Mars Desert Research Station

The Mars Desert Research Station (MDRS) is the largest and longest-running Mars surface research facility in the world and is one of two simulated Mars analog habitats owned and operated by the Mars Society.

The MDRS station was built in the early 2000s near Hanksville, Utah, in the western United States. It is crewed by small teams of 6-8 people who carry out missions at the facility to conduct scientific research, typically for two weeks (although some crew visits have occasionally lasted for 2-3 months).

The MDRS campus includes a two-story habitat (referred to as "the Hab"), a greenhouse (referred to as "the GreenHab"), the solar-related Musk Observatory, a robotic observatory, an engineering pod (referred to as "the RAM"), and a science building (referred to as "the Science Dome").

MDRS is a private research facility and is not open to the public for visits.

Background

The MDRS station is situated on the San Rafael Swell of Southern Utah, located by road northwest of Hanksville, Utah. It is the second such analogue research station to be built by the Mars Society, following the Flashline Mars Arctic Research Station or FMARS on Devon Island in Canada's high Arctic.

The third station, the European Mars Analog Research Station, or EuroMARS, was founded and built in early 2002. It was shipped to the UK in the mid-2000s in preparation for deployment to the selected research site (approximately N65° 46' 7.18" W16° 45' 30.50") which is located next to the Krafla Rift Volcano, about northeast of the village of Myvatn, Iceland.

The fourth station, the Australia Mars Analog Research Station is known as MARS Oz, is currently in the planning stages and it will be deployed to the selected research site (S 30° 18' 13.91" E 139° 26' 39.55") east of the Arkaroola Sanctuary, which is roughly north of Adelaide, South Australia.

The Mars Society launched the Mars Analog Research Station Project in order to develop key knowledge needed to prepare for the human exploration of Mars. The project's goals are to develop field tactics based on environmental constraints (i.e., being required to work in spacesuits), test habitat design features and tools, and assess crew selection protocols. Although much warmer than Mars, the desert location was selected because of its Mars-like terrain and appearance.

In the MDRS, crews simulate conditions as if they were living on Mars. Crew members must wear an analogue space suit simulator when completing tasks outside the Hab to simulate the protection they would need from the harsh Mars environment. Complete analogue space suit simulators include a helmet, jumpsuit, boots, gaiters, gloves, an air supply pack, water pack, and a radio. Hand-held radios mounted on the suits' helmets with externally mounted push-to-talk northeast witches are used to communicate with the Habitat and with fellow analogue Mars surface explorers on the same extra-vehicular activity (EVA). There is always one crew member in the Hab for safety reasons to act as Hab-Com.

Destinations for EVAs can be chosen from an established waypoint database, and attained either on foot, or by all-terrain vehicle.

MDRS is owned and operated by the Mars Society, which selects the crews and handles most of the administrative tasks
The Mars Society
is an international, non-profit organization, with chapters worldwide, that is dedicated to convincing governments and the public of the benefits of Mars exploration through various projects such as M.A.R.S., the Mars Analogue Pressurized Rover Competition, and the ARCHIMEDES Mars balloon mission.

Students interested in participating in the project receive a $500 travel stipend from the Spaceward Bound Program run by NASA Ames Research Center. The Spaceward Bound Program aims to train the next generation of space explorers by allowing students and teachers to participate in projects in extreme environments that can serve as simulations for the moon or Mars. The project has a manager who oversees maintenance and support services.

Research

Each crew establishes different scientific goals they hope to accomplish during their time at MDRS. The majority of biological research involves extremophiles. Bacteria and algae isolated from the surrounding desert are common subjects of study. These microorganisms have been studied for their DNA, their diversity, and the environments in which they thrive. For example, in a study for methanogens, researchers studied soil and vapor samples from five different desert environments in Utah, Idaho, and California in the United States, Canada,_and_Chile._Of_these,_five_soil_samples_and_three_vapor_samples_from_the_vicinity_of_the_MDRS_were_found_to_have_signs_of_viable_methanogens.

Crews_often_study_endoliths_found_in_rocks_around_the_Hab._These_species_of_bacteria_are_capable_of_living_inside_rocks_and_obtaining_the_energy_they_need_by_photosynthesizing_the_light_that_penetrates_the_rocks._These_extreme_organisms_are_a_popular_subject_of_research_at_MDRS_for_both_geologists_and_biologists.

Other_experiments_include_a_study_of_the_effect_of_extra-vehicular_activity_(EVA)_on_the_heart_rates_and_blood_pressures_of_crew_members,_a_human-factors_study_that_examines_the_correlation_between_cognitive_ability_and_mood,_and_a_study_on_how_much_a_space_suit_inhibits_dexterity_in_comparison_to_regular_street_clothes.

_Crews

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Crews often study endolith">Canada, and Chile. Of these, five soil samples and three vapor samples from the vicinity of the MDRS were found to have signs of viable methanogens.

Crews often study endoliths found in rocks around the Hab. These species of bacteria are capable of living inside rocks and obtaining the energy they need by photosynthesizing the light that penetrates the rocks. These extreme organisms are a popular subject of research at MDRS for both geologists and biologists.

Other experiments include a study of the effect of extra-vehicular activity (EVA) on the heart rates and blood pressures of crew members, a human-factors study that examines the correlation between cognitive ability and mood, and a study on how much a space suit inhibits dexterity in comparison to regular street clothes.

Crews

MDRS crews traditionally consist of six people who volunteer for one of the two-week shifts or crew rotations available during the northern hemisphere's winter months. The field season ends in the northern spring due to the desert heat. Crews pay their own transportation expenses to and from the designated assembly place from where they are transported to and from MDRS. As volunteers, the crews are not paid for their participation in a crew rotation at the station. The crews usually consist of a mix of Scientist">scientists