PRESS RELEASE: Mountain View, CA and Vancouver, BC, 24 April 2009 - An international team of researchers led by Mars Institute scientist Dr. Pascal Lee successfully reached the arctic community of Cambridge Bay, Nunavut, Canada on Friday, 17 April, after an 8-day, 500 km vehicular trek on sea-ice along the fabled Northwest Passage. The team of five departed Kugluktuk, Nunavut on 10 April aboard the Mars Institute’s Moon-1 Humvee Rover and two snowmobiles, and logged a record-breaking total of 494 km, the longest distance ever driven on sea-ice in a road vehicle.

The expedition is an integral part of the Haughton-Mars Project (HMP) on Devon Island, High Arctic, where research in space science and exploration is being conducted by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), the Canadian Space Agency (CSA), the Mars Institute, the SETI Institute, and other partnering organizations. The primary goal of the Northwest Passage Drive Expedition was to transport the Mars Institute’s new Moon-1 Humvee Rover from Kugluktuk to Devon Island. The rover serves as a concept vehicle simulating future pressurized rovers to be used by humans on the Moon and Mars.

During their traverse from Kugluktuk to Cambridge Bay, the field team encountered challenging weather and ice surface conditions, including a 40-hour whiteout, unseasonably thick snow cover, massive rough ice, and treacherous snow-covered leads (open cracks in the sea-ice exposing liquid seawater). At one point, the rear of the Moon-1 sank into one such hidden lead, but the vehicle was saved by the team’s immediate actions and thanks to the Humvee’s unique capabilities and equipment. “For a moment there, I thought this might be it, but we had come prepared and trained, and our rover is an incredible machine” says Lee.

Because of the unusual amount of late snow covering the region this year which prevents efficient progress on sea-ice and dangerously obscures open leads, the Mars Institute has decided to pause the Northwest Passage Drive Expedition in Cambridge Bay and is now seeking to airlift the Moon-1 Humvee Rover the rest of the way to Resolute Bay. Once in Resolute, the driving expedition will resume in order to transfer the rover from Cornwallis Island to Devon Island, where it will be used for lunar exploration research for NASA at the Haughton-Mars Project Research Station this coming Summer and beyond.

Continue reading "Mars Institute "Moon-1" Humvee Rover Successfully Completes 500 km Drive Along Northwest Passage" »

Posted by Marc Boucher at 12:00 PM

Late this morning after traveling across the arctic ice for the last week from Kugluktuk and covering over 500 kilometers, the Northwest Passage Drive Expedition team arrived safely in Cambridge Bay on the south-eastern portion of Victoria Island. Never before has anyone driven this route, a portion of the Northwest Passage, in a road vehicle.

Along the way the team experienced highs and lows as the drive started off slowly, encountered a blizzard which kept them isolated in one location for a day and half and also had a the rear of the Moon-1 Humvee Rover briefly go through the ice.

They encountered scenery none of them have ever experienced and few have ever seen. They were not alone on their journey as flocks of birds could be seen at times.

This is an experience the team will remember for a lifetime and an accomplishment all should be proud of. Their experiences were documented for a film to come out later this year. We will post some of the images the team took and perhaps some short video in the coming days. Further updates will be posted as well in the coming days. For now the team is resting in Cambridge Bay.

Posted by Marc Boucher at 4:21 PM | Comments (0)

The Northwest Passage Expedition team had an excellent day of driving. Covering over 100 km, they are now in shouting distance of Cambridge Bay! They are parked for the night by the Southernmost Finlayson Island. Tomorrow, they will drive north along the island chain to Long Point, to avoid blocky ice seen in radar images from space by Mission Support, as well as reported pressure ridges. Indeed, the ice approaching Cambridge Bay has been increasingly blocky today. Everybody is healthy, warm, and having fun. The team is looking forward to an expected arrival in Cambridge Bay, after a drive from the landing area at Long Point.

