Practical exogeoconservation of Mars: Lessons from the Mars Desert Research Station, Utah

Of the planets in our solar system, Mars may be the most likely place to find evidence of life and learn about planetary evolution. However, in exploring Mars, we risk damaging sites of possible outstanding universal geoheritage value due to a lack of legal frameworks or practical guidelines. This study sought to develop practical exogeoconservation methods and test these at the Mars Desert Research Station (MDRS) over two crew rotations, totalling one month. However, there were several unanticipated challenges both in pre-mission planning and on-site, in-person exploration, making effective, practical exogeoconservation extremely challenging. This analogue study has implications for continued Mars exploration, as without practical exogeoconservation methods, we may risk the destruction of sites of possible outstanding universal geoheritage value on Mars. We find that exogeoconservation of Mars will require significantly more detailed information and study than is currently available. A key implication of this study is that sampling of potentially important outcrops should be reserved until after a whole area has been explored in-depth, to ensure the samples taken are both exceptional and common enough to allow for their removal. We also find that there is a role for geoconservation experts on Mars exploration teams to bring exogeoconservation principles to the forefront of Mars missions. • Practical exogeoconservation methods were investigated at a Mars analogue site. • Several unforeseen challenges occurred throughout the study. • Exogeoconservation of Mars requires more detailed information than is available. • Sampling important outcrops should occur only after in-depth exploration. • There is a role for geoconservation experts on Mars exploration teams.