## 5 Potential IoT Applications on Mars  
IoT technology can collect, analyze, and transmit data to optimize astronaut safety and study the Martian environment while facilitating remote monitoring from Earth. Some of the applications that would benefit from the inclusion of this technology are the following:  
* Agriculture: A vital aspect of colonizing Mars and establishing human bases is the ability to produce food. Growing food in greenhouses is one of the most feasible methods for achieving sustainability and autonomy in future space missions [57]. Cultivating crops in Martian greenhouses can be conducted effectively with the help of sensors connected to IoT nodes. These sensors can monitor various parameters such as soil humidity, temperature, fertilizer concentration, soil hydrogen potential (pH) level, and more, allowing for optimization and efficient management of the crops.
* Astrobiology and exobiology: Exploring the possibility of extraterrestrial life on Mars is a priority objective in Martian exploration [58]. To aid in this search, IoT nodes can be deployed with sensors specifically designed to detect signs of life on Mars. These sensors may include temperature, humidity, pH, and organic compounds [59].
* Meteorology: IoT nodes can measure atmospheric parameters like temperature, pressure, and suspended particles. On Mars, weather data can be collected through stations such as the Environmental Rover Monitoring Station (REMS) or the Mars Environmental Dynamics Analyzer (MEDA) on rovers like Curiosity and Perseverance. This would help gather meteorological information from different areas of the planet and improve the detection of adverse weather conditions, like dust storms, which can cause harm to electronic systems [22], human habitats, and missions.
* Surface exploration: It involves using IoT nodes distributed across various areas of the planet. These nodes are equipped with specialized sensors, such as humidity and isotopic sensors, intended to identify water resources in the form of water or ice. They are also used to study the composition of the soil, particularly the regolith, for applications in construction [60] and agriculture [61]. Additionally, accelerometers are integrated into these IoT nodes to detect and analyze \"marsquakes\". Space radiation sensors are crucial for evaluating housing viability and defining safety protocols in future human-crewed missions [62]. Furthermore, IoT nodes with gas sensors are  
Figure 14: Scatter plot correlating the daily contact frequency and duration for each of the 16 Mars orbits.  
suggested for detecting underground volatile compounds, such as methane, which could be helpful as a fuel source for spacecraft [63].
* Location systems: IoT-based location systems can help track and guide human explorers, as well as locate astronauts, equipment, or materials. These devices can be attached to astronauts or equipment and located using radio triangulation techniques [64], with connectivity protocols like LoRa [65], Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE), or Wi-Fi [66].
* Aerospace medicine: This refers to integrating sensors into astronauts' clothing, monitoring their vital signs during missions to Mars [67]. These sensors are connected to IoT nodes and can measure essential parameters such as heart rate, blood pressure, and oxygen level. By monitoring the health of astronauts remotely, this technology can help ensure their well-being during the missions.