Adler Planetarium Exhibition, 2002

From June through August 2002, the Euro-MARS hab, constructed in Denver (see our construction report and gallery), was shipped to Chicago, where the Adler Planetarium had agreed to host a display of the hab and the work of the Mars Society throughout the summer.

The hab itself was erected in the grounds of the Planetarium, in a specially-prepared area, together was a "Mars greenhouse". Special ramps leading up to the hab's main airlock and to the emergency fire escape at the rear of the hab were set up to provide easy access and egress from the exhibit for everyone.

Once erected on the site, the hab's lower deck was fitted out were a range of displays about Mars, the Society, and the MARS project itself. A special display from the hab's European sponsor, Starchaser Industries of the United Kingdom, has also been included in the hab. Highlights of the display included:

• Descriptions of the Mars Direct mission plan
• Information on the Mars Society
• Detailed plans on the completed Euro-MARS
• Models of Mars as it appears today, and how it might look when terraformed
• A "hands-on" experiment to demonstrate the differences in gravity between the Earth, the Moon and Mars

"Skylights" in the ceiling of the lower deck allowed people to see up into the mid-deck and upper deck levels which, once the hab is located at its operational site, will be equipped as the living and sleeping accommodation respectively, as well as housing much of the hab's supplies and technical systems.

The Adler display ran until the Labor Day weekend, and was staffed by volunteers from several US Mars Society Chapters, including Gary Fisher, Matt Lowry and his wife, Nancy Woods, the Tzarniks, and many others. To them all, the European Chapters of the Mars Society extend grateful thanks.

Images of the Hab

The hab in the grounds of the Adler Planetarium, with the display greenhouse
A view up the entrance ramp to the main airlock
A shot from the Planetarium showing the greenhouse, the hab and the Chicago skyline
A closer view of the hab and greenhouse, with Chicago in the background
A long shot of the hab and greenhouse
Looking towards the front of the hab, with the Planetarium behind it
Exterior view of the hab with the entrance ramp
View up the entrance ramp to the main airlock with the hab displaying country flags
View of the hab with the greenhouse behind it
The hab displaying the flags of participating countries

Images of the Display

Display panels showing hab floor plans
The Mars Direct model display and wall panels
A model of a terraformed Mars
Mars Direct models
A group of school children visit the hab
The MARS location display
Another group of enthusiastic school children
Members of the public tour the hab

Visit the Alder Planetarium web site