Earth & Sky

Simulating 100 days on Mars

NASA has a long-range goal of sending human beings to Mars in 30 years.

To help prepare, seven scientists and engineers spent part of 2007 in the Arctic, at the Flashline Mars Arctic Research Station, or FMARS. For 100 days in the Arctic summer, they simulated living and working on Mars.

As the crew members describe it, FMARS is a two-story tuna-can shaped structure perched on the edge of Haughton Crater in the Canadian Arctic. That’s the most Martian environment in North America, according to Melissa Battler, the simulated Mars mission’s commander.

Melissa Battler: By the end of summer, it was nothing but barren rock and dirt. It definitely looked like you could have been on Mars.

Each day, crew members would go outside, simulating EVAs or extra vehicular activity. Two scientists would wear simulation space suits, and a third would shadow them, keeping an eye out for polar bears. The crew completed 22 separate research projects over their 100-day Mars simulation in the Arctic.

The mission focused on the psychological aspects of living in isolation and in close quarters. According to NASA’s Mars mission plan, real Mars astronauts would spend a total of 910 days traveling through space, living on Mars, and then returning to Earth.

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2 Comments for Simulating 100 days on Mars

1. 1

   Nov 12, 04:13 PM #

   Bob says:

   Ha watching out r Polar bears. Thats funny. I cant wait till we start flying to Mars and beyond.

2. 2

   Dec 4, 07:30 AM #

   sophie says:

   hiya!!
   i need info about mars and the good point and bad points about it if you lived there!!!:(
   sophx