Editing Caves of Mars Project (section)

{{short description|Program to assess the best place for research and habitation modules on Mars}}
[[Image:Mars caves from NASA orbiters.jpg|thumb|[[THEMIS]] image of probable cave entrances on [[Arsia Mons]]. The pits have been informally named (A) Dena, (B) Chloe, (C) Wendy, (D) Annie, (E) Abby (left) and Nikki, and (F) Jeanne.]]

The '''Caves of Mars Project''' was an early 2000s program funded through Phase II{{clarify|date=May 2015}} by the [[NASA Institute for Advanced Concepts]]<ref name=braun2009>
{{Cite book
  | author = Robert Braun 
  | title = Appendix E: List and Statistical Analysis of NIAC Grants
  | work = Fostering Visions for the Future: A Review of the NASA Institute for Advanced Concepts
  | publisher = [[National Academies Press]]
  | year = 2009
  |url=http://www.nap.edu/openbook.php?record_id=12702&page=57
  | isbn = 978-0-309-14051-5
  | accessdate = 2010-06-30 |display-authors=etal}}
</ref><ref name=sdc2005>
{{Cite web
  | last = David | first = Leonard
  | title = Digging and Sniffing for Life on Mars
  | publisher = [[Space.com]]
  | date = 2005-02-22
  |url=http://space.com/scienceastronomy/050222_mars_methane.html
  | accessdate = 2010-06-30 }}
</ref>
to assess the best place to situate the research and habitation modules that a [[human mission to Mars]] would require.<ref name=boston2004>{{Citation
 | title = System Feasibility Demonstrations of Caves and Subsurface Constructed for Mars Habitation and Scientific Exploration
 |url=http://www.niac.usra.edu/files/studies/final_report/710Boston.pdf
 | last1 = Boston | first1 = P.
 | first2 = G.| last2 = Frederick
 | first3 = S. | last3 = Welch
 | first4 = J. | last4 = Werker
 | first5 = T.R. | last5 = Meyer
 | first6 = B. | last6 = Sprungman
 | first7 = V. | last7 = Hildreth-Werker
 | first8 = D. | last8 = Murphy
 | first9 = S.L. | last9 = Thompson
 | journal = USRA Reports
 | year = 2004
 | publisher = [[NASA Institute for Advanced Concepts]]
 | accessdate = 2010-06-30
}}</ref> The final report was published in mid 2004.<ref name=boston2004/>