Mars simulation experiment ends

Muscat Feb 28 - The Mars simulation experiments being conducted in the Sultanate concluded on Wednesday. Launched in the desert of Dhofar, which is geologically closest to the surface of Mars, it was an experiment aimed at developing an innovative cultivation system useful in the roadmap to Mars exploration and colonisation. The experiment was conducted under principal investigators Sara Piccirillo, Eugenio Benvenuto and Luca Nardi. It also comprised a 2 sqm hydroponic cultivation to provide the crew with healthy and high quality diet. The team described the mission as part of an effort to “pave the way for future human Mars exploration, the biggest adventure of our generation”. The simulation mission, which began in the beginning of February, took place in Marmul desert. A 16-member crew from France, Germany, Spain, the Netherlands, Portugal and Oman was part of the mission. The team conducted 19 experiments, including test of spacecraft and robots to collect samples and their movements on a similar surface and their ability to take samples and information and send them to the information centre located in Austria. Some experiments have been shown live on social networking sites.