Vice versa

Belgian Mars Research Mission to Utah

Belgian Mars Crew

From February 7-20, 2010 an entirely Belgian team will carry out a simulated Mars mission at the Mars Desert Research Station (MDRS-90) in the Utah desert.  For 15 days, the party will lock itself in a two-story Mars habitat measuring eight meters in cross-section, completely closed off from the outside world.  Appropriate space outfits will be used when going outside. 

The expedition is organized by the Belgian department of the Mars Society, a global foundation engaging itself in research and education about Mars and ultimately striving for the colonization of the Red Planet. 

 

This event constitutes a major first for Belgium.  Although a few Belgians took part in a similar expedition in the past, never before an entire team consisted of Belgians. Three Flemings and three Walloons, mainly youngsters, will make up the team.  Four of the six participants are teachers.

 

The goals of the MDRS-90 mission are essentially scientific and pedagogical.  The experiments cover several different scientific areas, such as biology, geology, hydrographics, meteorology, geography, solar energy, composting, environmental protection and water recycling. 

 

The water project carries on the experiments inaugurated by OASISS, the space mission carried out by Frank De Winne, godfather of the Mars Society Belgium. 

 

Most eye-catching experiments: 

  • testing of a robot which will slide down the walls of cliffs, studying the geological layers and searching for fossils and water wells 
  • launch of a stratosphere balloon which will make pictures and carry out atmospheric observations
  • composting with worms in space 

 

Most important educational events: 

  • direct radio and video contact with several schools and companies, both in Flanders and Wallonia  develop an educational program for the Mars camp at the Euro Space Center in Redu (Belgian Province of Luxembourg).

  • develop an educational program for the Mars camp at the Euro Space Center in Redu (Belgian Province of Luxembourg).


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