The possibility of past or present life on Mars and the role of water in shaping its surface are central questions driving exploration and funding. Mars has received more missions than any other planet, with human landing plans underway. Mars Society Australia (MSA) conducts research, field studies, and education to prepare future Mars explorers. This lecture will showcase how telescopic and space-based remote sensing are vital for understanding Mars, complemented by MSA-sponsored field research that provides Earth-based analogues. It will introduce small rover engineering trials, enhancing human-machine interaction for simulated Mars missions. Additionally, the lecture will focus on remote sensing applications for Mars, particularly the development of a low-cost hyperspectral sensor for both surface and orbital use.
Dr. Steven Hobbs holds a Master’s in Space Systems Engineering from UNSW Canberra and a PhD in Geographic Information Systems and Remote Sensing. His research focuses on Martian geomorphology and Earth-based analogues, exploring low-cost sensors and robotics for Moon and Mars exploration. He has conducted successful trials of these sensors in near-space, showing promising results compared to on-orbit sensors. A member of Mars Society Australia, Steven has published three books and is currently writing another on Martian remote sensing.
