M.A.R.S. Project and a Geodesic Space Dome at its Centre
Rzepiennik Biskupi, Poland /
August 2016
Houston, we have a base! Modular Analog Research Station (abbreviated as M.A.R.S.), the first analogue planetary base in Poland, has already begun its simulations of manned moon missions.
Completely opaque Freedome 50 has become a central module of a unique research facility that prepares future astronauts and volunteers to live in moon and outer planet habitats. The participants of the program are monitored for various physical and psychological parameters and trained to cope in the environment emulating all the dangers and challenges of the manned space mission.
The habitat consists of four modules located underground and a central piece with a kitchen and a social area. The modules have a living area arranged in them as well as storages with research instruments, bioreactors, food supplies and space suits. Mission participants print the necessary tools on the 3D printer and produce vitamins, micronutrients and proteins in special bioreactors. Their tasks include, for example, studying rock composition or performing microgravity tests.
Building M.A.R.S. research and training facility became possible thanks to the crowdfunding action which co-financed this great undertaking. The project was also supported by the Polish Space Agency and the European Space Agency.
This is a unique initiative on a global scale - there are only a few similar facilities in the world. Each minute is an out-of-this-world experience for the trainees: they wake up underground in special containers, take a bath in a water mist, eat pancakes made from insect flour and go outside only in special space suits. To make the conditions as similar to the outer planet habitat as possible, the length of the day and night is changed and the participants have to react to alarms warning against sand storms or other kinds of dangers.