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Crew Ends 100 Day Mars Simulation in Arctic

Posted by ScuttleMonkey on from the wtb-beer-burger-and-companionship dept.

Paul server guy writes "According to Wired Science the seven person F-XI LDM crew that has been stationed at the Mars Society's FMARS station has completed their unprecedented 100 day simulation. (Actually 101 days, because for 37 they lived on 'Mars time' adding 39 minutes to each day) According to the mission's remote science principal investigator Chris McKay, of NASA Ames. 'Their pioneering simulation of crew operations on Mars time is by far the best work on this topic ever done. It sets the standard for future Mars mission simulations.'"

3 of 147 comments (clear)

  1. Its not a simulation by Viol8 · · Score: 4, Interesting

    Its a bunch of space nerds wasting their time.

    Why?

    The gravity is wrong.
    The solar radiation is wrong.
    The atmospheric pressure is wrong.
    The soil chemistry is all wrong.

    So what have they proved other than they can sit in a phoney "space base" for 100 days and run around in mickey mouse home made space suits? Nothing.

  2. And now that I've read TFA... by cp.tar · · Score: 4, Interesting

    Melissa adds that the extra 39 minutes does make a difference, "[you] feel like [you're] getting more work done."

    Wasn't it that the optimal duration of a day for humans is somewhere around 25 or 26 hours?

    I always try to maximize my awake time; as Pitr would say, Sleep, she is for the weak.

    And now for one truly scary detail:

    "We've all become acutely aware of the importance of water conservation, minimizing our garbage output, and generally behaving in a way to minimize our environmental impact."

    Why is this scary? Well, consider this:

    The crew bakes bread, makes a batch of cheese or yogurt, waters the "crops" (spouts and lettuce they are growing), re-fuels the generator, washes a bit of laundry by hand and prepares home cooked meals to add some spice to the day and the meals.

    They're training Fremen!

    --
    Ignore this signature. By order.
  3. 1000 days - Mars Ocean Odyssey by slashmojo · · Score: 4, Interesting

    There is a couple currently on a somewhat related venture.. they plan to spend 1000 days at sea in a yacht, completely self sufficient and never touching dry land for the duration.

    So far they are on day 121 and have had some 'fun' already - a collision with a freighter for example caused some significant damage which had to be repaired at sea.

    The idea obviously is to (kind of) simulate a very long space journey where the crew have only themselves and what they can carry to depend on.

    There are a few notable differences though such as the lack of fish to catch in space. ;)

    You can follow their journey here..

    http://1000days.net/home/

    Looks like a great adventure anyway.. wish I could take 1000 days off work!