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The human exploration of space is still in its infancy.
The Apollo missions were just the first step
in our goal to have astronauts working on the surface of worlds beyond our own.
And as NASA plans its return of humans to the Moon, and eventually onto Mars,
a team of scientists have come together to test and build some of the tools
our future explorers may use on these journeys.
Based out of NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt Maryland,
this group is called the Goddard Instrument Field Team,
otherwise known as GIFT.
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The scientists in GIFT collect data on some of the most unique terrains on Earth –
such as glaciers in Iceland,
lava tubes in Hawai'i,
maar craters in New Mexico,
and the desert regions of Chile.
The goal is to conduct field research in geologic settings
that share similarities to locations on other planets, moons, and even asteroids.
Scientists call these sites "planetary analogs"
as they help us learn how to interpret data from across the solar system
while also getting a better understanding of Earth.
In these environments, GIFT researchers test both commercial
and newly developed scientific equipment.
These are portable devices that could be used by astronauts,
These field instruments are capable of multiple types of analysis,
with some providing instantaneous feedback.
The team uses devices that can observe and characterize the landscape around a user,
as well as ones that analyze the chemical composition
and physical properties of materials found at and below the surface.
The team also works with instruments that measure aerosols in the atmosphere,
magnetic fields, and solar radiation.
No matter which field campaign they are on,
the scientists in GIFT are selecting and using their instruments
to answer high priority science questions.
And to more fully capture the essence of how humans would explore
the surface of the Moon or Mars,
GIFT members also simulate astronaut E.V.A’s, or extra vehicular activities,
at the planetary analogs they study.
Overall, the Goddard Instrument Field Team provides a unique resource to NASA
and the external science community
by combining the studies of planetary science, earth science, and hardware technology.
All of the tests, experiments, and data collected
provide a blueprint for the human exploration of other worlds.
And that’s a great gift for those taking the next giant leap.