Tech Project

"Eyes on Mars"
VisualizationMarsSpace
Open Call
In Residency
Residency Outcome
We aim at understanding the environment on Mars with numerical simulations based on universal equations .
From March 1, 2019 to Feb. 29, 2020
  • -  NASA/JPL-Caltech/MSSS/Texas A&M Univ.
    - Credits: NASA/JPL-Caltech/MSSS/Texas A&M Univ.
  • -  ESA/DLR/FU Berlin
    - Credits: ESA/DLR/FU Berlin

Description of the challenges faced by the Tech Project

The team develops numerical Global Climate Model and various simulation tools in order to simulate the details of the environment on Planet Mars (temperature, winds, clouds, snow, etc.). The aim of this modelling is high: ultimately to build numerical simulators based only on universal equations, yet able to consistently reproduce the available observations obtained by the space missions that have explored Mars. The goal is to create a realistic virtual planet that behaves like the real one. This allows to predict the Martian environment when needed and to interpret new observations. Visualization of the environment on Planet Mars based on available data and numerical simulations of the diurnal variations and the seasonal variations.

Brief description of technology

Our tools are used by many teams around the world to prepare almost all missions to Mars and analyze their data. They can be made available to non-specialist. In particular we have created a “Mars Climate Database” available online at http://www/mars.lmd.jussieu.fr/.

What the project is looking to gain from the collaboration and what kind of artist would be suitable

The objective is to better share the visual and emotional impression of the environment on another world like Mars (its richness, its activity) through visual installations.

Resources available to the artist

Expertise in the Martian environment Expertise in spacecraft observations and data. Numerical tools : - Numerical climate model results - Radiative transfer models to represent the sky