The Return of the KiwiMartians

11 July 2012

The Return of the KiwiMartians

The KiwiMars crew returns to Carter Observatory for a special public event on Wednesday 18 July to share their experience of their time on “Mars”. This is your chance to meet the crew and find out about their work and learn more about exploration of the Red Planet.

On 21 April 2012, the first ever New Zealand crew began their 2-week expedition at the Mars Desert Research Station (MDRS) in Utah. The six crew members lived in the “Hab”, a small ten-metre diameter, two-storey “habitat” that also comprised a greenhouse and an observatory. The MDRS provides an analogy for what an early mission to a Mars habitat might be like.

While there the crew wore functioning simulated spacesuits while outside the habitat and communicated via radio. The mission included a work programme of research into areas such as geology, biology, nutrition, astronomy and the effects of living in a cramped environment.

The KiwiMars crew took several hours of footage that will be used to make two documentaries about their experience. You’ll have an exclusive preview of some of the footage shot during Mission 118.

Doors open from 6.30pm allowing some time to wander through the exhibition before the programme begins at 7pm. From 8pm telescope viewing through our historic Thomas Cooke telescope will focus on the planet Mars as the weather permits.

The evening will also include a short planetarium show that will take a special look at Mars including the much anticipated landing of the NASA Curiosity Rover. We’ll be watching with great anticipation here at Carter when Curiosity finally lands on Mars on 6 August.

Bookings are essential, normal entry price applies.
www.carterobservatory.org

ENDS

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