Spaceward Bound Australia 2009: Expedition to Arkaroola and Sturts Stony Desert North of the Flinders Rangers.

The Mars Society Australia‟s Spaceward Bound Australia (SBA) in collaboration with "NASA Spaceward Bound‟ in July 2009 undertook a  Planetary and space science expedition, to Arkaroola, Marree and Reedy Springs in the South Australian desert. The theme of the expedition was The evolution of life in our solar system. Twenty seven planetary scientists, geologists, teachers and engineers from the US and Australia participated in the expedition.

The SBA 2009 expedition aim was in two parts:

• The first, was to undertake field science supporting research into the evolution of life in our solar system; and,
• The second, was to invite teachers and students from the US and Australia to participate and work undertaking practical field science with the scientists closely involved in recent space exploration missions to the Moon Mars and Titan.

Science work included:

• Trialling Infrared Sensors;
• Advancing Teacher "Hands On‟ Science Skills in the fields and Laboratory;
• Identifying Mars analogues for the "Mars Science Laboratory‟ rover;
• Testing for biomass in clay minerals deposits adjacent to haematite-rich ironstones;
• The study of hydrologic systems as an analogue to similar systems on Mars as a way o finding possible locations for life on Mars;
• Searching for "Desert Crust‟ and cyanobacteria living under a translucent desert stones;
• Biomineralization by microbes and the traces they leave behind as possible indicators of past life on Mars;
• and Distinguishing actual fossils from inorganic structures;

Prior to the expedition, participating teachers read papers on the principles of "follow the water" background theory over 6 main preparation sessions. They discussed the papers introducing teachers to a research culture, applying their subject knowledge to the background reading.

During the expedition specific new experimental skills undertaken by teachers included: general field observation work, sampling, measuring data in-situ, analysing hot spring systems, DNA extractions and sterile plate productions in the laboratory and thermographic techniques. Teachers also participated in numerous discussions to translate these skills to students.

A complete report on the expidition can be read here