Polar Analogue Science Program (MAP² Explorers)
Orbital Space
A field science program linking UAE desert environments with Chile’s polar regions for high-school and undergraduate students to explore climate systems and planetary-analogue science.
About this service
The MAP² Explorers program is a polar–desert analogue science program that connects UAE desert environments with Chile’s polar regions. It uses extreme Earth environments as platforms to explore climate systems, environmental change, and planetary-analogue science relevant to future space missions. Designed for high-school and undergraduate students, the program involves real field science, data collection, and comparative environmental research. Participants join analogue field missions, collect and analyze environmental datasets (soil, microclimate, ice, terrain, albedo, etc.), work in mixed international teams with mentors, and produce scientific outputs that may support future orbital and lunar missions. The program includes a home phase with weekend fieldwork and online assignments, a joint analogue campaign, and an optional capstone phase.