Exploring Mars on Earth: Scientific Outcomes of the AMADEE-24 Mission

The AMADEE-24 mission, conducted by the Austrian Space Forum (ÖWF) in March and April 2024 in Armenia, was a high-fidelity Mars analog mission aimed at preparing for future human exploration of the Red Planet. The mission brought together scientists and engineers from across the globe to test innovative technologies, operational workflows, and scientific methods in a Martian-like environment. By simulating the challenges of human-robotic exploration, AMADEE-24 focused on optimizing the science return of future crewed missions to Mars and advancing planetary research.

The Armenian test site was selected for its geological and environmental similarities to Mars, offering a unique analog terrain to conduct field experiments in geology, planetary geology, astrobiology, engineering, and human factors research and testing exploration strategies and scientific instruments. It addressed key scientific and operational objectives, including the validation of exploration technologies, the refinement of mission protocols, and the development of new approaches for conducting science in remote environments.

One of the core focuses of AMADEE-24 was planetary geology and astrobiology. The analog astronauts, equipped with state-of-the-art tools such as Raman spectrometers and remote sensing devices, conducted fieldwork to investigate the mineral composition of the terrain and search for biosignatures—indicators of potential past or present life.

The mission also placed significant emphasis on human factors and mission operations. AMADEE-24 tested EVA protocols, communication strategies with Mission Support under time delay, and astronaut performance in isolation. These studies provided crucial data on the efficiency and safety of crewed operations in extreme environments, helping to optimize decision-making processes and workflows for future Mars missions.

AMADEE-24 also served as a testbed for new exploration tools. The mission tested drones, autonomous systems, and other robotic technologies in the challenging Armenian terrain. The validation of these tools in a Mars-like environment ensures that future exploration missions will be equipped with robust, reliable instruments capable of collecting high-quality scientific data under harsh conditions.

Mission requires a critical operation on payload management during AMADEE-24, which was essential for the efficient execution of the mission's science objectives. Here, we also present, the complexity of managing scientific payloads in a Mars analog environment required careful planning to ensure optimal use of instruments and seamless integration of scientific and operational workflows. The results of this operation provide insights into payload prioritization, instrument deployment strategies, and data handling processes.

The scientific outcomes of AMADEE-24 are expected to make contributions to planetary exploration research. The mission’s findings will help refine science protocols, improve instrumentation strategies, and enhance comparative planetology studies. The interdisciplinary nature of the mission, involving scientists from various fields, highlights the importance of collaboration in addressing the complex challenges of human Mars exploration.

AMADEE-24 marked a significant milestone in Mars analog research, providing valuable insights into the science, technology, and human factors that will shape future crewed missions to Mars. By bridging the gap between Earth-based experiments and space missions, AMADEE-24 plays a crucial role in humanity’s preparation for the first steps on athe Martian surface.