Amadee-24 Chronicles: Mars on Earth - How Do We Prepare for a Mars Mission?
Marat Airapetian, the co-founder of Space Ambition, was fortunate to participate in the AMADEE-24 Mars analog simulation, which took place in March 2024 in Armenia. We’d like to share his story today.
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Even on the International Space Station, which has been orbiting Earth for over 20 years, new and unforeseen situations continue to arise. Therefore, it is crucial for us to gain experience in anticipating as many scenarios as possible for future missions, especially those to Mars. Gaining such experience is the most cost-effective on Earth. For this purpose, Martian and lunar analog missions are conducted worldwide, where scientists simulate life on other planets. These missions can be categorized into two types: long-term (lasting six months, a year, or more) and short-term (lasting from one week or more). The first analog missions were conducted in the Soviet Union in the 1960s and 1970s. Since then, more than 15 analog bases have been established globally, with over 30 missions conducted. In some bases, missions are held regularly.
It takes about half a year to fly to Mars one way; during this time, astronauts must interact effectively. Thus, long missions pay more attention to the psychological aspects of flights to distant planets. Scientists study the psychological state of individuals during isolation, their performance, and interaction with the flight control center. One significant difficulty in flying to Mars is the signal delay caused by the long distance. On average, messages to Mars take about 10 minutes to travel one way. This delay complicates communication with the crew, necessitating greater autonomy for them. Psychologically, it intensifies the sense of detachment from Earth. Therefore, simulating this signal delay is also a crucial aspect of preparation.
Short missions focus on refining techniques and experimental protocols—determining how experiments should be conducted, their design, their comfort level for astronauts, and the types of equipment and rovers with which the astronauts will interact.
Inside the Mars Analog Mission
My name is Marat Airapetian, and I am a co-founder of the Space Ambition project as well as a member of the team that developed and launched Armenia's first domestic satellite. I was fortunate to participate in the Martian analog mission AMADEE-24, conducted in Armenia in March 2024. The Austrian Space Forum (OeWF), which primarily focuses on Mars exploration and Martian analog missions, organized the mission. The OeWF has previously organized several international missions in countries including Israel, Oman, Austria, the USA, and Morocco. This time, Armenia was chosen for its terrain and geology, which closely resemble those of Mars. The host of this mission was Armenian Space Forum. Standing near the Martian base, I truly felt as if I were on another planet.
Several intriguing experiments were conducted during the mission, which are expected to be key technologies in future Martian programs. The mission primarily focused on developing technologies for human-robot interaction. To this end, the program deployed three rovers, each tasked with specific functions such as assisting astronauts during exits from the base, collecting soil samples, and determining locations. For instance, one of the experiments developed a unique rover control system using augmented reality, enabling effective control of the rover directly from the base. Another experiment utilized Radio Interferometer instruments to track both the rovers' and astronauts' positions, a crucial technology for early missions when no satellite navigation systems are yet in place.
Artificial intelligence, which is increasingly becoming part of our lives, is also making its way into space applications. In one experiment, astronauts were required to repair a bioreactor with the assistance of prompts from artificial intelligence.
Here are a number of other interesting experiments:
FaR SiDe By University of Innsbruck - Biomech model verification of estimations of skeletal muscular and cardiovascular fatigue, using motion capture, force sensors, EMG/ECG, NIR, spirometry. Helps predict astronaut fatigue during base exits.
Emotions in Extreme Environments by Bielefeld University - Astronauts intrinsic/extrinsic emotion regulation strategies, using questionnaire, audio recordings, emotion listing and logbook in the evening.
Sample by Technical University of Graz, Austria - Rover traversability, teleoperations for sample acquisition and transport to Hub using semi-autonomous traverse finding rover.
Staying Alive by University of Bremen - A photobioreactor as the air revitalization component of the Hub life support system, equipped with a situationally aware and interactive sensor network. The study also assesses the psychological impact, reactor control from Earth and crew interfacing.
Hort3Space by Casaccia Research Center and University of Rome - An automated multilevel cultivation prototype, equipped with cultivation specific full spectrum LED lights placed inside a sterile grow room in an inflatable self-erecting tent to evaluate cultivation performances, supporting the diet of the crew.
The Mission Support Center
My biggest dream is to participate in humanity's exploration of Mars. So, when my colleagues mentioned that a Martian mission would take place in Armenia, I couldn't let the opportunity pass! I submitted my application, and the selection process began. It required completing a one-month course by OeWF on Mars and the structure of Martian analog missions. We trained in interacting with the control center, managing abnormal situations, and understanding the experiments. Following this, we had to pass an exam (it was refreshing to feel like a student again). The next steps were two dress rehearsals of the mission, where we familiarize ourselves with the equipment, experiments, and future colleagues.
My main expertise from university is in flight control, so I participated in the mission as a control specialist. The Mission Support Center was in Vienna, which served as the so-called 'Earth,' while Armenia was 'Mars.' The control center had various tasks and its structure and devices are very similar to those of the International Space Station's mission control centers. The main person in the control center is the Flight Director, who makes decisions during emergencies, approves the mission implementation plan, and assigns tasks to specialists. Two other key roles are the Medics and Human Factors specialists, prioritizing the health and psychological state of astronauts. The rest of the specialists handle interactions with experiments, control the current state of the mission, and manage experiment procedures.
