Mars Society is reportedly moving towards a planned analogue station in Australia near Arkaroola, South Australia. It already runs two other simulation stations, the Mars Desert Research Station in the Utah desert and Flashline Mars Arctic Research Station on Devon Island near the Artic Circle and has now opened a Himalayan Outpost for Planetary Exploration (HOPE) in Ladakh, India.
HOPE was recently officially opened by Dr V Narayanan, Indian Space Research Organisation Department of Space chairman. The Mars analogue research and training environment, located at high-altitude, is being delivered through the combined efforts of Mars Society USA, Mars Society Australia and Protoplanet.
“Analogue stations are crucial test beds for the technologies, procedures and human factors necessary for future missions to Mars,” said Dr Robert Zubrin, US-based president and founder of The Mars Society.
“This collaboration in Ladakh, facilitated by Protoplanet and drawing on the strengths of Mars Society Australia, represents a valuable contribution to preparing for humanity’s future in space and fostering international cooperation.”
Research generated from these projects is expected to allow the development of analogue training and operational procedures, protocols and methodologies for crew training, scientific research and daily operations within the simulated Mars environment.
It could also influence future designs of the habitat and internal configuration, architectural and interior planning of the research station to optimise functionality and habitability for analogue missions.
Selection of systems for Mars analogue work, such as necessary equipment, technology and life support systems required for conducting effective research and simulating mission activities.
Dr Jonathan Clarke, president of Mars Society Australia, is a scientist with extensive experience in conducting field expeditions in Utah, the Arctic, Australia and New Zealand, and training students and researchers in Ladakh since 2016. He will lead the technical efforts and an expedition of international researchers as part of the upcoming Spaceward Bound India expedition.
He will be joined by Dr Annalea Beattie, director of Mars Society Australia, who has led and participated in numerous Mars analogue expeditions in the US, India and Australia.
Protoplanet, a registered Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) space tutor, is acting as the central coordinating body, bringing together the various national and international collaborators, including facilitating ongoing formal discussions with the ISRO Human Spaceflight Centre regarding analogue activities. This coordinating role is vital in ensuring the seamless integration of expertise and resources for the successful establishment and operation of the Ladakh facility.
Dr Siddharth Pandey, director of Protoplanet, is a space engineer with experience working at NASA and leading and participating in analogue expeditions in US, Australia, New Zealand and India. Since 2016, Pandey has been helping build the terrestrial analogue and astrobiology community in India.
Pandey mentioned that the realisation of this project reflects years of dedicated effort and partnership building.
“Seeing leading research organisations and experts such as Robert Zubrin from The Mars Society and the technical leadership from Mars Society Australia join this effort is incredibly encouraging,” Pandey said.
“Protoplanet is proud to serve as the nodal organisation facilitating this significant international collaboration that will bolster the Indian space ecosystem and advance analogue research in this uniquely Mars-like terrain.”