 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
Mars Simulation Base Goes Operational In Utah Desert
Hanksville - Feb 8, 2002 The Mars Desert Research Station went operational February 7, 2002 with the first operational crew being led by Mars Society President Robert Zubrin from Feb 7 to Feb 14, after which the hab will be commanded by Mars Society Mission Support Director Tony Muscatello from Feb 14 to Feb 21. MDRS Project Director Frank Schubert will also serve in the first half of the rotation, to be replaced by geology Professor Andrew de Wet of Franklin and Marshall College, who will serve from Feb 13 through March 2. The other members of the first operational crew will all serve the period Feb 7 to 21 and include geologist Jennifer Heldmann of the University of Colorado, biologist and attorney Dr. Steve McDaniel of Technology Litigators Inc, biologist Troy Wegman of the Mayo Clinic, and aerospace engineer Heather Chluda of the Boeing-Rocketdyne space shuttle program. The Mars Desert Research Station is located in the desert northwest of Hanksville, Utah. Together with the Mars society's Flashline Mars Arctic Research Station located on Canada's Devon Island, it will now provide the means to conduct a year-round program in Mars exploration operations research. The first operational rotation was preceded by a preliminary shakedown crew led by Anna Paulson, which took place over the Christmas period 2001 and the second shakedown crew led by Frank Schubert that took place during the last week of January 2002. The second operational rotation will begin Feb 21 and run through March 7. The hab will then be shut down for a 4-day period while the greenhouse life support system is installed, after which a series of two-week rotations will begin March 10 and run through May 7. A full report on the operations of the Mars Desert Research Station will be presented at the Fifth International Mars Society Convention, which will be held August 8-11, 2002 at the University of Colorado, Boulder.
|