Posted by Elaine Walker at 11:05 PM

The Northwest Passage Expedition crew had another long traverse today - 92km made good from this morning's location, and over 100 km of total traverse! They traversed through the Wilmot Islands back towards the south coast, and will move along the coast until close to Cambridge Bay, at which time they will traverse across the channel. However, there was some excitement at the end of the day when Moon-1 went through the ice! Everyone is fine - the rear tracks of Moon-1 went through a slushy lead, hidden by snow. The crew placed an anchoring system into the ice and used the powerful forward winch on the rover to pull it out of the water. No damage was done, and everybody is warm and happy in Moon-1 tonight, expecting another big drive tomorrow. It was expected that the ice would be in a more broken condition in this final part of the traverse towards Cambridge Bay, and the team will stay alert!

Posted by Elaine Walker at 11:07 AM | Comments (0)

The Mars Institute and the Haughton-Mars Project would like to heartily thank the many generous sponsors who helped this expedition become a reality. Without their faith in our abilities and mission we would not be where we are today.

Continue reading "2009 Northwest Passage Drive Expedition Official Sponsors" »

Posted by Marc Boucher at 9:20 PM

The Northwest Passage Expedition team has woken up in good spirits and is setting course for the Wilmot Islands across expected smooth ice. Conditions are overcast, which makes it hard to see the shape of the terrain at times. This was a problem often seen during lunar traverses, when the Sun was in a position that did not create long shadows. However, weather is due to improve and the NWP Expedition crew is looking forward to a great drive!

Posted by Elaine Walker at 12:01 PM | Comments (0)

The Northwest Passage Expedition crew were happy to traverse 100 km with the Moon-1 Humvee Rover today, even after stops due to a white-out! However, snow is still slowing the traverse down a lot. Even though the path worked out between the crew and Mission Support, detected from satellite data, did indeed lead to far smoother ice after Hepburn Island, the amount of snow on top of the ice right now makes it hard going. With more snow storms happening right now, conditions are going to remain tough. However, the team is very happy, and the expedition crew enjoyed the amazing scenery today, especially as they drove past the spectacular island chains formed from volcanic rocks. They are being followed by birds and have seen some polar bear tracks. The guys continue to wolf down their freeze-dried food, enjoy relaxation when it comes, and are taking time to absorb the wonder of the Arctic experience that brings all of us at HMP back again year after year. Everybody remains healthy and sends their love to friends and family. We're learning a lot about what it takes, and what the constraints are for long-range planetary pressurized rover traverses.

Posted by Elaine Walker at 9:59 PM | Comments (0)

The Northwest Passage Expedition team checked in this morning, reporting to be healthy and hoping to get moving! They proceeded to make 20 km of steady progress towards the gap which should lead into better ice, then entered another period of white-out. They're stopping to wait it out. There may be periods of blowing snow today, so hopefully the weather will clear and the traverse will resume. Everybody is in good spirits and doing well.

Posted by Elaine Walker at 12:59 PM | Comments (0)

The Northwest Passage Expedition crew is healthy and in good spirits, and will remain at the same location overnight. The weather improved slightly earlier on this evening, but then visibility got worse, and nightfall is approaching. Conditions should be clear tomorrow, and the traverse is expected to re-start in the morning.

Posted by Elaine Walker at 1:05 AM | Comments (0)

The Northwest Passage Expedition Crew are remaining at the same site for another night, with hopes that the storm will clear by morning. They remain in great spirits, and are happy and warm inside the Moon-1 Humvee Rover. They are still in almost continuous white-out conditions, with only an occasional patch of blue sky.

Posted by Elaine Walker at 1:02 AM | Comments (0)

The NWP Expedition crew is still in a white-out, and can only see pieces of blue ice around them. They are hunkering down until the weather clears. Mission Support presently believes that conditions will improve in the afternoon or early evening. Spirits are very high and the team is taking the time to simply relax and keep warm.

Posted by Elaine Walker at 2:02 PM | Comments (0)

Expedition commander Dr. Pascal Lee has just checked in and reports the team is doing well. Family members should be reassured that all members are ok.

The weather however has been problematic and the team is in the same location that they stopped at yesterday afternoon and are waiting out the storm. The weather is expected to get better by tomorrow with clear skies expected by Wednesday. The team hopes to be in Cambridge Bay sometime on Friday.

Posted by Marc Boucher at 12:54 PM

The Northwest Passage Drive Expedition team is stopping for awhile, as they are in total blizzard white-out conditions. A nasty weather system has come in from the North, and is in front of them, in the direction of Cambridge Bay.

