Off planet: caving expeditions to Moon & Mars, humans v robots

[cap n chris]

In May there's the 4th Interplanetary Cave Exploration Conference being hosted in the Canaries and I wonder whether any BCRA cavey types are attending. I'll be on the island for the duration but at Eur400 a ticket I don't think I'll be attending in person but will definitely be keen to read the proceedings if there are any.

Poolinky for anyone trested: https://www.hou.usra.edu/meetings/4thcaves2023/

 

[Pitlamp]

Thanks for flagging that up. It does look interesting and it's a good place to hold it, given all the lava tunnels there.
Maybe there's something to be said for British cavers to have a toe in the water; I wonder if at least partial funding for a BCA representative could be found? (Not me I hasten to add; got too much to do in the Dales.)

 

[cap n chris]

Thanks for flagging that up. It does look interesting and it's a good place to hold it, given all the lava tunnels there.
Maybe there's something to be said for British cavers to have a toe in the water; I wonder if at least partial funding for a BCA representative could be found? (Not me I hasten to add; got too much to do in the Dales.)

My hunch is that it's a very very very tempting "jolly" for University types to get a paid holiday somewhere rather pleasant while operating under the guise of research. If the organisation that pays your salary is also paying for a sunshine trip and entrance fee then it's quite a draw.

 

[cap n chris]

An anonymous contact got footage back in January of a Mars robot being field tested in Lanzarote (I was there, but I wasn't there ;-) ), footage here for anyone interested (I'll probably get in trouble for posting it but that's my default):

 

[cap n chris]

Thanks for flagging that up. It does look interesting and it's a good place to hold it, given all the lava tunnels there.
Maybe there's something to be said for British cavers to have a toe in the water; I wonder if at least partial funding for a BCA representative could be found? (Not me I hasten to add; got too much to do in the Dales.)

For anyone unfamiliar with the world class lava caves in the Canaries, Lanzarote and Tenerife in particular, here's some of Pete Hann's excellent photos from a visit to Lanarote a decade ago! (Blimey time flies!):

 

[Pitlamp]

Enjoyed that; thanks.

Pete always was an excellent photographer.