Mars Mission Minder is a data visualization and analysis application designed to support NASA's Mars missions, currently focused on the Mars 2020 Perseverance Rover. The app enables users to analyze three key datasets: PIXL (Planetary Instrument for X-ray Lithochemistry), LIBS (Laser Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy), and SHERLOC (Scanning Habitable Environments with Raman & Luminescence for Organics and Chemicals). These datasets provide insights into elemental composition, mineral abundance, and potential biosignatures on Mars. Analytical tools such as heatmaps, principal component analyses, and ternary diagrams help visualize the data, while Mars Explorer, an interactive map, tracks the rover's path and data collection sites.
The app structures its analysis around Data Types, categorized by instrument, and Questions, which guide investigations into organic compounds, aqueous minerals, mineral distribution, and PIXL vs. LIBS correlations. Users can customize their analysis with multiple graphing options, adjustable settings, and data comparisons.
Developed in R Shiny, Mars Mission Minder has been publicly deployed for the planetary sciences community. A project of the Rensselaer Data INCITE Pipeline, led by Kristin P. Bennett, in cooperation with the Rensselaer Astrobiology Research and Education (RARE) Center, led by Karyn Rogers, this initiative demonstrates the power of data visualization in planetary science. By integrating interactive tools with mission data, the app fosters interdisciplinary collaboration and scientific discovery. Future updates may expand its scope to include additional Mars missions.
Mars Mission Minder Team
- Data INCITE TEAM: David Walczyk, Margo Van Esselstyn, Charlotte Peterson, Nicolas Morawski, Crystal Wang, Dona Roberts
- Data INCITE Leaders: Kristin Bennett, John S. Erickson
- RARE Team: Karyn Rodgers, Brenda Thompson
- The Rensselaer IDEA: Jim Hendler
- Carnegie Institute Mentors: Andrew Steele