Scientists have taken a real interest in Mars, particularly because the possibility of man walking on its surface is getting more and more real. Moreover, the Red Planet might just be where some individuals get to reside one day. All this, of course, not before scientists properly test what it would be like to life within its atmosphere - and this begins with simulation exercises.
Simulated Mars
Sheyna Gifford's blog entry via Aeon narrates the experience she had within simulated Mars or sMars. As a health science officer, she took the role of a crew doctor in the longest Mars simulation that was funded by NASA.
She, along with a space architect, an engineer and three other scientists kept residence on the slopes of Mauna Kea in Hawaii for the simulation. The entire experience began in August 25, 2016 and lasted for a year and a half.
Throughout their stay, the communication they had with the outside world had a 20 minute delay both ways - the maximum light time travel between Mars and Earth. As Gifford notes, this was vital to make the experience more realistic, as there would be the same delay in communication between planets. After all, it was vital for the team to learn how to act without the comfort of their home base constantly within reach.
Which is also why NASA decided to sent such a varied group of individuals - because each person would play a vital role in different types of scenarios. Furthermore, the team was only provided food and water rations at certain times. In between, the scientists had to be strict with their diets and live only within the limits.
"Life on sMars, like on Mars itself, is elemental," Gifford shared. "Our chief concerns revolve around sun, air, water and rock - specifically, what we can and can't do with those four basics in the right combinations."
sMars For The Public
The simulation has been been extended to include a journalist from Time. For twenty four hours, Jeffrey Kluger will have the opportunity to live in the exact same conditions: living on limited food and walking in a spacesuit.
