The Mars Institute is co-convening this week a unique scientific meeting titled "First International Conference on the Exploration of Phobos and Deimos: The Science, Robotic Reconnaissance, and Human Exploration of the Two Moons of Mars." The conference is being held at NASAÕs Ames Research Center in Moffett Field, California.
The meeting is bringing together scientists, engineers, space exploration professionals, and students from around the world to discuss over three intense days (5-7 Nov 2007) the exploration of Mars's two mysterious satellites and how their exploration relates to that of the Moon, Mars, small bodies, and the solar system beyond.
The conference is being convened at a time of renewed interest in the exploration of Phobos and Deimos, with several international spacecraft missions and concept studies underway. Says Dr. Pascal Lee, chairman of the Mars Institute and a co-convener of the conference: "Phobos and Deimos are two fascinating small worlds that have been somewhat overlooked. We are here to realize their full scientific and human exploration potential".
Meeting participants will examine key scientific questions pertaining to Mars's dark, asteroid-like moons, such as: Are Phobos and Deimos captured asteroids or remnants from the formation of Mars itself?; Are Phobos and Deimos related to each other?; How much resources, in particular H2O, do they contain?
The meeting will be an opportunity to review and coordinate upcoming robotic reconnaissance missions to these moons, and begin discussing how such missions could help pave the way to more ambitious Mars sample return missions in the future.
Looking further ahead, conference participants will also be examining the potential value of human missions to explore Phobos and Deimos. "Human missions to Mars's moons are more feasible than to Mars itself in the short term. They would be scientifically exciting in their own right and would also serve as stepping stones to human landings on Mars." says Lee.
The conference includes two interesting side shows also co-sponsored by the Mars Institute: a Mars space art exhibition titled "Destination Mars" co-sponsored by the International Association of Astronomical Artists (IAAA), and a display of NASA historical memorabilia associated with Asaph Hall, the American astronomer who, in 1877, discovered Phobos and Deimos.
