Ïã¸ÛÁùºÏ²ÊÖÐÌØÍø

Analogue Astronauts entering the lava tube. Credit: Hope Byrd

Human spaceflight is becoming more significant with long-term ambitions to settle on the Moon, finding answers to pressing questions about Earth, our solar system, and the universe. To pave the way for this risky and expensive endeavour, analogue missions on Earth can simulate various aspects of space environments and the conditions astronauts would research, work, and live in.

One of those analogue missions is CHILL-ICE, organised by , which focuses on the suitability of lava tubes as a useful analogue for long-term settlement on the Moon. Lava tubes are a type of cave, which forms naturally during a volcanic eruption when more viscous, surface lava turns into a hard crust above still-flowing lava. Once the flowing lava stops, the cave remains. Similar phenomena were discovered on the Moon and Mars with the benefits of larger and wider tubes due to the lower gravity. These lava tubes could be used as potential human habitats, as the tubes provide shielding from ionising radiation, extreme temperatures, regolith (‘moon dust’), and micro-meteorites.

The campaign of CHILL-ICE II took place from 10th August - 1st September, which consisted of pre-mission training and mission. The three analogue astronauts were selected from a highly qualified interview panel with external advisors, such as former NASA astronaut Gregory Chamitoff, Dr. Benjamin Pothier, Dr. Philip Brady (TC Dublin), and Willibald Stumptner (OeWf). Selected as mission commander and scientist was Ïã¸ÛÁùºÏ²ÊÖÐÌØÍø Centre for Nature Inspired Engineering (CNIE) PhD Candidate Malica Schmidt . Prior to the mission, the crew receivedÌýphysical, psychological, and on-site mission training in Iceland to improve their performance in dark, isolated, and confined environments.

During the mission, which took place from 22^nd – 28^th August, the three analogue astronauts lived inside the Surtshellir lava tube in the Hallmundarhraun lava field. This lava tube was known as the longest lava tube on Earth until the end of the 19^th century and was formed just over 1100 years ago. To evaluate the viability of Icelandic lava tubes as a lunar analogue, this mission was located deeper inside the cave system and longer in duration than the previous two missions of CHILL-ICE I. Therefore, the crew deployed the ECHO habitat, which was designed by the Kwantlen Polytechnic University (KPU), around 150 m in the lava tube in complete darkness. For 6 nights and 7 days, the analogue astronauts conducted 14 geological, technical, and medical experiments from various institutions, such as Technical University Delft (TU Delft), Texas A&M and International Space University (ISU) as well as Cadiz, Hawaii, and Masaryk Universities. Additionally, the crew participated in an outreach activity with former NASA astronaut Gregory Chamitoff and 150 Texas A&M students. Throughout their time inside the lava tube, the analogue astronauts were supported by the on-site Mission Control Centre as well as the rescue team on the surface and completed the mission successfully after seven days.

The findings of this mission provide relevant insights into the feasibility of lava tubes as a lunar analogue and offer an improved understanding for future long duration analogue missions. An exhibition in Reykjavík UniversityÌýshowcased part of the mission andÌýpost-mission research is ongoing for future conference proceedings and papers. Articles about the mission can be found and (in Icelandic).

Geological training prior to the mission. Credit: Hope Byrd

All participants including mission control centre, rescue team, and analogue astronauts. Credit: Hope Byrd

Ìý

Links

• Malica Schmidt
• Ïã¸ÛÁùºÏ²ÊÖÐÌØÍø CNIE

Funders/sponsors

This analogue mission was generously sponsored by 20+ sponsors and partners from all over the world. We thank every one of them. Major sponsors are mentioned below, others can be found .

• Ïã¸ÛÁùºÏ²ÊÖÐÌØÍø Chemical Engineering
• Ïã¸ÛÁùºÏ²ÊÖÐÌØÍø Space Domain
• BORP Suit
• and
• and