Research

NASA and European Space Agency (ESA) scientists field trip with Professor Martin Van Kranendonk

In August 2019, NASA and European Space Agency (ESA) scientists joined BQI Director Professor Martin Van Kranendonk for a week long field trip in the remote outback of Western Australia. In preparation for the agencies’ upcoming missions to search for life on Mars, the Mars 2020 and ExoMars 2020 mission teams received specialist training in how to identify signs of life in ancient Pilbara rocks.

There was extensive media coverage of this event – some of which includes:
Short 1 min video by UNSW Media (2700+ views): https://twitter.com/UNSW/status/1168339908534030336

UNSW media release: https://newsroom.unsw.edu.au/news/science-tech/nasa-and-european-space-agency-join-unsw-outback-training-crucial-mars-2020?utm_source=unsw&utm_medium=social-tea

NASA/JPL-Caltech 3min video on youtube (16,000+ views!): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0NdpJ1Ukp5k&list=PLTiv_XWHnOZqCrMU2ppcLjRn1zlDkNx3q&feature=youtu.be&app=desktop
The same video (+ transcript) on NASA Mars Exploration Program website: https://mars.nasa.gov/resources/24694/mars-science-teams-investigate-ancient-life-in-australia/

5 min ABC news video (1500+ views): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zl4yLJpMGcc

ABC news story: https://www.abc.net.au/news/2019-09-01/nasa-in-western-australia-looking-for-clues-to-mars-mission/11452250

10min ABC news interview with BQI board member and NASA Scientist Dr. Mitch Schulte: https://www.abc.net.au/radio/perth/programs/breakfast/nasa-mars/11412626

SMH article: https://www.smh.com.au/national/why-nasa-is-looking-to-australia-s-north-in-the-search-for-life-on-mars-20190705-p524oi.html

Australian Geographic article: https://www.australiangeographic.com.au/topics/science-environment/2019/09/nasa-scientists-have-travelled-to-the-pilbara-to-find-out-more-about-mars/

Cosmos Magazine article: https://cosmosmagazine.com/earth-sciences/going-to-mars-see-australia-first

NASA article ‘Scientists Explore Outback as Testbed for Mars’: https://mars.nasa.gov/news/8505/scientists-explore-outback-as-testbed-for-mars/
And YouTube video (9600+ views): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OyiBcqm6a6o