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Abstract

Field geologic research is practiced differently on Earth than it was on the Moon during the Apollo program. Limitations of both time and resources on the Moon led to operational modes that required highly choreographed field traverses. Such constraints rob field geologists of one of their more powerful research tools: observational flexibility. The greatest science return from future human exploration of the Moon, near-Earth asteroids, and Mars will be achieved if we find a way to increase the autonomy of astronaut explorers and encourage them to do field geology more like their compatriots who do field geology on Earth.

Keywords

planetary exploration, field geology

Notes

Text Reference

Kip Hodges, Harrison H. Schmitt, and Terrence W. Fong, "A New Approach to Advanced Planetary Field Geology," Geologic Society of America Annual Meeting , October, 2010, pp. Paper 19-2.

BibTeX Reference

@inproceedings{Fong_2010_6685,
   author = "Kip Hodges and Harrison H. Schmitt and Terrence W Fong",
   title = "A New Approach to Advanced Planetary Field Geology",
   booktitle = "Geologic Society of America Annual Meeting ",
   pages = "Paper 19-2",
   month = "October",
   year = "2010",
}

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