posted 05-19-2015 01:09 PM               

They've been coming here for decades hoping that their research someday helps humans on the Martian surface. There have been over 150 six-person groups in the last 14 years to travel to this outpost for a two-week mission.

Sponsored by The Mars Society, these missions cost $1,000 for each participant, but can be offset by various grants and donations.

Each person in the six-person crew fills a role, with each crew having a commander, astronomer, geologist, biologist, journalist and engineer/mechanic. To keep things authentic, they never go outside without space helmets; use a fake decompression room; and one crew member always stays inside in case something goes wrong.

Their Mars habitat, where they live and sleep, looks like a giant water tank and inside has two levels, with six narrow bedrooms upstairs and a bathroom, shower and work station downstairs. Their routine helps illustrate the logistical and emotional issues that a real Mars mission would involve.

More than 900 people have participated in these simulated Mars missions in Utah, coming from all over the world, including Russia, Romania, Australia and Japan.

posted 05-19-2015 05:30 PM               

My own hesitation is that it is an immersive environment and I imagine they expect those who are there to focus on the mission at hand. This website is a bit too demanding at present for me to able to devote two weeks to a mock Mars mission alone.

posted 05-19-2015 06:17 PM               

I'd assume you have to gather your own team together and approach them on this.

The site, to me, raises far more questions than it answers. I wonder if this is just a far more immersive version of Space Camp or if you're expected to conduct serious research in the name of some manner of bigger picture study.