The Science Behind the Expedition

The Licancabur volcano (5916 m) located at the boundary of Chile and Bolivia hosts the highest and one of the least explored lakes on Earth. The lake environment combines low-oxygen, low atmospheric pressure, and high-UV radiation. Sediments are formed in volcanic material. It is ice-covered most of the year but the bottom water temperature remains above freezing. These conditions make Licancabur a unique analog (comparison) to ancient Martian lakes.

Extremophile Fact

EXTREMOPHILES are organisms that require extreme environments for growth. While this is perhaps self-evident, what constitutes extreme? Extreme, is a relative term, with the point of relativity being what is normal for humans. Extremophiles are therefore organisms that are "fond of" or "love" (-phile) environments including high temperature, pH, pressure and salt concentration, or low temperature, pH, nutrient concentration, or water availability. Extremophiles are also organisms that can tolerate extreme conditions including high levels of radiation or toxic compounds, or those living in conditions that we consider unusual, such as living in rocks 1.5 km below the surface of the earth. In addition, extremophiles may be found in environments with a combination of extreme conditions such as high temperature and high acidity or high pressure and low temperature.

Terrestrial Analog Fact

This refers to the fact that scientists can learn more about another planet by studying environments here on Earth that are very similar to other planets. Such is the case with the expedition to the Licancabur Volcano. Because this volcano hosts the highest lake on Earth, scientists plan to study it as an extreme environment. There are organisms living in this lake, the questions remains to be answered; what are they and how can they survive? The lake environment combines low-oxygen, low atmospheric pressure, and high-UV radiation. How can any organism survive this hostile environment? These are just some of the questions scientists will try to answer.

Astrobiology Fact

Astrobiology seeks to understand the origin of the building blocks of life, how these biogenic compounds combine to create life, how life affects - and is affected by the environment from which it arose, and finally, whether and how life expands beyond its planet of origin.

Atacama Desert Facts

The Atacama Desert of Chile is a sparsely populated virtually rainless plateau, running from the Pacific Ocean to the Andes Mountains. The average width is less than 100 miles but it extends 600 miles south from the Peruvian border. The mountains nearest the ocean are the Pacific coastal range, with an average elevation of 2500 feet. The Cordillera Domeyko, a range of foothills of the Andes Mountains, lies east. The Atacama is made up of salt basins (salars) sand and lava flows. The landscape is so desolate it is sometimes described as "moon like".

Bathymetry Facts

Bathymetry is the measurement of water depth at various places in a body of water. This allows scientists to “see” the bottom of bodies of water. At the top of Licancabur, scientists will map the bottom of the lake there, as well as determine how the shoreline varies with the seasons, and will allow them to pinpoint any heat sources that originate on the bottom of this lake.

Geothermal Facts

"Geothermal" comes from the Greek words geo (earth) and thermo (heat). So, geothermal means earth heat. Our earth's interior - like the sun - provides heat energy from nature. This heat - geothermal energy - yields warmth and power that we can use without polluting the environment. Geothermal heat originates from Earth's fiery consolidation of dust and gas over 4 billion years ago. At earth's core - 4,000 miles deep - temperatures may reach over 9,000 degrees F.

Hydrothermal Facts

Hydrothermal means, of or relating to hot water -- used especially of the formation of minerals by hot solutions rising from a cooling magma. A hydrothermal vent is a geyser on the seafloor. It continuously spews super-hot, mineral-rich water that helps support a diverse community of organisms. Although most of the deep sea is sparsely populated, vent sites teem with a fascinating array of life. Tubeworms and huge clams are the most distinctive inhabitants of Pacific Ocean vent sites, while eyeless shrimp are found only at vents in the Atlantic Ocean.

Sedimentology Facts

Sedimentology means, the scientific study of sedimentary rocks and the processes by which they were formed; the description, classification, origin and interpretation of sediments. Scientists at Licancabur will be studying shore material, bottom sediments and mud will be sampled for laboratory analysis. This investigation will provide critical information about the composition and grain size of the sediment. It will allow the team to assess sedimentary rates. Some of the team members will be diving in the lake to retrieve the samples.

MARVIN (Mini-Astrobiology Robotic Vehicle Investigation) Facts

The expedition will test MARVIN (Mini-Astrobiology Robotic Vehicle INvestigation), a two-wheeled Mars mini-rover concept. The region offers an ideal site to develop basic mobility, obstacle navigation, high inclination ascent/descent protocols, and sample acquisition strategies that would be used in subsequent system designs, for example to explore ancient martian lakes.

Human Physiology Facts

Not only will scientist be studying the organisms at this high altitude, but they will be using themselves as experiments too. The team will study how the human organism reacts to changes in physical environment by acquiring measurements and comment on how working and sleeping at high altitudes in extreme conditions affects mission operations. Health metrics, such as blood oxygen saturation and pulse rate, will be monitored for each of the team members throughout the course of the expedition.