Posted by Elaine Walker at 10:11 PM | Comments (0)

The Northwest Passage Drive Expedition Team checked in, and are settling in for the night, after another leg of 44 km, and reaching 96 km from Kugluktuk. Live tracking data is now being transmitted automatically. The condition of the snow on the ice has improved and fuel consumption has greatly decreased. They are now on the ice just off the coast, and are expecting a long drive tomorrow towards the expected smoother ice. Ice remains thick but very variable. The team is in good spirits and looking forward to sleep! They are finding Moon-1's thermal infrared camera very useful for monitoring crew members as they move around the Moon-1 Humvee Rover in the dark.

SPOT GPS Messenger Tracking

Posted by Elaine Walker at 11:12 PM

Joe Amarualik (Resolute Bay) and John W. Schutt (Mars Institute) had a very successful trip to Kugluktuk, returning to the Moon-1 camp together with all the fuel needed for the next three days. Grant Newman and Ron McKay of Kikiak Contracting provided major help to Joe and John in Kugluktuk, and the project is extremely thankful to them for all that they have been doing for the Northwest Passage Drive Expedition. The team was preparing to leave at 16:41 Local (15:41PT) to head off on the next leg of the traverse. Meanwhile at Mission Support in Vancouver, Dr Stephen Braham (Mars Institute / SFU) is continuing to place satellite imagery into the traverse management systems for the expedition, to help guide them through to Cambridge Bay.

Posted by Elaine Walker at 11:04 PM

The Northwest Passage Expedition team spent a great night in the Moon-1 Humvee Rover by the coast of a small island. At 7:30 Local (6:30PT) Joe Amarualik (Resolute Bay) and John W. Schutt (Mars Institute) headed back to Kugluktuk for some more fuel for all of the vehicles, where they arrived safely. Later this afternoon, once Joe and John return, the NWP team will head off towards Cambridge Bay, aiming for an area of possible smooth ice seen in Radarsat-2 images uplinked previously from Dr Stephen Braham (Mars Institute / SFU) at Mission Support. The team is in great spirits and looking forward to the next leg of the trip.

Posted by Elaine Walker at 12:02 PM | Comments (0)

This map will be updated as radio checks come in from the expedition team.

April 12 - 15:30 PT Update

Posted by Marc Boucher at 9:25 PM

photo credit: Mars Institute / Haughton-Mars Project / Northwest Passage Drive Expedition, © 2009 Mars Institute

At 10:15 AM Mountain Time today the Northwest Passage Drive Expedition left Kugluktuk on their first leg of the expedition. Their current location is 67 deg 49.968 min N 115 deg 01.192 min W.

Posted by Elaine Walker at 1:42 AM | Comments (0)

The Northwest Passage Drive Expedition Field Team:

• Expedition Lead, Humvee Commander: Dr Pascal Lee (Mars Institute, SETI Institute, NASA ARC)
• Expedition Field Guide, Humvee Pilot: John W. Schutt (Mars Institute)
• Expedition Scout, Snowmobile Pilot: Joe Amarualik (Resolute Bay)
• Expedition Mechanic, Snowmobile Pilot: Jesse Weaver (Mars Institute)
• Expedition Cameraman: Mark Carroll (Jules Verne Adventures)

From left to right: Jesse Weaver, Dr Pascal Lee, Joe Amarualik, Mark Carroll, and John W. Schutt. photo credit: Mars Institute / Haughton-Mars Project / Northwest Passage Drive Expedition © 2009 Mars Institute

Posted by Elaine Walker at 4:30 PM | Comments (0)

photo credit: Mars Institute / Haughton-Mars Project / Northwest Passage Drive Expedition, © 2009 Mars Institute

The Moon-1 Humvee Rover will be flown tomorrow from Yellowknife to Kugluktuk, the starting point of the Northwest Passage Drive Expedition, on board a First Air C-130 Hercules transport plane. The maximum height that can be accomodated on board the C-130 at the planned location for the Humvee is 292.1 cm (115 inches). The Moon-1 on tracks with roof rack is 2.5 cm (1 inch) too tall. John W. Schutt (Expedition Field Guide and Humvee Pilot, Mars Institute) unbolted its roof rack to bring the total height of the vehicle on tracks from 294.6 cm (116 inches) down to 271.8 cm (107 inches). All equipment and supplies were inventoried one more time in preparation for tomorrow's airlift.

