Unloading the WISDOM equipment
The Arctic Mars Analogue Svalbard Expedition (AMASE) took place from 1-24 August 2009.
The Svalbard archipelago in Norway is unique in the diversity of geological formations it contains, some of which are considered very interesting Mars analogue terrains. During the expedition the scientists performed simulated rover operations on Mars using field prototypes of instruments, for example WISDOM, that will fly on future ESA and NASA missions.
The ground-penetrating radar WISDOM, Water Ice and Subsurface Deposit Observation on Mars, will explore the subsurface of Mars selecting locations where scientific data suggests that liquid water once existed. These data, combined with those produced by the PanCam, will be used to support drilling activities.