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falkor

Member

From: Surrey

Registered: 2004-08-21

Posts: 112

Re: Mars on Earth 2001 - Mars Society spacecraft prototype

Airdate: 27 AUG 9:00 PM GMT Discovery Science Sky 555 NTL 510/134

Discovery Channel will air the three-hour documentary "Mars on Earth." The documentary was filmed by twice-Emmy- award winning filmmaker Andy Liebman. To make the documentary, Liebman and a crew of 5 spent two summers living and working with the Mars Society and NASA Haughton Mars Project teams.

"The Mars Society built a prototype of a spacecraft habitat that could land humans on Mars and serve as their base in the exploration of the Martian surface. The purpose of the prototype is to study how astronauts will one day explore and inhabit our neighboring world.

This habitat, to which Discovery Channel film crews have exclusive inside access, is the Mars Arctic Research Station (MARS). It was constructed at the Haughton meteorite impact crater on Devon Island in northern Canada, an environment described as a cold polar desert. NASA scientists have been finding an astonishing variety of terrain and natural features there that resemble those reported on the planet Mars.

Join the crew of the research station as they conduct experiments, go on away missions and learn how to get along in this harsh environment."

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http://dsc.discovery.com/tuneins/marson … ]Discovery channel

http://www.spaceref.com/focuson/marsone … .2001.html

I saw part 1 of 2 on Discovery Science last night

Filmed in 2001, it was a fascinating programme

ZUBRIN himself was a larger than life character and when the first section of the habitat went over, exposing chaotic, if not hopeless health and safety organisation, one had only sympathy and support for all concerned.

Who financed this gigantic undertaking? The people selected to participate were all filmed by the Discovery Channel and were seen to be well switched on and motivated individuals

still, it seems pretty rich that all we get is 2 x 1 hour programmes?

anybody else see this material?

great great viewing and part 2 of 2 on Friday 27th (UK SKY, CABLE TV)

smurf975

Member

From: Netherlands

Registered: 2004-05-30

Posts: 402

Website

Re: Mars on Earth 2001 - Mars Society spacecraft prototype

Slate Magazine had a 2 piece article about a similar venture in the Utah dessert also by the Mars Society.

Here is the first http://slate.msn.com/id/2100944/entry/2100945/]article and this http://slate.msn.com/id/2100944/entry/0/]is the second part.

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SpaceNut

Administrator

From: New Hampshire

Registered: 2004-07-22

Posts: 28,820

Re: Mars on Earth 2001 - Mars Society spacecraft prototype

If you want to follow up with more articles on this subject go to the MarsNews.com site

http://www.marsnews.com/focus/mars_society/

Recent article list:

5-Aug-04 - Lessons from an Arctic Mars (MSNBC)
4-Aug-04 - The designer suit for Mars (The Sydney Morning Herald)
3-Aug-04 - Flashline MARS Crew Completes Field Season (Mars Socieyt)
2-Aug-04 - Scientists target manned Mars mission (ABC Radio's AM)
29-Jul-04 - Mock Mars spacemen camp on Devon Island (Nunatsiaq News)

smurf975

Member

From: Netherlands

Registered: 2004-05-30

Posts: 402

Website

Re: Mars on Earth 2001 - Mars Society spacecraft prototype

Just a comment but isn't the logo of the picture you included the sign of the male?

If so why? What does Mars have to do with males?

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Rxke

Member

From: Belgium

Registered: 2003-11-03

Posts: 3,669

Re: Mars on Earth 2001 - Mars Society spacecraft prototype

That's the astrological sign of Mars, actually...
And Venus is the sign they use for women...
Other planets had other signs and so on, but these best are known by non-astrology and astronomy people, because they also represent male and female.

Despite the astrological roots, It is still widely in use by serious astronomical scientists etc. And starmaps and so on... Astrology is pseudo-science, but it *was* the basis of later-time serious stuff.

smurf975

Member

From: Netherlands

Registered: 2004-05-30

Posts: 402

Website

Re: Mars on Earth 2001 - Mars Society spacecraft prototype

Astrology is pseudo-science, but it *was* the basis of later-time serious stuff.

Reminds me of a discussion I had once on IRC with atheists.

My argument was that: "Yes, religions are no good but believing in something is different from religions and actually from astrology came astronomy and from alchemy came chemistry and from religions came the spread of writing."

But its off topic.

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Waht? Tehr's a preveiw buottn?

Rxke

Member

From: Belgium

Registered: 2003-11-03

Posts: 3,669

Re: Mars on Earth 2001 - Mars Society spacecraft prototype

But its off topic.

I wish everyone was so strict as you, smurf!
Going a little bit off-topic is ok, but lately... When you click a topic half-way, it has become a discussion about completely different stuff... Confusing.

About the article/Discovery shows: is it my impression or does the Mars Society and its chapters are getting more airtime lately? Is the Society reaching critical mass?

Sure hope so.

SpaceNut

Administrator

From: New Hampshire

Registered: 2004-07-22

Posts: 28,820

Re: Mars on Earth 2001 - Mars Society spacecraft prototype

I believe that you are right about the air time but the message is getting lost in the shuffle on cost and of funding. Not to mention all the other issues that are going on with Nasa in general. The work they have done give the human side of the equation a way to be compensted for when we do make the long journey and stay on mars. But I think little has been though of when it comes to coming home after such a long mission which only gets longer by the return trip time.