The biggest challenge at the Mission Support Center was the 10-minute one-way signal delay. If we asked a question to the astronauts, we wouldn't receive an answer for 20 minutes. Working under these conditions felt like trying to communicate with a close friend or coworker who hadn’t responded to your messages in a long time. However, we gradually got used to it. Interestingly, it was nice to have some free time at work, even if it was just 20 minutes :) Due to the time difference, the Mission Support Center started work at 6 a.m., aligning with the astronauts beginning their day at 9 a.m. My task was to process all the information that came from the astronauts to us and from the control center to the base, and, in case of necessity and emergency situations, to pass it to the supervisors.
I have never met so many Mars exploration enthusiasts in one place (besides at Space Ambition :)) and it was a great privilege to work alongside them!
Where Else Can You Find Mars on Earth?
Analog missions are carried out all over the world and conferences (CHASM, Analog astronaut conference) are held to share knowledge, which is then implemented by space agencies. The World's biggest analog mission is planned for 2025. 12 habitats and more than 100 crew members will participate in this mission! The mission's goal is to answer the question, "how will we live and work in Space as a community?". For the first time, an analog mission will be conducted in parallel in a large number of bases. This will be important for building future large settlements, we need to study how they will interact and collaborate with each other. The big and ambitious task is to centralize the management of this mission. Armenia is also planning to participate in this mission.
There are other analog missions and stations as well:
Mars Desert Research station (MDRS) owned and operated by the Mars Society, is a space analog facility in Utah that supports Earth-based research in pursuit of the technology, operations, and science required for human space exploration. MDRS hosts an eight month field season for professional scientists and engineers as well as college students of all levels, in training for human operations specifically on Mars. The relative isolation of the facility allows for rigorous field studies as well as human factors research. Most crews carry out their mission under the constraints of a simulated Mars mission. Most missions are 2-3 weeks in duration, although MDRS supports longer missions as well. The advantage of MDRS over most facilities for simulated space missions is that the campus is surrounded by a landscape that is an actual geologic Mars analog, which offers opportunities for rigorous field studies as they would be conducted during an actual space mission.
LunAres Research Station, Located in Poland established in 2017 for simulating crewed space missions, primary focus is advancing scientific and technological research in crewed space exploration. LunAres brings together experts from fields like medicine, psychology, robotics, engineering, and space architecture, fostering a multidisciplinary approach to our studies.
Astroland - private aerospace company, with totally Spanish capital, installed in Cantabria, in which missions are developed in analogues with technologies and skills focused on Mars habitats, psychology and survival in the isolation of human beings and their resolute habitability in hostile situations. Astroland has established its human habitat analog system, Ares Station, inside a cave in Arredondo (Cantabria), testing possible life forms for future interplanetary travelers, validating the coexistence and survival of human beings in missions analogous to off-Earth environments.
DIGMARS is a NASA funded Solar System Workings (SSW) project that explores Iceland as a terrestrial analog for Mars in collaboration with the Iceland Space Agency. The field research took place during Summer 2021 & 2022. DIGMARS is lead by Pi Dr. Michael Thorpe & Dr. Elizabeth Rampe, the project brings together a team with diverse expertise who are researching how lakes in Iceland, a basalt dominated terrain, can inform scientists about surface and groundwater processes of early Mars, particularly places like Gale and Jezero craters. Information about the initial results can be found at Pi Dr.Michael Thorpe’s website here and from NASA’s technical report server here.
Becoming an Analog Astronaut: A Guide
When we think about Mars, it seems like a mission there won't happen anytime soon. However, people are actively preparing for a mission to Mars, and that's very inspiring. To all enthusiasts of Mars and Moon exploration, I highly recommend participating in analog missions!
If you've always dreamed of being an astronaut and visiting Mars, you can apply to participate in an analog mission. For example, the world's largest analog mission is currently recruiting analog astronauts—you can apply here. Additionally, you can become an astronaut on one of the private missions; the participation fee starts at $5,000. This cost includes preparation for the mission, participation in direct isolation, and conducting experiments (e.g., LunAres, Astroland). You can also volunteer for these missions—stay tuned to OeWF's social media and the world's biggest analog platforms.
Working as an analog astronaut is a full-time job that demands a significant amount of time (astronaut training occurs during specific periods). Therefore, your schedule must be flexible. If the missions are paid, the commitment is generally about two weeks. As a volunteer, your participation in a mission can also be flexible—you can choose the amount of time you are comfortable committing. This flexibility can make the experience more manageable.
Of course, technology is continually advancing, and we are getting closer to a mission to Mars. There have already been three test launches of the Starship, which will be our main transportation vehicle to Mars. More and more analog missions are being conducted to prepare for everything that will be needed on Mars. Our great-grandparents dreamed of flying into space, our parents witnessed the moon landing, and we will be the generation to see the Mars landing! You too can contribute to these missions by participating in analog missions—inspiring, isn't it?
If you'd like to participate in analog missions or have detailed questions, feel free to email us at hello@spaceambition.org or contact me directly. We'll be happy to share contacts and answer your questions!
See you on Mars!
