Euro-MARS Science

The Flashline Mars Arctic Research Station (F-MARS) and Mars Desert Researchg Station (MDRS) have already been in use for a number of field seasons in which a wide range of science and engineering projects and research have been carried out.

The Euro-MARS will be able to extend this research even further and provide a unique environment in which European-based engineers and scientists can conduct Mars-related research and test theories, equipment and / or systems.

With a potential operating period of around 7 months in every 12, the Euro-MARS will be used to carry out a wide range of Mars Society-sponsored research in the fields of technology development, human factors, systems engineering, geology and astrobiology. Add to this the many opportunities that will be presented to external organisations (e.g. the European Space Agency) to operate out of the Euro-MARS facility, and the benefits of developing such a unit become clear.

Through the use of a progressive series of holistic simulations, in which crews aboard the Euro-MARS will live and work as if they were on Mars for periods lasting from one week to a month or more, we will be able to define many of the baseline protocols that will be vital to successful human operations on the surface of Mars.

These holistic simulations will comprise many facets. For example: once a simulation is underway (and baring any unforeseen incidents), the crew will be unable to leave the hab unit without wearing a simulated Mars suit. By doing this, we will be able to answer fundamental questions regarding surface operations on Mars: how long does it take a team to suit-up? What is the optimum number for a surface expedition – two people, three people, four people? What kinds of back up and support do they need from the people left aboard the hab – communications, tele-operation (of any rovers accompanying the EVA team), etc.? How many EVAs can be safely run during a single day? What is the optimal communications set-up to ensure clear communications between EVA crewmembers and between an EVA team and the hab? What kind of communication protocols need to be established and maintained to ensure all communications are clearly understood?

The simulations will also examine the relationships within the hab. How are teams best managed? How do crewmembers interact when "on-duty" and "off-duty"? How do crews use the physical facilities aboard the hab? What could be improved to ensure a greater degree of crew satisfaction?

Finally, the simulations will also look at relationships with Mission Support "back home". Time delays will be built into all communications between the hab and the outside world to simulate the delays that will be experienced during Mars-Earth communications. We will look at the most efficient ways in which help from Mission Support can be directed to those involved in a simulation crew who need it. For example, if a member of the crew on EVA who is not trained in geology comes across a particularly unusual rock formation, how can we ensure those back at the hab or "back on Earth" can be fed sufficient information in order for them to best advise the person in the field?

In this last item, we will be looking closely at the use of technology, and how to integrate technology as much as possible into everyday routines to ensure crews have the maximum assistance. For example, in the scenario mentioned above, the use of helmet-mounted or suit-mounted video could enormously aid the dialogue between the person in the field and the specialists elsewhere, as they would essentially see what he/she sees.

Above all, the simulations will be built around a solid core of science – such as collecting and analysing rock and soil samples to look for evidence of extremophile life; by exploring regions thought not to contain life in order to more readily identify those parts of Mars which might harbour life when we get there. As with a real mission, reports will be written up (or recorded) on daily operations and transmitted to Mission Support; Mission Support will also transmit requests for work and study out to the hab, and so on.

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