19, 2014
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Dr Harold Clenet, EPSL, EPFL

30. ACTUAL WATER RESERVOIRS
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Dr Harold Clenet, EPSL, EPFL

31. ACTUAL WATER RESERVOIRS
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Dr Harold Clenet, EPSL, EPFL

32. CLIMATE / RADIATIONS
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Dr Harold Clenet, EPSL, EPFL

33. CLIMATE / RADIATIONS
A=Glacial (permanent ice cap); B=Polar (covered by
frost during the winter which sublimates during the
summer); C=North (mild) Transitional (Ca) and C
South (extreme) Transitional (Cb); D= Tropical; E=
Low albedo tropical; F= Subpolar Lowland (Basins);
G=Tropical Lowland (Chasmata); H=Subtropical
Highland (Mountain)
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Dr Harold Clenet, EPSL, EPFL

34. CLIMATE / RADIATIONS
Wind speed:
60-90 km/h
But not the same effect as
on Earth!
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Dr Harold Clenet, EPSL, EPFL

35. CLIMATE / RADIATIONS
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Dr Harold Clenet, EPSL, EPFL

36. CLIMATE / RADIATIONS
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Dr Harold Clenet, EPSL, EPFL

37. HOW LOOKS MARS’ SURFACE?
Phoenix
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Dr Harold Clenet, EPSL, EPFL

38. HOW LOOKS MARS’ SURFACE?
Phoenix @northern plains
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Dr Harold Clenet, EPSL, EPFL

39. HOW LOOKS MARS’ SURFACE?
Sojourner
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Dr Harold Clenet, EPSL, EPFL

40. HOW LOOKS MARS’ SURFACE?
Sojourner
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Dr Harold Clenet, EPSL, EPFL

41. HOW LOOKS MARS’ SURFACE?
Opportunity
Spirit
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Dr Harold Clenet, EPSL, EPFL

42. HOW LOOKS MARS’ SURFACE?
Opportunity @Endurance crater
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Dr Harold Clenet, EPSL, EPFL

43. HOW LOOKS MARS’ SURFACE?
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Dr Harold Clenet, EPSL, EPFL

44. HOW LOOKS MARS’ SURFACE?
Curiosity
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Dr Harold Clenet, EPSL, EPFL

45. HOW LOOKS MARS’ SURFACE?
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Dr Harold Clenet, EPSL, EPFL

46. HOW LOOKS MARS’ SURFACE?
Curiosity @Gale crater
Wednesday, February 19, 2014
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Dr Harold Clenet, EPSL, EPFL

47. HOW LOOKS MARS’ SURFACE?
Curiosity @Gale crater
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Dr Harold Clenet, EPSL, EPFL

48. “BUILDINGS” BLOCKS
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Dr Harold Clenet, EPSL, EPFL

49. “BUILDINGS” BLOCKS
Regolith
Basaltic rocks
Sand
Wednesday, February 19, 2014
Clays
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Dr Harold Clenet, EPSL, EPFL

50. “BUILDINGS” BLOCKS
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Dr Harold Clenet, EPSL, EPFL

51. “BUILDINGS” BLOCKS
Gravel
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Dr Harold Clenet, EPSL, EPFL

52. “BUILDINGS” BLOCKS
Iron/Nickel meteorites
(Opportunity)
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Dr Harold Clenet, EPSL, EPFL

53. CONSTRAINTS FOR THE BASE SITE
Landing ellipse
50 km
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Dr Harold Clenet, EPSL, EPFL

54. CONSTRAINTS FOR THE BASE SITE
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Dr Harold Clenet, EPSL, EPFL

55. DRIVING
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Dr Harold Clenet, EPSL, EPFL

56. DRIVING
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Dr Harold Clenet, EPSL, EPFL

57. CONSTRAINTS FOR THE BASE SITE
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Dr Harold Clenet, EPSL, EPFL

58. THE END
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Dr Harold Clenet, EPSL, EPFL