On field trips in the Mars-like landscape of Lanzarote, one of the Spanish Canary Islands, a crew of astronauts, planetary scientists and engineers interpret geological features to understand the island formation. The goal is to help astronauts identify the best places to explore and collect rock samples.
Lanzarote was chosen for this course because of its geological similarity with Mars, such as a volcanic origin, mild sedimentary processes owing to a dry climate and a well-preserved landscape.