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Meet the team

Mariona Badenas-Agustí

Hypatia I: Astronomer, Commander

B.Sc. in Astrophysics, M.Sc. in Astrophysics, High Energy Physics and Cosmology, PhD in Planetary Sciences at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Currently she is a postdoctoral researcher at the University of Cambridge. Cofounder of Hypatia Mars.

Mariona Badenas Agusti earned a degree in Astrophysics from Yale University, a master’s degree in Astrophysics, Cosmology, and High Energy Physics from the Autonomous University of Barcelona and the Institute for Space Studies of Catalonia, and a Ph.D. in Planetary Sciences at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. She is now a postdoctoral Research Associate at the University of Cambridge, where she uses computational tools and astronomical observations to study evolved stellar systems and the compositional diversity of exoplanets (i.e. planets in orbit outside the Solar System). Outside of academia, Mariona is very interested in scientific outreach and communication, so she regularly participates in outreach events to bring space exploration closer to the general public. She is also very interested in the aerospace industry and is a member of the Space Generation Advisory Council and Women in Aerospace Europe.

Research projects

Astronomy

Temporal Evolution of the Solar Chromosphere

The Sun provides the energy necessary for life to exist on Earth, but it also poses significant risks for astronauts. This project used the Musk Observatory at the Mars Desert Research Station (MDRS) to simulate an important protocol for future Martian explorers, namely: the daily monitoring of the solar chromosphere to detect hazardous space weather events. The Martian atmosphere is very thin compared to that of the Earth, so it offers little protection against solar radiation. Therefore, monitoring solar activity is not only an act of scientific curiosity, but of crew survival. During the Hypatia I mission, the main goal of this project was to use the station’s Lunt 1000mm refracting telescope to monitor the temporal evolution of the solar chromosphere. After an initial phase of alignment and calibration, the Hypatia I crew managed to achieve this goal, identifying important magnetic events like sunspots, filaments, and solar granules. This project demonstrated that a Martian crew can effectively maintain independent situational awareness of their local space weather environment without excessive reliance on Earth-based support.
Astronomy

RGBLHa Color Imaging of Deep-Sky Objects

The Martian atmosphere is very thin compared to that of the Earth. This provides a unique view of the Universe largely unaffected by atmospheric contamination effects, such as astronomical seeing (turbulence) or absorption. For an astronomer, Mars therefore offers a unique window into the night sky.  During the Hypatia I mission, we exploited the remote and arid conditions of the Mars Desert Research Station (MDRS) to simulate this experience, capturing high-resolution color images of deep-sky objects with the MDRS MLC-RCOS16 Robotic telescope. This instrument allowed us to produce “RGBLHa” images –that is, composite images resulting from combining standard color data (in the Red, Green, and Blue filters) with Luminance and Hydrogen-Alpha narrowband observations, which reveal structural details often invisible to the naked eye. Over the course of the mission, we imaged a diverse catalog of sources, such as nebulae, spiral galaxies, or supernova remnants. This project had two primary goals: to test robotic observation procedures in preparation for future Mars exploration missions, and to create beautiful images of the Universe to share them with the public back on “Earth.”

Outreach activities

Educational project

Astronaut Course

Experience the adventure of a mission to Mars! Learn about astronomy, engineering, health, biology, and communication through hands-on, fun workshops to do in the classroom or at home, inspired by the real experience of the Hypatia I crew.

Short videos

Ask a Scientist

How long does a rocket take to reach space? What would a trip to Mars be like? How do astronauts go to the bathroom? Why is the Milky Way called that? The Hypatia I crew answers real questions from children and young people about space in short videos.