Osburg_2005abstr

Copyright 2005 by Jan Osburg.  Published by The Mars Society with permission.

 

 

Simulating Mars on Earth:
Crew 37 at the Mars Desert Research Station

Jan Osburg

Aerospace Systems Design Laboratory
Guggenheim School of Aerospace Engineering
Georgia Institute of Technology
Atlanta, GA 30332-0150, USA
jan.osburg@asdl.gatech.edu

 

Abstract

 

The Mars Society’s Mars Desert Research Station (MDRS) provides a unique environment for simulating planetary surface exploration activities. It enables the field testing and development of systems and procedures in an integrated environment that includes a human crew. It also allows participants to get invaluable first-hand experience with this type of operation.

 

MDRS Crew 37 consisted of eight members of the Mars Society @ Georgia Tech, which is the Georgia Tech student chapter of the Mars Society, and the chapter’s faculty advisor as mission commander. This was the first time that a single academic institution had fielded a complete analog-facility crew, which among other advantages enabled us to conduct extensive pre-mission familiarization and training. Along with an extensive research effort, an outreach program covered Internet presence, interaction with local, national and international print and broadcast media, and auxiliary mission support activities by high schools and members of the Georgia Tech campus community.