Lauren looking for meteorites on the blue ice.

In previous posts, Alex explained how ANSMET serves as a great analog for spaceflight and Nicole discussed relevance of meteorite studies to other planetary missions such as the Apollo exploration of the Moon and NASA’s OSIRIS-REx mission to asteroid Bennu. Another ANSMET connection to NASA exploration is that in both cases, field work conducted by humans is an important element.
Robotic missions that collect data and samples from other planetary bodies provide essential information that planetary scientists use to parse out early solar system processes and planetary evolution. Yet, the last decades of space exploration showed that no robotic mission alone can equal the observations and data, the context and the details that can be collected by humans in the field. We humans have the ability to take in information through our eyes, process the information, and describe and document the critical data much more efficiently than robotic explorers. This was demonstrated on the surface of the Moon by the Apollo astronauts, and in a similar way by generations of astronauts conducting scientific experiments on the International Space Station. So, to get the best from both robotic systems and human explorers, future space exploration will be a synergy between robots and humans, working together and leveraging the advantages of each system.
Part of our work as geologists at NASA and ESA is to prepare astronauts, flight controllers and spaceflight engineers for future planetary field work – human operations and exploration on other planetary surfaces like the Moon or Mars. Geologic field work – on Earth and on other planets – involves building and testing hypotheses though detailed field planning, using other data sources like satellite imagery or maps, and lots of operational logistics. In addition, geologists are trained and continuously learn new ways to observe and record relevant information. Our goal in geologic exploration is to understand the geologic evolution of an area and collect the best samples for further study. A hallmark of field work is flexibility – changing and refining operational plans, hypotheses and sampling strategies as we gather new field observations and data.
Back to ANSMET: Even after decades of systematic meteorite searches, the Antarctic blue ice fields hold surprises and new hypotheses that can only be addressed through careful field operations and data collection. For example, when we find a special sample, an unusual accumulation of meteorites, or discover a set of samples that seem paired (meteorites that came from the same meteorite fall), our skill set for observing and recognizing meteorites grows. And, we pose questions about how the samples got where they are. What is it about the ice dynamics, the effects of wind or glacial flow that helped to form this landscape and concentrate these meteorites? Why are other areas meteorite-free? Where can we find new meteorite concentrations? Do we actually find all possible types of meteorites, or are there some types that are never discovered by us, because they break apart during their entry into Earth’s atmosphere? And, are our eyes tuned to recognize different types of meteorites, even if they are severely weathered by the harsh Antarctic climate? These questions are why, after performing robotic surveys of the blue ice areas via satellite, we send humans into the field, to make use of their uniquely human abilities to find and collect meteorites. This approach is like space exploration, where humans and robots (or satellites) work together for the most efficient and comprehensive results.
By assembling and training new teams each year to conduct meteorite searches through detailed planning and complicated operational logistics, the ANSMET program provides a great relevant environment for planning, training and conducting planetary exploration. In addition, the program continues to build a community of planetary scientists who understand the significance of both careful field work as well as the field context of the samples. We are excited about the prospect that our results — new meteorites — will support fascinating research and new insights into solar system evolution.

-Cindy in the field, Davis Ward, Antarctica