Mars Or Utah? Scientists Set Up A Fake Space Base In The Desert [PHOTOS]

2013-05-06T13:31:00.000Z

A manned mission to Mars could happen by the end of this century.

The Mars Desert Research Station, located in a remote region of Utah, is helping scientists prepare for this challenging deep space expedition.

The desert landscape has been used to simulate the conditions on Mars because of its striking resemblance to the Red Planet's terrain.

Scientists and students come from all over the world to spend two weeks exploring canyons, cliffs, and rockscapes, while dealing with the constraints they would face on Mars.

There are no supermarkets, repair shops, or hardware stores. The only available resources and tools are what each team brings into the desert with them.

The variety of experiments conducted by different crews adds to the growing body of research and knowledge that will be used to send the first humans to a world that so far, only robots have known.

The Mars Desert Research Station is located in a remote region of south-central Utah known as the San Rafael Swell.

The Swell is a 2,000 square mile area of public land, known for its canyons and sandstone formations — a terrain that is very similar to Mars.

The Mars-like environment makes this area the perfect spot to carry out simulated Mars missions.

The station is operated by The Mars Society, founded in 1998 by Robert Zubrin, author of "The Case for Mars."

Each year, the Society places an open call for volunteers, who can apply as individuals or as group, typically from a university or country.

The society assembles a crew of six people with a good combination of skills.

Participants pay $1,000 for the two-week Martian experience.

Different crews have different priorities. The types of experiments they conduct in the desert will vary, but every exercise must first gain approval from the Mars Society.

Some crews, for example, are very interested in testing new equipment.

Others are interested in learning about the geology of the desert.

And still others want to learn how to handle an emergency situation on Mars.

The most important thing is that crews operate as if they were on Mars, under the same limitations.

That means wearing spacesuits and air supply packs at all times when outside the space habitat.

And cooking the kinds of foods they would eat on Mars.

The station has its own greenhouse, called the Greenhab, which is used to recycle waste water and to grow plants. Here, a researcher checks on a Swiss chard plant.

It will later be used in a salad prepared inside the research station's kitchen.

There is actually quite a bit of cooking done on "Mars."

The researchers are looking to answer specific questions about how to live on Mars.

For example, do you have the crew work all at once, or place them on separate rotations?

What are the best vehicles to use — an enclosed SUV that offers protection against the elements, or an open vehicle that requires the driver to wear a spacesuit?

Scientists also observe how different teams handle unexpected hazards, like this sandstorm that crept up on Crew 128A.

In addition to a living space and greenhouse, the station has an observatory, shown here, equipped with a telescope that allows the team astronomer to observe the skies.

Over the last 10 years, more than 127 crews have stayed at the desert research station.

The background and skills of team members have varied considerably. The stations has hosted all men crews, all women, all American, mixed international, young crews, and old crews. Here are three crew members from Peru.

From these Mars "dry runs," scientists have learned that isolation is not the key challenge, as previously thought.

Overwork is actually one of the bigger concerns, according to Zubrin.

All of this information will be invaluable for sending the first humans to Mars, with luck, in the next few decades.

There are plenty of planets beyond our solar system.

Mars Or Utah? Scientists Set Up A Fake Space Base In The Desert [PHOTOS]

The Mars Desert Research Station is located in a remote region of south-central Utah known as the San Rafael Swell.

The Swell is a 2,000 square mile area of public land, known for its canyons and sandstone formations — a terrain that is very similar to Mars.

The Mars-like environment makes this area the perfect spot to carry out simulated Mars missions.

The station is operated by The Mars Society, founded in 1998 by Robert Zubrin, author of "The Case for Mars."

Each year, the Society places an open call for volunteers, who can apply as individuals or as group, typically from a university or country.

The society assembles a crew of six people with a good combination of skills.

Participants pay $1,000 for the two-week Martian experience.

Different crews have different priorities. The types of experiments they conduct in the desert will vary, but every exercise must first gain approval from the Mars Society.

Some crews, for example, are very interested in testing new equipment.

Others are interested in learning about the geology of the desert.

And still others want to learn how to handle an emergency situation on Mars.

The most important thing is that crews operate as if they were on Mars, under the same limitations.

That means wearing spacesuits and air supply packs at all times when outside the space habitat.

And cooking the kinds of foods they would eat on Mars.

The station has its own greenhouse, called the Greenhab, which is used to recycle waste water and to grow plants. Here, a researcher checks on a Swiss chard plant.

It will later be used in a salad prepared inside the research station's kitchen.

There is actually quite a bit of cooking done on "Mars."

The researchers are looking to answer specific questions about how to live on Mars.

For example, do you have the crew work all at once, or place them on separate rotations?

What are the best vehicles to use — an enclosed SUV that offers protection against the elements, or an open vehicle that requires the driver to wear a spacesuit?

Scientists also observe how different teams handle unexpected hazards, like this sandstorm that crept up on Crew 128A.

In addition to a living space and greenhouse, the station has an observatory, shown here, equipped with a telescope that allows the team astronomer to observe the skies.

Over the last 10 years, more than 127 crews have stayed at the desert research station.

The background and skills of team members have varied considerably. The stations has hosted all men crews, all women, all American, mixed international, young crews, and old crews. Here are three crew members from Peru.

From these Mars "dry runs," scientists have learned that isolation is not the key challenge, as previously thought.

Overwork is actually one of the bigger concerns, according to Zubrin.

All of this information will be invaluable for sending the first humans to Mars, with luck, in the next few decades.

There are plenty of planets beyond our solar system.

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