Six scientists and technical experts "landed on Mars" Friday, or rather a secret and isolated site near Mitzpe Ramon in southern Israel to participate in the D-Mars Project – a first-of-its-kind simulation in Israel in conjunction with the Israel Space Agency and the Ministry of Science, Technology and Space.
From Feb. 15-18, the participants will be disconnected from the world, conduct experiments, live in a structure designed to be compatible with conditions on Mars and will move around wearing space suits. The purpose of the project is to research and simulate possible life on Mars in the near future.
"Space agencies around the world are already busy with preparations for the journey to Mars and [finding] solutions to the multitude of technological challenges on the way to getting there," said ISA head Avi Belsberger.
"Among the challenges people are trying to solve: building a spaceship and engine suitable for the lengthy journey, the effects of cosmic radiation on human beings, shipping and erecting a structure there, life in a small and isolated group, communication with earth and more," he said. "Israel has already contributed to preparing for the mission to Mars, and in the technological developments to protect people against radiation."
Mars simulations take place in a small number of places around the world. A large simulation is currently underway in Utah, where Weizmann Institute of Science research student Roy Naor was sent by the ISA to represent Israel.
Mitzpe Ramon, in the Negev Desert, is considered one of the only places on the planet with conditions relatively similar to those on Mars. The area resembles Mars in terms of its topography, geology, aridity, appearance and isolation. Its overall environment provides a rare combination of elements that are ideal for space simulations. Simultaneous to the Israeli simulation, an international simulation is presently taking place in Oman. The two simulations will conduct a joint communication experiment, along with cosmic radiation experiments, and compare results.
Students from the Technion Israel Institute of Technology, led by architects Alon Shikar and Moshe Zagai, planned and built the "habitat" – a futuristic structure where the project's participants will live while they are "on Mars." In the near future, a visitor's center open to the general public will be built adjacent to the habitat.
The participants' space suits were specially designed and made by fashion designer Alon Livne, and they include life support systems, helmets, gloves and boots. The participants will wear the suits every time they exit the habitat to conduct experiments.
The six so-called "Ramonauts" are:
Dr. Hillel Rubinstein, 40, is the project's manager and a postdoctoral fellow at Ben-Gurion University of the Negev. Rubinstein is the designated field commander for the simulation.
Dr. Reut Sorek-Abramovich, 39, is the chief science officer. She is an astrobiologist and researcher at the Dead Sea and Arava Science Center, as well as co-manager of the Young Israeli Astronauts Academy program at the Davidson Institute for Science Education.
Professor Guy Ron, 42, a nuclear physicist at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem who conducts particle accelerator experiments around the world, is the simulation's cosmic radiation principal investigator.
Jackie Fay, 32, a professional cellist living in Mitzpe Ramon, runs the music center of Mitzpe Ramon and also leads astronomy tours in the Negev Desert. Fay is the designated documentation specialist.
Architect Alin Shikar, 37, a lecturer at the Faculty of Architecture and Town Planning at the Technion. Shikar is the simulation's habitat designer.
Nadav Kushnir, 37, is the mission's medic and food specialist. He is a social worker, a social work master's student and a tour guide. He is also an instructor at the Young Astronaut Academy.
