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Mars Surface Analogs Aaron Zent (NASA Ames Research Center)
A field trip exploring how Death Valley was used as a Mars analog during the design and development of the 1976 Mars Viking Mission. Format: Short Walk 9:30 AM – 10:30 AM, Mars Hill (park on shoulder of road near Artists Drive Exit) Short Walk around large rocks and on an incline
Mars-like Places on Earth: A Journey around the Ubehebe Crater Rosalba Bonaccorsi (NASA Ames Research Center)
Places in Death Valley appear similar to places on the Red Planet. Come learn how research in Death Valley can help guide us in our understanding of Earth's neighbor. Format: Moderate Walk around the Ubehebe Crater 11:00 AM – 1:00 PM, Ubehebe Crater Moderately strenous walk to around Ubehebe Crater with some deep gravel and a steep incline
To Infinity and Beyond: How to Navigate Your Way Across the Solar System—or Death Valley National Park! Sarah Elizabeth McCandless (NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory)
Join us as we learn how to safely send spacecraft traveling around our solar system and how we can apply those lessons to navigating unfamiliar places here on Earth. Format: Static 12:00 PM – 1:00 PM, Dante’s View
Europa Clipper: Could Jupiter's Icy Moon Have Life? Caitlin Crawford (NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory)
How does understanding harsh environments like Badwater Basin teach us about life in our solar system? Can we leverage this information in our quest for finding signs of life? Format: Static 1:00 PM – 2:00 PM, Badwater Basin, Static Program on Boardwalk
Mesquite Sand Dunes Walk Mike Malaska (Blue Marble Space Institute of Science)
Dunes are everywhere! Mars, Titan, Pluto, and even on Comet 67P! Come out to Mesquite Dunes and we’ll learn about the sediment cycle, how dunes form, what clues to look for in a dune field, and compare and contrast dunes on Earth with those on other worlds. Short walk from the Mesquite Dunes parking lot trailhead out into the dune field, then a discussion out in the dunes. Things to look at and touch. (There will be “sand everywhere.”) Format: Short Walk 2:30 PM – 3:30 PM, Mesquite Sand Dunes Moderate walk on uneven sand
The Brightness of the Void Leslie Heid (Laser Physicist)
Join us under the stars as we explore the infinite rainbow that fills our cosmos. Mission Modeler Leslie Heid from JPL's Deep Space Network discusses the electromagnetic spectrum and the advantages and disadvantages of different wavelengths for use in spacecraft communications. Short walk to viewing area—bring a red light and a blanket or chair. Format: Short Walk 8:30 PM – 9:30 PM, Zabriskie Point Short walk up a paved path with a ~17% grade
Sunday
Mars Surface Analogs Aaron Zent (NASA Ames Research Center)
A field trip exploring how Death Valley was used as a Mars analog during the design and development of the 1976 Mars Viking Mission. Format: Short Walk 9:30 AM – 10:30 AM, Mars Hill (park on shoulder of road near Artists Drive Exit) Short Walk around large rocks and on an incline
Multi-Agent Autonomy for Space Exploration: The CADRE Mission Jean-Pierre De Las Croix & Federico Rossi (NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory)
NASA's Cooperative Autonomous Distributed Robotic Exploration (CADRE) mission, slated for flight to the Moon's Reiner Gamma region in 2026, will show how robots can autonomously explore the Moon and pave the way for future robotic explorers on Mars and beyond. A team of three robots and a base station will autonomously build a map of the landing region, collecting imagery and peeking under the surface with ground-penetrating radar—all with no human input. Come meet the rovers and learn what it takes to design, build, test, and (soon) fly a team of autonomous, coordinated robotic explorers. Format: Static 11:00 AM – 12:00 PM, Ubehebe Crater
To Infinity and Beyond: How to Navigate Your Way Across the Solar System—or Death Valley National Park! Sarah Elizabeth McCandless (NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory)
Join us as we learn how to safely send spacecraft traveling around our solar system and how we can apply those lessons to navigating unfamiliar places here on Earth. Format: Static 12:00 PM – 1:00 PM, Dante’s View
Europa Clipper: Could Jupiter's Icy Moon Have Life? Caitlin Crawford (NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory)
How does understanding harsh environments like Badwater Basin teach us about life in our solar system? Can we leverage this information in our quest for finding signs of life? Format: Static 1:00 PM – 2:00 PM, Badwater Basin, Static Program on Boardwalk
Mesquite Sand Dunes Walk Mike Malaska (Blue Marble Space Institute of Science)
Dunes are everywhere! Mars, Titan, Pluto, and even on Comet 67P! Come out to Mesquite Dunes and we’ll learn about the sediment cycle, how dunes form, what clues to look for in a dune field, and compare and contrast dunes on Earth with those on other worlds. Short walk from the Mesquite Dunes parking lot trailhead out into the dune field, then a discussion out in the dunes. Things to look at and touch. (There will be “sand everywhere.”) Format: Short Walk 2:30 PM – 3:30 PM, Mesquite Sand Dunes Moderate walk on uneven sand
