This comprehensive five-day course aims to acquaint students with the collaborative and multidisciplinary approach required for planning and executing robotic missions on the surfaces of Mars and the Moon. It includes lectures on planetary geology, astrobiology, mission design, and space system engineering. Emphasis is given on two main scientific topics: the search for life on Mars and the prospecting of lunar resources. The lectures are given by scientists and engineers directly involved in the ESA-led ExoMars 2028 mission, NASA’s Mars 2020 mission, and the development of legged robots. The practical part of the course is conducted in the Marslabor and includes the demonstration of how a legged robot (i.e., ANYmal) can be used for geological investigations of planetary bodies. Additionally, the students have opportunity to get hands on experience of the simulated CLUPI image acquisition with a turtle rover and get familiar with different lithologies of Mars analog samples.

The core of this course is to conduct a simulated space mission, performing the initial stages of a rover exploration in an astrobiology-relevant Martian landscape. The group of students are expected to take a role of project scientists, operation leads, chief engineers, principal investigators of instruments and journal keepers to come up with a strategic plan for the mission execution. The primary question they address: Was there, or is there still, life on Mars?

• Understand the collaborative and multidisciplinary approach required for planning Mars and Moon missions.
• Analyze and evaluate the scientific significance and challenges of Mars life search.
• Develop critical thinking, problem-solving, and teamwork with space experts.
• Gain insights into future Mars and Moon missions' challenges and opportunities.
• Prepare participants for potential careers in planetary science, astrobiology, space mission science, and related disciplines.

The course is open to students at the University of Basel, other Swiss universities and international students. The priority is given to master students in science and engineering programs, maximum of 12 participants.

* in order to get credit points students of the University of Basel need to register on MONA (31600-01 - Practical course: Research in Physical Geography)