KECK INSTITUTE FOR SPACE STUDIES

       

Workshop: Revolutionizing Access to the Martian Surface - Part II

September 20-24, 2021
California Institute of Technology - Pasadena, CA 91125

Map

Workshop Overview:

Mars exploration has progressed to the point that the most pressing scientific questions and needed measurements can only be addressed by missions to the surface. Future missions will likely conduct compositional and isotopic studies of Mars rock stratigraphies to search for life, age-date rocks, decipher drivers of changing habitability, drill and study subsurface ice, and study active geophysics and near-surface meteorology. Historically, many NASA missions have a high per-unit cost because they are one-of-a-kind and push the envelopes in many technical areas simultaneously. However, to enable a cadence of multiple landed missions at Mars, new approaches are required.

In Part I of this workshop, we identified strategies to substantially reduce the cost associated with surface Mars missions, including novel system designs (landed asset, delivery, operations), institutional/project costing and management processes, and non-traditional industrial partnerships. We formed working groups to develop recommendations for technological investments for fixed landers and mobile missions as well as programmatic strategies and cultural changes that would enable lower cost missions. In Part II of this workshop, we will synthesize results from these working groups and identify paths for moving forward.


Monday, September 20, 2021

Time
Event
Speaker
8:00 - 8:30

Institute Opens - FREE THINK TIME

8:30 - 9:00

Coffee and Refreshments at Keck Center
Check in for workshop, SHOW PROOF OF VACCINATION, take your rapid test, affirm you are not symptomatic nor have had contact with anyone who is, pick up badge and welcome packet, find seat in the Think Tank

 

9:00 - 9:30

Workshop Logistics

Michele Judd
9:30 - 10:00

Participant Introductions

Michele Judd
10:00 - 10:45

Recap of Workshop #1:
Way Forward and Study Vision, Goals, and Expectations for Workshop #2

Team Leads
10:45 - 11:15

Break

11:15 - 12:15

Finalize Workshop Goals via Plenary Discussion, Solicitation of Lightning Talks

Team Leads

12:30 - 2:00

Group Picture and Lunch at the Athenaeum

2:00 - 2:45 Working Group Report Out: Cultural Club

Culture Club
sub-team
2:45 - 3:30

Working Group Report Out: Programmatic Changes

Programmatic Changes sub-team
3:30 - 4:00

Break

4:00 - 5:30

Breakout #1:

  • What ideas from the first two group reports are the most likely to have an impact for future Mars missions from the perspective of the given community?
  • How can we overcome challenges to implementing these ideas?

Groups:

  • Strategy development and definition Level (HQ, Congress, OMB)
  • Implementers Level (Centers and companies)
  • Science Community Level (AGs, Decadal Survey, PI Proposer Team)
All
5:30 - 5:45 Recap and Discuss Direction for Day 2 Team Leads
5:45 - 6:00 Pack up and walk to the Athenaeum's Rathskeller All
6:00 Dinner on the lawn of the Athenaeum

Tuesday, September 21, 2021

Time
Event
Speaker
8:00 - 8:30

Institute Opens - FREE THINK TIME

8:30 - 9:00

Check in, affirm you are not symptomatic nor have had contact with anyone who is, enjoy coffee and refreshments in the Keck Center courtyard

 

9:00 - 9:15

Logistics and Team Lead Goals for the Day

Michele Judd and
Team Leads
9:15 - 10:00

Group Report Outs from Breakout Session #1 (15 mins each)

Groups
10:00 - 10:30

Lightning Talks

TBD by participants
10:30 - 11:00

Break

11:00 - 11:45

Working Group Report Out: Mars Medium Mission

Mars Medium Mission sub-group

11:45 - 12:30

Working Group Report Out: Distributed Landed Networks

Distributed Landed Networks sub-group
12:30 - 2:00 Lunch on your own

2:00 - 3:30

Breakout #2: What technology investments are needed?

  • What ideas from the first two group reports are the most likely to have an impact for future Mars missions?
  • What investments, approaches, strategies are needed to overcome the tall tent poles for these missions to happen?

Groups:
Randomize into 4 teams (incl. science, implementation, commercial in each team)

All
3:30 - 4:00

Break

4:00 - 4:30 Group Report outs from Breakout Session #2 (10 mins each) Groups
4:30 - 5:30 Recap and Discuss Direction for Day 3 All
5:30 - 7:00 Informal pizza at the Institute

Wednesday, September 22, 2021

Time
Event
Speaker
8:00 - 8:30

Institute Opens - FREE THINK TIME

8:30 - 9:00

Take your rapid test, check in, affirm you are not symptomatic nor have had contact with anyone who is, enjoy coffee and refreshments in the Keck Center courtyard

 

9:00 - 9:15

Logistics and Team Lead Goals for the Day

Michele Judd
Team Lead
9:15 - 10:15

Special Talk: Cost estimating
(15 mins each, 30 mins Q&A)

Al Nash
Dave Bearden
10:15 - 10:45

Break

10:45 - 12:00

Breakout #3: What are key aspects to the novel approaches we want our costing models to support?

  • Multi-build (simultaneous or near-so)
  • Class C/D approaches
  • Commercial IDIQ awards for vendors to provide a service over a period
  • Human piggyback missions?

