Exploration Proposal

Description

The Committee for Investment in Research and Charting is sponsoring promising entrants for a competitive bid on an exciting new exploration project. Reaching new horizons will take a team with mission planning expertise, scientific acumen, and written communication abilities. Prove your rover has the right stuff to be a part of this exciting opportunity.

Successful rovers will possess the following capabilities: site photography, soil sample collection, and route recording. Preference will be given to teams capable of carrying out experiments on board the rover, but outstanding entrants with on-bench experiments will also be considered.

Submission form to follow.

Requirements

Field Section:

  1. Travel to three sites of interest. These sites are to be selected by teams, and must be at least 10 meters apart. Teams may choose sites on any criteria they can justify in the report. Possible criteria include, but are not limited to:
    1. Signs of life
    2. Unique geological features
    3. Possible unique soil composition (carbonaceous material, minerals, etc)
    4. Possible water content
  2. At each site of interest:
    1. Record the GPS coordinates
    2. Record the route taken to the site
    3. Take a panoramic photograph, including an indication of cardinal directions
    4. Take detailed photographs of the interesting features of the site, including indicators of scale.
    5. Collect a soil sample

Report Section

Three hours after leaving the site/end of time on site (whichever comes first) teams must complete the report form covering the following information:

  1. Introduction
    1. Identify team and institution
    2. Name of entrant (rover)
    3. Goal of exploration
  2. Exploration
    1. Planned approach to exploring the site
    2. Map of route actually taken with the following locations indicated
      1. Starting location
      2. First site of interest
      3. Second site of interest
      4. Third site of interest
      5. Other landmarks, obstacles, or other observed features
    3. Record of why the route was taken and any changes from the planned route explained.
  3. Observations from each site of interest
    1. Why was the site chosen?
    2. What were the coordinates of the site
    3. What and where are the notable features of the site (referencing provided images and panorama)?
    4. Where was the sample taken?
    5. What was the sample taken from this location?
  4. Experiment
    1. Explain the experimental procedure and materials used
    2. Explain the potential significance of any results
    3. Describe each sample taken:
      1. Mass
      2. Physical characteristics
      3. Observations from experiment
    4. Tabulate the results
    5. Explain the significance of the results
  5. Conclusion
    1. Demonstrated capabilities
      1. Rover mobility and endurance
      2. Sensor payload
      3. Sample collection ability
    2. Value from experiment
    3. Business Plan
      1. Strategy and next steps
      2. Bid/request for investment
    4. Closing remarks