PANGAEA 10th edition trained astronauts in geology on Lanzarote

The 10th edition of PANGAEA, a geology course for planetary exploration, took place on Lanzarote. ESA's Pablo Álvarez Fernández, NASA's Jasmin Moghbeli and JAXA's Kimiya Yui trained at Caldera Blanca, an ancient volcano.

PANGAEA is a geology course for planetary exploration, and its 10th edition moved from theory to outdoor sites across Europe.

Lanzarote was the last leg of the geology journey. Italy's Bletterbach canyon and Germany's Ries crater were also listed as locations.

The crew was Pablo Álvarez Fernández of ESA, Jasmin Moghbeli of NASA and Kimiya Yui of JAXA. Pablo Álvarez Fernández was commander, Kimiya Yui led exploration, and Jasmin Moghbeli documented observations.

Caldera Blanca is an ancient volcano on Lanzarote and is counted among Europe's volcanic hot spots. Remains from recent eruptions are exposed there, and the site is described as an open-air site for studying lava flows.

The course was 3 weeks long, grew in complexity and used real environments. Instructors included leading European planetary geologists. Trainees received more time for independent exploration, and this was the first expedition to be run with little coaching because astronauts perform best with autonomy.

A science team followed the crew's movements remotely and received regular pictures and measurements. The payload included spectrometers and microscopes. Jasmin Moghbeli mapped the exploration, recorded samples and communicated observations.

Training tasks focused on the timing and shape of lava flows and on finding signs of interaction between water and volcanism. These are two key factors in the search for life. Caldera Blanca's lava flows are compared with lunar maria, which are broad basaltic regions on the Moon that look dark from Earth.

For readers tracking the lunar industry, PANGAEA links astronaut training to volcanic terrain that resembles lunar maria. ESA, NASA and JAXA crew members trained at Caldera Blanca, whose lava flows are compared with lunar maria, broad basaltic regions on the Moon that look dark from Earth.

The exercise emphasizes practices relevant to planetary exploration: independent crew work, remote science monitoring, regular image and measurement sharing, and payload instruments such as spectrometers and microscopes. The facts also state that astronauts perform best with autonomy.