Posted by Elaine Walker at 5:30 PM

photo credit: Mars Institute / Haughton-Mars Project / Northwest Passage Drive Expedition, © 2009 Mars Institute

Photo Set: April 6, 2009

Posted by Elaine Walker at 7:43 PM

The 2009 Northwest Passage Drive Expedition team will fly from Vancouver to Edmonton today then fly to Yellowknife tomorrow and on Thursday fly with the Moon-1 Humvee Rover and all their gear on a First Air C-130 flight to Kugluktuk in preparation for the start of the Northwest Passage drive. First Air is one of the expedition sponsors and we are very grateful for their support.

In the coming days we'll update the web site with a frequently asked questions section along with background material on the expedition. Once the drive gets started you'll also be able to follow the progress of the team from the daily updated map we'll have.

This map shows the flight segments the expedition team will take to reach their starting point of Kugluktuk, Nunavut. The green pin cushions marks their final destination, the HMP Research Station on Devon Island next to the Haughton crater.

Posted by Marc Boucher at 1:14 PM | Comments (0)

The Field Team

Dr. Pascal Lee, Expedition Leader, Humvee Commander

Dr. Pascal Lee, 44, is chairman of the Mars Institute and a planetary scientist at the SETI Institute. He is based at NASA Ames Research Center in Moffett Field, California, where he is director of the Haughton-Mars Project (HMP). This international field research project is centered on planetary science and exploration studies at the Haughton meteorite impact crater site on Devon Island, High Arctic, viewed as an analogue for the Moon and Mars. The HMP has been active on Devon Island since 1997. Dr. Lee has extensive experience living and working in the Arctic and Antarctica. In 1988, he wintered over in Antarctica for 402 days.

On the Northwest Passage (NWP) Drive, Lee will be responsible for the expedition’s planning and implementation, and is the principal investigator (PI) of its research program.

Continue reading "Team Bios - 2009 Northwest Passage Drive Expedition" »

Posted by Marc Boucher at 7:54 PM | Comments (0)

The purpose is to study climate change and advance human exploration of the Moon and Mars by studying long-range rover traverses.

Continue reading "Northwest Passage Drive Expedition Fact Sheet" »

Posted by Marc Boucher at 7:49 PM

After last weeks successful press conference to reveal the Moon-1 Rover and the 2009 Northwest Passage Drive we're getting ready to release more information about the expedition in the coming weeks. So stay tuned.

Below are just a few of the stories on the expedition.

• Scientists plan to drive the Northwest Passage, Scientific American (Via Reuters)
• Researchers plan trek across Northwest Passage, Toronto Star (Via Canadian Press)
• Researchers plan first drive across Northwest Passage, Vancouver Sun
• Humvee to tackle the Arctic, Globe and Mail

Posted by Marc Boucher at 1:34 PM

The Mars Institute today unveiled its new Moon-1 rover which be used on the upcoming 2009 Northwest Passage Drive Expedition. And while we do have several sponsors who've donated generously there are still sponsorship opportunities available. For more information please contact:

James Antifaev
Development Coordinator, Mars Institute
james.antifaev@marsinstitute.net
Vancouver, BC: +1 (604) 716-5629

Posted by Marc Boucher at 7:46 PM

An international team of scientists has launched an expedition to drive the Northwest Passage on sea-ice this spring, marking the first time the Passage has ever been travelled in a road vehicle. The team, led by Mars Institute scientist Dr. Pascal Lee, has a dual goal of studying climate change on Earth and advancing the human exploration of the Moon and Mars.

The mission is an integral part of the Haughton-Mars Project (HMP) on Devon Island, High Arctic, where research in space science and exploration is being conducted by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) and the Canadian Space Agency (CSA).

Continue reading "Driving Across The Northwest Passage to Make Polar History" »

Posted by Marc Boucher at 7:11 PM | Comments (0)