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The development of unmanned rover space missions able to successfully explore the planet Mars requires suitable regolith simulants that accurately represent soils on the Martian surface and enable scientific studies to be performed in terrestrial laboratories. One such simulant is the Mojave Martian Simulant-1 (MMS-1), which is created from finely crushed or sorted granular basalt with slight surface weathering. This form of simulant has been found to closely match thermal and reflectance spectra, and some of the mechanical properties of Martian soils. What is currently absent from the literature are rigorous studies of the geo-mechanical properties of this type of material. This is of importance with respect to terramechanics applications (e.g. rover soil-wheel interaction). The main objective of this work is to provide high-quality data to better characterize the geo-mechanical performance of MMS-1 in states similar to those on Mars. Comparisons have also been made with Toyoura sand, a well-known benchmark sub-angular feldspar sand. The results of basic laboratory, direct shear and shear wave tests are presented. The aspect ratio and angularity of the crushed material plays a significant role in the packing states and subsequent compression, dilation and small-strain behavior, particularly for low densities and low pressures. Based on these results, the implications for laboratory testing and rover performance trials are also discussed.
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