Every year the Mars Society has open calls for professional scientists and engineers, as well as college students of all levels, to perform research projects and mission operations at the Mars Desert Research Station (MDRS) in Utah. The MDRS is a space analog research facility that operates eight months every year. Most crews carry out their missions under the constraints of a simulated Mars environment, with a duration from 2 to 3 weeks. The main goal of space analog missions is to support Earth-based research to pursuit the technology, operations, and science required for human space exploration.
In March 2021, the Hypatia I crew –amulti-disciplinary, inter-generational and all-female crew– applied for their first analog mission. Each member has a unique personal story and a remarkable academic background, and above all we share a deep passion for space exploration and science dissemination. Hypatia I is led by Mariona Badenas-Agusti (Crew Commander & Astronomer), who participated in a MDRS mission in 2019, and Carla Conejo González (Crew Executive Officer & Biologist). The rest of the primary team is composed by Ariadna Farrés Basiana (Crew Scientist), Laia Ribas (GreenHab Officer), Neus Sabaté and Cesca Cufí-Prat (Crew Engineers) and Núria Jar (Crew Journalist). Last but not least, the team counts with two back-up members: Anna Bach Valls and Helena Arias Casals.
We are happy to announce that our application has been accepted and that Hypatia I will travel to the MDRS on April 16-29, 2023. We can’t wait to share this experience with all of you.