All
12:00 - 12:30

Group Report outs from Breakout Session #3 (10 mins each)

12:30 - 2:00

Lunch at the Athenaeum

2:00 - 3:30 Group pulse: What are big conclucions so far, what topics need more attention?
3:30 - 4:45 Report brain storm: Figures and text that we know will be needed in report
5:00 Dinner on your own

Thursday, September 23, 2021

Time
Event
Speaker
8:00 - 8:30

Institute Opens - FREE THINK TIME

8:30 - 9:00

Check in, affirm you are not symptomatic nor have had contact with anyone who is, enjoy coffee and refreshments in the Keck Center courtyard

9:00 - 9:15

Logistics and Team Lead Goals for the Day

Michele Judd and
Team Leads
9:15 - 9:25

Selection of Groups and Topics for Breakout Session #4

All
9:25 - 10:30

Breakout #4: How do we take advantage of things that are happening in the space and technology sectors beyond planetary science to revolutionize access to the Mars surface?

  • What are most important?
  • What is missing?

Groups:

  • Fixed landers
  • Many mobile explorers
  • Large mass to the surface
Groups
10:30 - 11:00

Break

11:00 - 11:30 Group Report outs from Breakout Session #4 (10 mins each) Groups
11:30 - 12:30

Discussion of Final Report and Report Structure

Team Leads

12:30 - 2:00

Lunch on your own

2:00 - 2:30 Define writing assignments

All
2:30 - 3:30

Writing Session #1

Groups/Individuals
3:30 - 4:00

Break

4:00 - 4:30 Identification of Additional Needed Inputs All
4:30 - 5:30 Discussion on Path Forward for Collaboration, Advocacy throughout the Community and To-Do List for Completion of Final Report Groups/Individuals
5:30 - 5:45 Recap and Discuss Direction for Day 5 Team Leads
5:45 - 6:00 Pack up and walk to the Athenaeum All
6:00 Dinner on the Athenaeum Lawn

Friday, September 24, 2021

Time
Event
Speaker
8:00 - 8:30

Institute Opens - FREE THINK TIME

8:30 - 9:00

Check in, affirm you are not symptomatic nor have had contact with anyone who is, enjoy coffee and refreshments in the Keck Center courtyard

9:00 - 9:15

Logistics and Team Lead Goals for the Day

Michele Judd and
Team Leads
9:15 - 10:00

Discussion of Final Report Imagery

Groups/Individuals
10:00 - 10:30

Break

10:30 - 11:15 Breakouts on final report images Groups/Individuals
11:15 - 11:45 Group report outs Teams
11:45 - 12:15 Workshop Summary and next steps Team Leads
12:15 - 12:30

Workshop Closeout

Michele Judd

12:30 - 1:30

Informal lunch box in the Courtyard

1:30 - 3:30 Optional: Writing Session #2

Groups/Individuals
3:30 - 4:00

Break

4:00 - 5:00 Optional: Writing Session #3 All
5:00 Workshop Concludes (please leave Old Town standing)

Workshop Participants:

  • Sam Albert - University of Colorado Boulder
  • Don Banfield - Cornell University
  • Jon Bapst - JPL
  • Dave Bearden - JPL
  • Kevin Bonnet - University of Colorado
  • Wendy Calvin - University Nevada, Reno
  • Chris Culbert - NASA Johnson Space Center
  • Charles (Chad) Edwards - JPL
  • Bethany Ehlmann - Caltech
  • Giusy Falcone - University of Illinois
  • Abby Fraeman - JPL
  • Elizabeth Frank - First Mode
  • Laura Kerber - JPL
  • Rob Manning - JPL
  • Larry Matthies - JPL
  • David Murrow - Lockheed Martin
  • Paul Niles - NASA Johnson Space Center
  • Mark Panning - JPL
  • Zachary (Zach) Putnam - University of Illinois
  • Rachel Sheppard - JPL
  • Paul Wooster - SpaceX

Lodging for out-of-town attendees

There are a number of hotels that are close to the Caltech campus where we have a negotiated rate. (Please note that this negotiated rate does not guarantee you the lowest rate as there may be internet specials or AAA rates that may be better.)

Please note that with enough notice, you can reserve rooms for attendees at the Athenaeum, which has been recognized as a Platinum Club of America. Newly refurbished, it is conveniently located on the Caltech Campus. Contact Janet Seid if you would like to check the availability of this option.


Visa Requirements

For Visa requirement information and travel to the United States please visit the website of the U.S. Department of State.


Parking (for Visitors and for JPL Personnel)

For Visitors: From the Arroyo Parkway, turn right (east) on Del Mar Avenue. Proceed approximately one and a quarter miles. The Caltech campus will be on your right. Turn right (south) onto Wilson Avenue. Turn right into the North Wilson Structure and park in an unmarked spot. Buy a parking permit from the kiosk located inside the North Wilson Structure or request one ahead of time from KISS.

For JPL Personnel: JPLers may use their JPL hang tag for parking or request a special parking hangtag from the JPL parking office. Employees who do not have on-Lab parking privileges can obtain a hang tag created for this purpose from JPL parking coordinator Robert Kennedy (818-354-4586, Building 310-108B, 9/80 schedule). Please park in an unmarked spot in the North Wilson Structure located on Wilson Avenue.


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