MARS Project
Euro-MARS Background
Euro-MARS Design
Euro-MARS Location
Euro-Mars Science
Project Team

Mission Support
EMSAC

F-MARS
MDRS

Fabrication and construction of the Euro-MARS took place in mid-2002 in Denver, Colorado, USA. The actual fabrication of parts for the habitat is being undertaken by the Rio Grande Company, with physical construction work being carried out on their back lot. All construction activities are being overseen by Frank Schubert, the MARS Programme Project Manager, aided by Matt Smola and Dewey Anderson.

The construction work was completed in a number of stages

• Construction of the habitat frame (main braces, legs, struts and deck floor sections)
• Adding the outer skin to the wall frames & insulating the wall panels
• Mounting the wall panels
• Installing the upper deck floor beams and panels
• Installation of roof segments

March saw the various components of the hab fabricated by the Rio Grande Company, with initial construction (test-fitting the compnents) taking place at the end of April, prior to the hab being properly put together through May of 2002.

As Euro-MARS comprises three decks, rather than two (as with the F-MARS and MDRS units), the design and construction of the hab is substantially different to the earlier MARS units, which carry the majority of their weight through the wall panels themselves. However, Euro-MARS carries its mass through the framwork of the lower and mid-decks, even transferring the load to the six "landing legs".This results in a far more even distribution of mass for the Euro-MARS, and enables it to withstand very high wind forces - a vital requirement, given northern Iceland can be whipped by the full fury of North Atlantic storms. .

Once assembled on-site, Euro-MARS was dismantled and loaded on to trucks for shipment to Chicago, where it was placed on display at the Adler Planetarium.

A complete gallery of construction images is also available on this web site.